OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE INFORMATION

MV3505

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

7/2011

An occupational license is a restricted driver license. Unlike

a regular license, you are limited in where and when you
can drive. You may only drive to and from work or church
or other places indicated on the license and during specific
times of the day. You may not use an occupational license
for recreational purposes or to operate a commercial motor
vehicle. Your total driving time is limited to 12 hours each
day and no more than 60 hours for the entire week. If you
operate outside those specific hours or for a purpose not
permitted on the license, you may be arrested for operating
after suspension or revocation.
If you need to travel through another state, you need to
check to see if they allow operation with a Wisconsin
occupational license. All states may not honor a Wisconsin
occupational license.

WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE

If you are a Wisconsin resident, you may be eligible to obtain
an occupational license if your operating privilege was revoked
or suspended under the following circumstances:
A traffic offense under Ch. 343 Wis. Stats.
A drug conviction under s.961.50 (except juveniles).
Nonpayment of child support under s.767.303.
An Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) or Repeat Habitual
Traffic Offender (RHT) under Ch. 351 Wis. Stats.

WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE

An occupational license cannot be issued:
If you are a juvenile who committed offenses under
Ch. 938 Wis. Stats.
If you are under suspension for failing to pay a forfeiture
(such as a traffic ticket or municipal citation).
If your license has been canceled (rather than revoked
or suspended).
If you have never held a driver license.
If you are eligible to reinstate your driver license after
revocation or suspension.
If you have two or more revocation/suspension cases
from separate incidents in a one-year period.
If you have not served all mandatory waiting periods
for an occupational license.

REQUIRED WAITING PERIODS

Some revocation/suspension cases require that you serve
a mandatory waiting period before you are eligible for an
occupational license. The waiting period begins on the
effective date of your revocation/suspension case. If you
have multiple revocation/suspension cases, you must serve
all waiting periods. The waiting period may vary depending
on your previous driving history and the reason for the current
revocation/suspension. All revocation/suspension cases
require a 15-day waiting period except the following:
Demerit points no waiting period.
Underage alcohol operation no waiting period.
HTO or Repeat HTO (RHT) after 2 years.

Drug Convictions:
First no waiting period.
Second after 60 days.

Third or more after 90 days.

Nonpayment of child support no waiting period.

Wisconsin OWI type violations:

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) no waiting period.
Wisconsin operating while intoxicated (OWI or PAC)

convictions:
First no waiting period.

Second or more after 45 days.

Causing injury while intoxicated after 60 days.
Implied consent refusals:

First after 30 days.

Second after 90 days.

Third or more after 120 days.

Negligent homicide while intoxicated or great bodily
harm after 120 days.

EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDER

If you are employed by a unit of government, public utility,
medical service provider or provide services to one of these,
you may be allowed to operate outside the hours listed on
your occupational license. When operating at a time not
listed on your occupational license, you must be providing
life-sustaining services during an emergency. Emergency
operation during unlisted hours is only allowed to and from
home, work and any emergency site.
An emergency service provider must list less than 60 hours
for non-emergency operation to allow for driving time during
an emergency. Total hours of operation for both emergency
(unlisted hours) and non-emergency (listed hours) cannot
exceed 12 hours per day/60 per week.
If requested by law enforcement, you must be able to prove
you are providing life-sustaining service during an emergency
when operating during unlisted hours.

HOW TO APPLY
You may visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportations
web page www.dot.wisconsindmv.gov to find out if you are
eligible for an occupational license.
You may apply for an occupational license at the nearest
DMV Customer Service Center (excluding DMV Express
Offices). Two hours are needed to process an application.
Plan to arrive at the DMV Customer Service Center at least
two hours before the center is scheduled to close. You need
to do the following:
Complete a Wisconsin Driver License Application
MV3001 and an Application for Occupational Operator
License MV3027. If you are under 18 years old, a
sponsor signature is required.
Complete necessary tests, including vision screening.
Provide proof of your identity, such as an ID with your
picture on it or a document with your signature.
Provide an SR22 insurance certificate.

Pay a $50 fee. Filing an application and paying

a fee does not guarantee issuance of an
occupational license.
If you have two or more OWI convictions and are revoked
for OWI, prove you have completed an assessment and
are participating in a driver safety plan.

If the court ordered you to install an ignition interlock

device (IID) in any vehicle you operate, DMV must be
provided with proof that the IID has been installed.

If you have been revoked as an habitual traffic offender

(HTO), the circuit court in your county of residence must
approve the issuance of your occupational license.

AFTER YOU APPLY

DMV staff at the Customer Service Center reviews your driver
record and application to determine if you are eligible for an
occupational license. The staff at the Customer Service Center
will immediately process most occupational applications.
If necessary, they will FAX your application to the DMV in
Madison for a complete review of your driver record and
application. There, a final determination is made on whether
you are eligible for an occupational license. If you are not
eligible, you will be notified the license will not be issued
and why.
Depending upon the hours the Customer Service Center is
open, you may receive your occupational license the same
day. If it is near the Customer Service Centers closing time or
if they need to FAX your application to the DMV in Madison,
you may be asked to return the next day or the next time that
station is open to have your photo occupational license issued.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR APPLICATION

FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE IS DENIED
If you are denied an occupational license because you
have 3 OWI type offenses within 5 years, or 24 or more
demerit points within one year, and provided all required
waiting periods are over, you can petition the circuit court
in your county of residence for an occupational license. The
petition should include a copy of your driver record, your
denial letter from DMV, your occupational application and
a nonrefundable fee. You can obtain a copy of your driver
record from the DMV by visiting our online services web page
at www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/online.htm or writing to:
Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 7995
Madison, WI 53707-7995
If the court grants your request for an occupational license,
take the court order to a DMV Customer Service Center. If
you meet all other eligibility requirements, your occupational
license will be issued.
If you are denied an occupational license because you have
two or more revocation/suspension cases from separate
incidents within a one year period, you can petition the circuit
court in your county of residence for an occupational license.

However, even if the court grants your request for an

occupational license, DMV will again deny issuance of
an occupational license. The law prohibits issuing an
occupational license to a person with two revocation/
suspension cases from separate incidents, within a one
year period.

HOW DO I MAKE CHANGES TO

MY OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE
If you need to make any changes to the restrictions on your
occupational license, fill out a new Wisconsin Driver License
Application MV3001 and an Occupational Operator License
Application MV3027 at a DMV Customer Service Center. A
$50 nonrefundable fee is required.
The $50 fee will be waived one time to change your hours
so you may complete your driver safety plan AND you did
not list driver safety plan as one of the restrictions on your
current occupational license. Any changes other than hours
require a $50 fee.
If your prior occupational application was approved by
the circuit court in the county of your residence, the court
must approve any changes. The nonrefundable fee is paid
to the court.

HOW DO I GET A DUPLICATE

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE
If you lost your occupational license or need to change your
name or address, you can get a duplicate occupational
license. You do not need to fill out a new Occupational
Operator License Application MV3027. You need to bring
proof of your identity (such as an ID with your picture on it or
a document with your signature) and complete a Wisconsin
Driver License Application MV3001 for a duplicate license.
There is a $14 fee.

MANDATORY INSURANCE
No person may operate a motor vehicle in this State unless
the owner or driver of the vehicle has liability insurance in
effect for the vehicle being operated and carries proof of
insurance whenever driving.
Law Enforcement may ask for proof of insurance at any traffic
stop or accident. Failure to have insurance could result in up
to a $500 fine. Failure to have proof when requested could
result in a $10 fine.
You do not need proof of insurance when registering a
vehicle or obtaining a driver license, unless DMV specifically
requested proof of financial responsibility (SR-22) after a
revocation or suspension. Refer to Wis. Stats 344.61-344.65
for full detail.
Questions?
Call the DMV at 608-266-2261
or send email to: driverrecords.dmv@dot.wi.gov