Minnesota DWI Partial Pay Program: Split Your $680 Reinstatement Fee

The $680 license reinstatement fee after a Minnesota DWI is one of the larger administrative costs — and it hits at a time when you're already facing attorney fees, increased insurance premiums, possible interlock costs, and court fines. If paying it all at once is a hardship, DVS offers a partial pay program that lets you split the fee into two installments.

How the Partial Pay Program Works

Instead of paying the full $680 upfront, you make an initial payment of $395 ($365 plus a $30 filing fee). This initial payment reinstates your license for a two-year provisional period.

During those two years, you must pay the remaining $345 ($315 plus a $30 filing fee) to maintain your reinstatement. If you don't pay the balance within the two-year window, your license can be re-suspended until the full amount is paid.

The program effectively converts a single $680 payment into two payments of roughly equal size, giving you breathing room during the most expensive period after a DWI.

Who Can Use It

The partial pay program is available to most first-offense DWI drivers who need to pay the alcohol-related reinstatement fee. You don't need to demonstrate financial hardship — it's available as a standard option through DVS.

However, there are specific categories of drivers who are statutorily barred from using the program:

• Driver Diversion Program participants. DVS's Driver Diversion Program is a separate licensing program, not a county prosecutor DWI diversion that dismissed criminal charges. Enrollment in the DVS program bars partial pay; you'll need to pay the full $680 upfront.
• Criminal vehicular operation convictions. If your case involved an accident causing injury or death and was charged as criminal vehicular operation, the partial pay option is unavailable.

How to Apply

The partial pay program is administered through DVS. You can apply at a DVS exam station or by contacting DVS's Driver Compliance office. You'll need to:

1. Confirm your eligibility (no diversion or CVO exclusion)
2. Provide identification and your revocation documentation
3. Make the initial payment of $395
4. Receive confirmation of your provisional reinstatement

The provisional reinstatement comes with a condition: the remaining balance must be paid within two years. DVS will send reminders, but the responsibility to track the deadline is ultimately yours.

The Interlock Interaction

Under the 2025 HF 2130 reforms, drivers can enroll in the ignition interlock program before paying the full $680 reinstatement fee. The fee must still be paid in full before transitioning from interlock-restricted driving to a standard, unrestricted license.

This means you could combine partial pay with interlock enrollment: make the initial $395 payment, drive on the interlock program, and pay the remaining $345 before your interlock period ends. The interlock lease costs ($70–$140 per month) run concurrently, so the total monthly financial burden during this period can be significant.

Is It Worth It?

The partial pay program doesn't reduce the total amount you owe — it's still $680 plus two $30 filing fees ($740 total, compared to $680 if paid at once). You pay $60 more for the privilege of splitting the payment.

Whether that $60 premium is worth it depends on your cash flow. If the full $680 at once creates genuine hardship — competing with rent, insurance premiums, or interlock costs — the partial pay program gives you room to breathe. If you can manage the lump sum, paying upfront saves $60 and eliminates the risk of missing the two-year balance deadline.

The Minnesota First-Offense DUI Guide includes the full reinstatement cost breakdown, including the partial pay option, alongside the other fees and forms required to get your license back.

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