How Long Is License Suspended for DUI in Kentucky
Suspension Periods by Offense Count
Kentucky uses a 10-year lookback window to count DUI offenses. Prior convictions within that window determine the length of your current suspension. Here are the standard suspension periods without interlock participation:
- First offense: 6 months
- Second offense: 18 months
- Third offense: 36 months
- Fourth or subsequent offense: 60 months
These are administrative suspensions imposed by the KYTC Division of Driver Licensing based on the court conviction. They run separately from any jail time, community service, or probation conditions the sentencing court imposes.
Reducing the Suspension Through KIIP
The Kentucky Ignition Interlock Program allows eligible drivers to swap part of the full suspension for restricted driving with an interlock device installed. The reduction is significant — roughly a third off for first offenses, and progressively more for repeat offenses:
| Offense | Standard Suspension | Reduced via KIIP | Violation-Free Period Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 months | 4 months | 90 consecutive days |
| 2nd | 18 months | 12 months | 120 consecutive days |
| 3rd | 36 months | 18 months | 120 consecutive days |
| 4th+ | 60 months | 30 months | 120 consecutive days |
Participation is not automatic. You must apply using Form TC 94-175, pay a $105 non-refundable fee, and have the device installed within 14 days of receiving the KYTC's approval letter. The suspension reduction clock starts only when the KYTC Regional Office physically issues your restricted interlock license — not when the device is installed.
Refusing the Chemical Test
Refusing a breath, blood, or urine test at the time of arrest results in a suspension under KRS 189A.105 and related provisions.
Even after a refusal, the ignition interlock license path remains available. The judicial hardship license path does not — KRS 189A.410(3) explicitly prohibits courts from issuing hardship licenses to drivers who refused testing.
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Testing Requirements for Reinstatement
The length of your suspension determines what testing the Kentucky State Police (KSP) will require before your license is restored:
Suspended less than 365 days: No retesting required. Pay the $40 reinstatement fee once all other holds are cleared.
Suspended more than 365 days and up to five years: Written and vision tests are mandatory. The $40 reinstatement fee must be paid before you can schedule the test appointment.
Suspended more than five years: You must start the licensing process from scratch — written test, vision screening, learner's permit, and road skills test, as if you were a first-time applicant.
Other Requirements Before Reinstatement
The suspension period ending does not mean automatic reinstatement. You must also:
- Complete any court-ordered substance abuse or DUI education program (a 90-day program for first offenses, or a one-year program for second and subsequent offenses)
- Satisfy all ignition interlock compliance requirements, if you participated in KIIP
- Clear any other holds on your record — court debt, child support, out-of-state flags
- Pay the $40 KYTC reinstatement fee
For a complete walkthrough of the reinstatement sequence after a DUI suspension, including how to handle multiple overlapping holds, see the Kentucky Driver's License Reinstatement Guide.
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