Required waiting periods for occupational license eligibility

Check your eligibility to reinstate your driving privilege​.

Check your eligibility for an occupational license​​ if your license has been suspended or revoked.

Some revocation/suspension cases require that you serve a mandatory waiting period before you are eligible for an occupational license. The waiting period begins on the effective date of your revocation/suspension case.

If you have multiple revocation/suspension cases, you must serve all waiting periods. The waiting period may vary depending on your previous driving history and the reason for the current revocation/suspension.

All revocation/suspension cases require a 15-day waiting period except the following:

Cases:Wait period:
Demerit pointsno waiting period
Underage alcohol operationno waiting period
Habitual traffic offender​ (HTO) or R​epeat HTO (RHT) under Ch. 351 after two (2) years
Drug convictions:
    Firstno waiting period
    Secondafter 60 days
    Third or moreafter 90 days
Nonpayment of child supportno waiting period
Wisconsin operating while intoxicated (OWI) type violations (prior to July 1, 2010):
Blood alcohol content (BAC)no waiting period
Operating while intoxicated (OWI) or Prohibited alcohol concentration (PAC)
    First​no waiting period
    Second*after 60 days
    Third or more*after 90 days
Causing injury while intoxicated under s.346.63(2)after 60 days
Wisconsin operating while intoxicated (OWI) type violations (on or after July 1, 2010):
Blood alcohol content (BAC)no waiting period
Operating while intoxicated (OWI) or Prohibited alcohol concentration (PAC)
    Firstno waiting period
    Second or moreafter 45 days
Causing injury while intoxicated under s.346.63(2)after 60 days
Implied Consent refusals:
    Firstafter 30 days
    Second*after 90 days
    Third or more*after 120 days
Negligent homicide under s.940.09 or great bodily harm under s.940.25after 120 days

 

* If there are two OWI-type violations within any five-year period in the driver's history, the wait time will be one year.

​​​​Questions?
EmailWisconsin DMV email service​​​