DRIVER LICENSE BRANCH – 904 301 BLVD W, BRADENTON
Customers will be charged a $6.25 Tax Collector service fee for information and processing, and additional transaction fees may apply. Visit taxcollector.com to schedule your appointment. Services are for Manatee County residents and businesses only.
If the FLHSMV receives notice of your policy termination and no replacement policy can be verified through the electronic insurance data file, a Financial Responsibility (FR7) suspension will be applied your driver license record. If more than one vehicle was listed on the insurance policy, an FR7 suspension will be added for each vehicle.
This type of suspension affects your driver license and any plates/registrations in your name, and remains in effect for three years or until compliance requirements are met.
Step 1. Save a Trip – You Might NOT Have to Visit Our Office
Follow the FLHSMV’s Wizard for clearance information! flhsmv.gov/insurance/received-a-letter/fr700/
Step 2. Obtain Clearance Documents
Option 1: There was NO insurance on the vehicle
You have two options for how to proceed:
- Insurance company/agent contact info and name, policy number, policy period, company code, vehicle insured (including the VIN number), level of coverage (including PIP/PDL) and name of insured OR
- Florida insurance for another policy/company that was in effect prior to the original suspension date.
If you do not want to purchase Florida insurance now and you cannot prove that you were insured prior to the suspension date, you can surrender the plate/registration of the specific vehicle in question (subject to verification) and pay the applicable reinstatement fee.
If there was PIP/PDL coverage for the specific vehicle that covered the suspension date, proof of this must be presented. The proof of Florida insurance may be a card, policy or binder, provided it lists PIP/PDL coverage and lists the VIN for the specific vehicle. If the insurance was already submitted and was denied, you must present a letter on letterhead from the insurance company which includes:
- Insurance company/agent contact info and name, policy number, policy period, company code, vehicle insured (including the VIN number), level of coverage (including PIP/PDL) and name of insured OR
- Florida insurance for another policy/company that was in effect prior to the original suspension date.
If you cannot prove that you were insured prior to the suspension date and you no longer own the vehicle, you must provide a Bill of Sale to prove non-ownership of the vehicle for which you received the suspension (subject to verification).
Step 3. Reinstate Your Driver License Record
All documents will be scanned and are subject to verification.
Step 4. Acceptable Methods of Payment and Estimated Fees
Estimate of fees* for your reinstatement:
Compliance prior to Suspension $0.00
1st Suspension $150.00
2nd Suspension $250.00
3rd Suspension $500.00
*Fees listed above only apply to reinstatements processed at the Driver License Branch. Online fees may differ slightly.
**Other related reinstatement or issuance fees may apply.
Invalid License Information
Is your license currently suspended, revoked and/or cancelled? If your driver license is suspended, revoked and/or cancelled, driving any type of vehicle may result in:
- ARREST by law enforcement
- TOWING of your vehicle
We urge you to respect the law and make arrangements other than driving a vehicle to avoid the unfortunate events above. A free public phone and computer are provided in the lobby to call for a ride from our office or to access the Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) website.
Note: A minor child operating a motor vehicle with a learner license must be accompanied by another adult with a valid license (non-suspended).
How can you get your license back once it's reinstated? If your license was retained by one of our branches due to a suspension, revocation and/or cancellation, you may be able to have it returned for no additional fee once it has been reinstated. Licenses retained by our office are only kept for a short period of time before they are destroyed.
If you are interested in getting your license back, you must do the following within 1-2 days after your license was retained.
- Return to the branch that retained your license.
- Print the screen from https://mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov/home/en/publicweb/dlcheck that shows your license is “VALID” that day.
- Provide the screen print to the receptionist.
If your license has been destroyed or you opt to purchase a replacement license at the time you reinstate your driving privilege, you would be subject to the $31.25 replacement fee.