Idaho Restricted Driving Permit: How to Drive to Work on a Suspended License

What a Restricted Driving Permit Allows

An Idaho Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) lets you drive for specific, essential purposes during a license suspension. It's not a full license — the permit specifies exactly which days, hours, routes, and destinations you're authorized to travel. Driving outside those parameters is treated the same as driving on a suspended license.

Idaho's RDP covers four categories of travel:

• Work: Commuting to and from your job, plus necessary on-the-job driving
• School: Traveling to and from an accredited school where you're enrolled
• Medical: Getting to scheduled medical appointments for you or your dependents
• Treatment: Commuting to court-ordered substance abuse evaluations, treatment, or required support group meetings

No other trips are permitted — not grocery runs, not picking up kids from practice, not visiting family. The permit is a lifeline for keeping your job and meeting court requirements, not a substitute for full driving privileges.

Who Can Get an RDP

Not every suspended driver qualifies. Eligibility depends on the type of suspension:

Eligible:

• First-offense ALS (failed chemical test) — but only after the 30-day absolute suspension period. The RDP covers the remaining 60 days of the 90-day civil suspension.
• Certain DUI court suspensions — a court may grant a judicial restricted permit; the court order controls eligibility and timing.

Not eligible:

• Second or subsequent ALS within five years (one-year suspension, no RDP)
• Chemical test refusal (one- or two-year suspension, no RDP)
• CDL holders for commercial driving — Idaho law prohibits restricted commercial driving permits entirely
• Certain court-ordered suspensions where the judge specifically denied restricted driving

How to Apply

The RDP application requires assembling a complete packet of documents. An incomplete submission gets rejected and you start over, so gather everything before you file.

Required documents:

The following packet applies to an administrative ALS RDP. A judicial permit for a court-ordered DUI suspension follows the sentencing court's instructions.

1. Form ITD 3227 — The core RDP application. Lists your requested driving hours, routes, and destinations.
2. Form ITD 3238 — Driver's Agreement. You sign this affirming you'll comply with every permit restriction.
3. Form ITD 3208 — Work/School Verification. Your employer or school registrar completes this form, certifying your work shifts or class schedule.
4. Medical documentation — If requesting medical travel, a signed letter from your physician describing the treatment schedule.
5. Active SR-22 filing — Your insurer must have already transmitted your SR-22 to the Idaho Insurance Verification System before you apply.
6. Prepaid fees — The $245 ALS reinstatement fee plus a non-refundable $60 RDP application fee.

Where to submit:

• Online through the ITD DMV portal
• In person at a county driver's licensing office
• By mail to Driver Services, PO Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707

Processing takes 3-5 business days for complete applications (excluding mail transit time). You cannot drive until you physically possess the printed RDP — a pending application or payment receipt does not authorize driving.

Interlock Requirement

If your RDP is granted during an ALS or DUI suspension, you must have an approved ignition interlock device (IID) installed on every vehicle you operate. For an ALS, the court can waive the interlock only by specifying the waiver and notifying ITD. Otherwise, you can only drive vehicles equipped with an approved interlock device.

You'll need to:

1. Schedule installation with a state-approved interlock vendor
2. Have the vendor file an installation certificate with ITD
3. Comply with all device maintenance and calibration requirements during the permit period

Typical interlock lease costs run $70-100 per month. The device must remain installed for the duration of your RDP period and any additional period required by ITD or the court order.

What Happens If You Violate the RDP Terms

Driving outside your approved hours, routes, or destinations while on an RDP can be charged as driving without privileges — a first misdemeanor conviction carries up to 6 months in jail, a $500 fine, and a separate six-month court-ordered license suspension following any current suspension. An interlock violation (blowing a positive result or attempting to tamper with the device) can trigger suspension or revocation of the RDP and reactivate the underlying suspension.

The Idaho Driver's License Reinstatement Guide includes the complete RDP application packet checklist and walks through how to document your work schedule and driving routes so your application is approved on the first submission.

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