Traffic Tickets 
Family Law 
Personal Injury 
Driver’s License Issues 
Criminal Defense 
Estate Plan
Suspended Driver's License Restoration & Occupational License Services
Helping Restore Your Driving Privileges
3 Easy Steps to Get an Occupational License
Typically Takes Two Weeks or Less
We check your eligibility, provide a quote, and send you paperwork.
Review and sign the paperwork either digitally or at our office.
We file the necessary paperwork and represent you in court.
Total Fee Starts at $550
Includes Filing Fee - No Hidden Fees!
What Is an Occupational Driver’s License?
An occupational driver’s license (ODL), also known as an essential needs license or a restricted license, allows you to drive for essential needs. The law defines essential needs as driving for work-related purposes, school-related purposes, and essential household needs. Work-related purposes include going to and from work and driving required by your employer as a part of your job, for example, driving to a job site or for a sales call. School-related purposes include going to and from school for you and your children as appropriate. Essential household purposes include anything necessary to maintain your household, such as driving to the grocery store or doctor’s office.
An occupational driver’s license has certain restrictions. For example, you may be restricted in the times and places you can drive in addition to the reasons you can drive, as referenced above. We can work with the issuing court to ensure these restrictions are the least restrictive possible. In most cases, we can obtain the occupational license without you needing to appear in court. You will usually have to get an SR-22 insurance policy (see below) and may have to keep a logbook. Upon obtaining an occupational driver’s license, our staff will work with you to make sure you understand what you need to do to comply with the occupational driver’s license requirements.
Do You Need an Occupational Driver’s License – Maybe Not
If your Texas driver’s license is suspended, there may be steps you can take to get your driver’s license restored. We can help walk you through these steps; however, not all problems can be fixed. For example, your driver’s license may be suspended for a certain period of time or restitution following an accident that you cannot pay. In these cases, you must obtain an occupational driver’s license to drive legally. In other cases, you may have an Omni hold or two that needs to be lifted and/or a reinstatement fee that needs to be paid. If this is the case, you may not necessarily need an occupational driver’s license. Determining why your Texas driver’s license is suspended and how to restore your driving privileges can be complicated. We can review your case and provide solutions to restore your driving privileges.
Why Get an Occupational License?
If your license has been suspended, revoked, or denied, you cannot legally drive, but that does not mean life stops. An occupational driver’s license will allow you to legally drive for essential needs, such as going to and from work and school, and necessary trips to maintain your household, such as trips to the store and doctor’s offices.
If you drive with an invalid or revoked license, you may be subject to arrest, fines, and an additional license suspension. The cost of the occupational license is far less than the consequences of driving without a valid license and provides you peace of mind.
Why Use Hawkins & Walker, PC?
The costs, rules, and procedures for issuing an occupational driver’s license vary based on why your license was suspended and where the application is filed. Courts cannot and will not assist in dealing with the complexities of applying for the license. In addition, not everyone with a suspended license needs an occupational driver’s license or is eligible.
When you contact us, our experienced staff will review your status to ensure that you need an occupational license and are eligible. If you are eligible, we can take care of the necessary paperwork without you coming into our office.
In most cases, we can get the occupational license without you appearing in court. Not only does this save you time and anxiety, but you can also be assured that the process will be handled as professionally and expeditiously as possible. With more than 35 years of combined criminal defense and traffic law experience, including representing numerous individuals in occupational license matters, the lawyers of Hawkins & Walker, PC have the experience and expertise to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.
Occupational License Knowledge Center
Have Questions - We have Answers!
An Omni hold is a hold on your driver’s license for failure to appear on a citation or failure to pay a fine that has been accessed. The Omni hold may be lifted upon payment of an Omni fee and posting of a surety bond if there has been an alias warrant or appealing the case to a higher court.
You can check to see if you have Omni holds by clicking here.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) charges a reinstatement fee when your license is suspended. The fee needs to be paid to get your license reinstated. If your license has been suspended for multiple items, you may have multiple reinstatement fees.
To check and pay your reinstatement fees, click here.
SR22 is a financial responsibility insurance certificate that verifies that the holder maintains auto insurance. With the certificate, the insurance company will notify the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) that the holder of the policy has the minimum amount of insurance required by law. The insurance carrier will also notify DPS if the policy is canceled, terminated or lapses.
Most, but not all, insurance companies can issue SR-22 certificates. If you have an existing insurance policy, your agent will likely be able to add an SR-22 certificate to your existing policy. You can get an SR-22 certificate even if you do not own a vehicle.
TYPICALLY NO. We can usually file in a court that will not require you to appear. This is not true in all counties.
You can get an ODL if you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or a commercial learning Permit (CLP); however, you cannot drive a commercial motor vehicle with an occupational driver’s license. You can operate any vehicle that you would be able to operate with a class C, non-CDL license.
If the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Medical Advisory Board (MAB) determines that you may have a medical condition affecting your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, the Department may suspend your license. The most common ways an individual is referred to MAB are:
- The individual self-reports his/her medical condition,
- DPS refers an individual due to an evaluation conducted at the driver’s license office,
- The individual has multiple convictions for alcohol or drugs on their driving record or
- Law enforcement or a physician with cause for concern reports an individual to DPS for further evaluation. If the department has suspended your license for medical reasons, you cannot get an occupational license; however, we may be able to help get your license reinstated through an administrative hearing.
If your license has been suspended by a court order for non-payment of child support, you are not eligible for an occupational license; however, our family law attorney may be able to help.
An SR SUSPENSION – NO LIABILITY INSURANCE is issued when you have received two or more convictions for driving without liability insurance. This suspension will remain until you submit and maintain proof of Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) for two years from the date of conviction. In addition, you will have to pay a reinstatement fee.
For more information about SR22, please see the “What is SR22 Insurance?” tab above. For more information about reinstatement fees, please see the “What Is a Reinstatement Fee?” tab above.
An SR SUSPENSION—ACCIDENT is issued when it is believed that you caused a motor vehicle accident and did not have insurance or financial responsibility to cover the damages that resulted from the accident.
An SR SUSPENSION—ACCIDENT may be removed through an administrative hearing if a hearing is requested within 20 days of the notice letter from DPS. Alternatively, an SR SUSPENSION—ACCIDENT may be removed if a lawsuit is not filed against you within two years of the accident. In this case, the hold is removed by filing an SR60. Finally, if you are past the time to request a hearing but the accident was less than two years ago, you can obtain an occupational driver’s license.
Feel free to contact us to see which option applies to you.
An SR SUSPENSION – LIABILITY JUDGMENT is issued when a judgment has been issued against you for causing an accident.
An SR SUSPENSION – LIABILITY JUDGMENT hold may be removed by paying the judgment or entering into an installment payment to pay the judgment. In the alternative, an SR SUSPENSION – LIABILITY JUDGMENT hold can be removed if the judgment is at least ten years old and there has been no execution (formal collection procedure). In this case, the hold is removed by filing an SR88. Finally, if you are not in a position to pay the judgment and the judgment is less than ten years old, you can obtain an occupational driver’s license.
Feel free to contact us to see which option applies to you.
Free Driver's License Review
Have questions regarding the status of your driver’s license? Call 817.877.3355 or complete the questionnaire below for a free driver’s license review. To access your information through DPS, we need your Texas driver’s license number or identification number, the last four digits of your social security number, and your date of birth.
© 2025 Hawkins Walker, PC - All Right Reserved. | Disclaimer
