Limited Driving Privilege (LDP)

If your Missouri driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or denied and is not currently eligible for reinstatement—but you need to drive for employment or other important matters—you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP). Some people refer to this as a “hardship license”.

The LDP, if granted, will allow you to drive a motor vehicle in certain pre-approved situations. However, if you have specific types of convictions or administrative actions on your driver record, you may not be eligible to receive an LDP.

NOTE: Effective July 5, 2013, changes to Missouri law (302.309, RSMo), may make the LDP available to drivers who were previously not eligible. The following FAQs will help you in determining if you are eligible to apply for an LDP and, if so, how to submit your application.

NOTE: A person cannot obtain an LDP to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

What would make me ineligible to receive a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP)?

NOTE: If you have an active 5- or 10-year Denial on your driver record, you cannot submit an application to the Department of Revenue. Instead, you must petition the circuit court for an LDP.

Under Missouri law, the reasons you cannot get an LDP include, but are not limited to:

  1. Your Missouri driving privilege is eligible for reinstatement but not all of the reinstatement requirements have been met.
  2. You have been convicted, during the last five years, of a felony involving a motor vehicle.
  3. You have a suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification of commercial driving privileges (NOTE: Only a non-commercial LDP may be issued in this case).
  4. You have a revocation for failure to pass a driving or medical examination as required by the Director of Revenue.
  5. You have a suspension for an unsatisfied motor vehicle accident judgment (until payment has been made and compliance has been met).
  6. You have a suspension for failure to pay a ticket in Missouri or another state (until payment has been made and compliance has been met).
  7. You have a suspension that resulted from a conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving with an excessive blood alcohol concentration (BAC). You may be eligible for a Restricted Driving Privilege (RDP).
  8. You have an Administrative Alcohol Suspension (for driving a motor vehicle with a BAC over the legal limit). You may be eligible for a Restricted Driving Privilege (RDP).
  9. You are not currently a Missouri resident, or (if a resident of another state) you do not work or attend school in Missouri.

How do I apply for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP)?

There are two ways to apply for an LDP.

NOTE: If you have an active 5- or 10-year Denial on your driver record, you cannot submit an application to the Department of Revenue. Instead, you must petition the circuit court for an LDP.