Louisiana Hardship License After DUI

Pays medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs when you injure someone in an at-fault accident. The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles suspends driving privileges immediately if bodily injury liability lapses during the SR-22 filing period, requiring reinstatement fees and proof of continuous coverage before restoration.

Covers damage you cause to another vehicle, fence, building, or other property in an at-fault accident. Post-DUI drivers must maintain this coverage without lapse throughout the entire SR-22 filing period or face immediate suspension and a filing period restart.

An SR-22 is not insurance — it is a certificate your insurance carrier files electronically with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles proving you carry at least state minimum liability coverage. DUI offenders must maintain SR-22 filing for three full years from the conviction date. If your carrier cancels your policy or you let coverage lapse for any reason, Louisiana receives an SR-26 cancellation notice within 24 hours and suspends your license immediately, requiring a new SR-22 filing and full three-year period restart.

Pays your medical bills and lost wages if you're hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage. Carriers must offer uninsured motorist coverage equal to your liability limits; you can reject it only by signing a written rejection form at policy inception — verbal rejection does not count and the coverage is automatically included if the form is missing.

Louisiana requires ignition interlock device installation for all DUI offenders seeking hardship driving privileges, even first-time offenders. The device prevents the vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on your breath. Some carriers exclude coverage for vehicles equipped with IIDs or charge higher premiums — confirm IID compatibility before purchasing a policy.