Free guide · MIS Insurance Services · Licensed in Texas
Texas DWI Help Center
Arrested for DWI in Texas? Here’s what happens next, step by step: the 15-day ALR hearing deadline, your suspension, the occupational license, DWI classes and the interlock, the SR-22 and getting your license back. Free, in plain English.
MIS Insurance Services, LLC is a licensed Texas insurance agency serving drivers statewide. Texas License #2960567. Our licensed agents help drivers compare SR-22 and non-owner insurance options without visiting an office.
Step 1
The arrest and your notice of suspension
A DWI arrest in Texas starts two separate cases:
The ALR case (DPS)
Decides your driver’s license. It starts when you fail or refuse a breath or blood test and get a notice of suspension.
The criminal case (court)
Decides the DWI charge. The judge can add a license suspension, an SR-22, DWI classes and an interlock.
For the criminal case, talk to a DWI attorney. We’re an insurance agency, so this page covers your license, the SR-22 and the fees.
Step 2
The ALR hearing: 15 days
- Deadline: 15 days from the date the notice was served. For a blood test you agreed to, 20 days from the date the notice was mailed.
- If you miss it: the request is denied, and the suspension starts on the 40th day after you were served.
- Who hears it: an administrative law judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).
Official pages: DPS – ALR program · SOAH – Driver’s license hearings.
Step 3
How long the ALR suspension lasts
| Situation (adult) | First time | Prior alcohol/drug contact in the last 10 years |
|---|---|---|
| Failed the test (0.08 or higher) | 90 days | 1 year |
| Refused the test | 180 days | 2 years |
A DWI conviction in court can add its own suspension (for adults, up to 2 years). Drivers under 21 face a 1-year suspension for DWI (18 months for a later offense), which a court-ordered interlock may cut to 90 days.
Source: DPS form DL-176, Driver License Enforcement Actions.
Step 4
Driving to work: the occupational license
An occupational (essential need) license lets you drive for work, school and essential household duties while suspended. No commercial driving.
- Petition a court: a Justice of the Peace, county or district court where you live or where the offense happened.
- The signed court order works as your license for 45 days while DPS processes it.
- Send DPS: a certified copy of the petition and order, an SR-22, the occupational license fee and all reinstatement fees. Allow 21 business days.
- It’s usually issued for 1 year or less (2 years at most).
Official page: DPS – Occupational driver license.
Step 5
DWI classes and the ignition interlock
DWI education
A 12-hour class for a first offense (generally required with probation unless the judge waives it), or a 32-hour program for repeat offenders. DPS must get your proof within 180 days of conviction, or your license is revoked.
Ignition interlock
The court may order an interlock as a condition of driving. You then apply for an Interlock Restricted license.
Find a class: see our Texas DWI Education Programs directory.
Step 6
Your Texas SR-22: cheap, fast, with or without a car
An SR-22 is a form your insurance company files with DPS to prove you carry at least Texas minimum liability insurance: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage. DPS won’t accept an insurance card or policy in its place.
When you need it, and for how long
- When the court orders it after a DWI, and for an occupational license.
- Keep it 2 years from the date of conviction.
Don’t let it lapse
Insurers notify DPS automatically if an SR-22 is cancelled or lapses. If no new SR-22 is filed before the old policy ends, DPS can suspend your license and your vehicle registration. Reinstating after that costs a $100 fee.
No car? Ask about a non-owner SR-22
DPS itself says that if you don’t own a vehicle, you should ask an insurance provider about a Texas non-owner SR-22 policy. It’s usually the cheapest way to meet the requirement.
Your Texas SR-22 with MIS
- As low as $29/month. Prices vary with your record, the offense and your ZIP code.
- Non-owner SR-22 for drivers without a car. Texas non-owner SR-22
- Filed electronically, often the same day you buy.
- We compare 25+ companies that work with DWI drivers.
- Se habla español. SR-22 en Texas en español
Official page: DPS – Financial responsibility insurance certificate (SR-22). More: Car insurance after a DWI in Texas.
Step 7
Getting your Texas license back
Each type of suspension has its own reinstatement fee, and you pay each one:
| Suspension | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|
| ALR (failed or refused the test) | $125 |
| SR-22 not filed or lapsed (Safety Responsibility) | $100 |
| DWI education proof not sent in time | $100 |
- Pay online at DPS’s License Eligibility site (a $5.75 convenience fee applies). Driver license offices can’t take reinstatement payments.
- The fees can’t be reduced, waived or paid in installments.
- File your SR-22 and send proof of your DWI class if they apply to your case.
Read more: Texas DWI to license back: every step, deadline and fee
Questions Texas drivers ask after a DWI
Right after the arrest
How long do I have to request an ALR hearing after a DWI in Texas?
15 days from the date your notice of suspension was served. If it was a blood test you agreed to, 20 days from the date the notice was mailed. Late requests are denied.
When does my license suspension start in Texas?
If you don’t request a hearing, the ALR suspension starts on the 40th day after you were served the notice.
How long is my license suspended after a DWI arrest in Texas?
For an adult who failed the test, 90 days the first time and 1 year with a prior alcohol or drug contact in the last 10 years. Refusing the test is 180 days the first time and 2 years with a prior contact.
Driving, classes and the interlock
Can I drive to work after a DWI in Texas?
Possibly, with an occupational license. You petition a court, and the signed order works as your license for 45 days while DPS processes it. DPS also needs an SR-22 and all reinstatement fees.
Do I have to take a DWI class in Texas?
Usually. It’s a 12-hour class for a first offense (generally required with probation unless the judge waives it) or a 32-hour program for repeat offenders. DPS must get your proof within 180 days of conviction, or your license is revoked.
Will I need an ignition interlock in Texas?
Only if the court orders one. If it does, you apply for an Interlock Restricted license to drive.
I’m under 21 and got a DWI in Texas. What’s different?
The suspension is 1 year (18 months for a later offense). A court-ordered interlock may reduce it to 90 days.
SR-22 and insurance
Do I need an SR-22 after a DWI in Texas?
Often. DPS requires one when the court orders it and for an occupational license. You keep it 2 years from the date of conviction.
What happens if my Texas SR-22 lapses?
Your insurer notifies DPS automatically. If no new SR-22 is filed before the old policy ends, DPS can suspend your license and your vehicle registration, and reinstating costs a $100 fee.
Can I get a non-owner SR-22 in Texas?
Yes. DPS says that if you don’t own a vehicle, you should ask an insurance provider about a Texas non-owner SR-22 policy. MIS sells them and files the SR-22 electronically.
Can I show my insurance card instead of an SR-22?
No. DPS says an insurance card or policy won’t be accepted in place of an SR-22.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Texas?
Through MIS, Texas SR-22 insurance starts as low as $29/month. Prices vary with your driving record, the offense, your car and your ZIP code.
What are Texas minimum car insurance limits?
$30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Getting your license back
How much does it cost to reinstate my Texas license after a DWI?
$125 for an ALR suspension, plus $100 for each other suspension type, such as an SR-22 suspension or a missed DWI class deadline. Pay online at DPS’s License Eligibility site ($5.75 convenience fee); driver license offices can’t take these payments.
Need your Texas SR-22 today?
We compare 25+ companies that work with DWI drivers and file your SR-22 electronically. As low as $29/month. Prices vary.
Or call (800) 726-0640 · Se habla español
Licensed Insurance Agency in Texas
MIS Insurance Services, LLC · Texas License #2960567
Where this information comes from
- DPS – Administrative License Revocation (ALR) program
- DPS form DL-176 – Driver License Enforcement Actions
- DPS – Alcohol-related offenses
- DPS – Financial responsibility insurance certificate (SR-22)
- DPS – Occupational driver license
- DPS – Reinstatement fees
- SOAH – Driver’s license hearings
Checked October 31, 2026. Rules change, and your DPS notice and court papers control your case. This page is general information, not legal advice.