A restricted license in Kansas is available in three distinct situations, and when you can get one depends entirely on which situation you are in. Young drivers can qualify at age 15 after completing driver training and holding an instructional permit for a year. Drivers facing a suspension can ask a court to restrict their privileges instead, under K.S.A. 8-292. And drivers suspended after a DUI can apply to the Division of Vehicles for interlock-only driving, available either immediately or after a hard-suspension period depending on the offense.
Each path has its own eligibility rules, its own application, and its own penalties for stepping outside the limits. The right one for you depends on why your driving is restricted in the first place.
Young Drivers: Restricted License at 15 or 16
Kansas issues restricted Class C and Class M licenses to young drivers under K.S.A. 8-2,101. To qualify, you must be at least 15 years old, have completed an approved driver training course, and have held an instructional permit for at least one year with a minimum of 25 hours of supervised driving. A parent or guardian must submit a written application to the Division of Vehicles.1Justia. Kansas Code 8-2,101 – Restricted License Conditions Restrictions and Requirements
What you can do with that license depends on your age. A 15-year-old may drive only to and from school, work, or farm-related activities, and only along the most direct route. Once you turn 16, you enter a six-month graduated period: unsupervised driving is allowed between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., and outside those hours only for work, school activities, religious activities, or when accompanied by an adult holding a valid Class A, B, or C license seated beside you. After the six months pass without violations, the time-of-day limit lifts.1Justia. Kansas Code 8-2,101 – Restricted License Conditions Restrictions and Requirements
Court-Ordered Driving Restrictions
When a Kansas statute or equivalent municipal ordinance allows it, a district or municipal court can restrict your driving privileges instead of imposing a full suspension. You do not apply for this through the Division of Vehicles. The court enters an order, typically as part of sentencing or on a post-sentencing motion filed by you or your attorney, and that order sets the exact terms.2Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-292 – Court Imposition of Driving Privilege Restrictions
Under K.S.A. 8-292, the court may authorize driving only for specific purposes:
- Commuting to and from work or school
- Driving required in the course of your employment
- Medical emergencies
- Court-ordered obligations such as probation or parole meetings, drug or alcohol counseling, or alcohol safety action programs
- Other specific times and places set by the court
Anything outside the order is a violation, even if the trip seems reasonable. When the restriction period ends, you apply to the Division of Vehicles to get your license back. If it expired during the restriction, you will need to apply for a new one and pay the standard licensing fee.2Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-292 – Court Imposition of Driving Privilege Restrictions
Restricted Driving After a DUI
DUI-related restricted driving is handled administratively by the Division of Vehicles, not the court. When you can start driving again depends on two things: whether you failed a breath or blood test (or were convicted) versus refused one, and how many prior occurrences you have.
If you failed the test or have an alcohol- or drug-related conviction, K.S.A. 8-1014 sets a 30-day hard suspension for a first occurrence, followed by an interlock restriction period of 180 days for most first offenders, or one year if you have certain prior convictions. A second occurrence brings a one-year suspension followed by one year of interlock-only driving. Third, fourth, and fifth-or-more occurrences carry a one-year suspension followed by two, three, or ten years of interlock-only driving respectively.3Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1014 – Suspension and Restriction of Driving Privileges
Refusing the test is treated more harshly. Every refusal begins with a full one-year hard suspension during which you cannot drive at all. The interlock restriction that follows is two years for a first refusal, three for a second, four for a third, five for a fourth, and ten for a fifth or more.3Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1014 – Suspension and Restriction of Driving Privileges
You do not have to wait out the entire suspension period. Under K.S.A. 8-1015, you may apply to the Division of Vehicles to convert the remainder of a test-failure suspension into interlock-only driving. The Division charges a $100 application fee and will approve the request unless your privileges are also restricted, suspended, or revoked under a separate action. Once approved, you must carry the restriction order with you whenever you drive.4Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1015 – Authorized Restrictions of Driving Privileges and Ignition Interlock Device
How to Apply
For a court-ordered restriction under K.S.A. 8-292, there is no separate application to the Division of Vehicles. You or your attorney request the restriction from the court itself.
For DUI interlock driving and other administrative restricted privileges, the Division of Vehicles handles the process. You first register with the Kansas Department of Revenue Customer Service Center online, then complete form DC-1020, available in both online and paper form. Division staff review the application to determine eligibility. For DUI-related requests, you will need to provide proof that an ignition interlock device has been installed on your vehicle.5Kansas Department of Revenue. Apply for Modified Driving Privileges
The general restricted license application itself has no fee. The DUI-specific interlock modification carries the $100 fee set by K.S.A. 8-1015.6Justia. Kansas Code 8-1015 – Authorized Restrictions of Driving Privileges and Ignition Interlock Device
Supporting documents help. A letter from your employer stating your work schedule, whether driving is required, and whether you use a personal or company vehicle can be decisive when work driving is the basis for the request. Medical appointment records serve a similar role if health care is the reason.
What It Costs
Kansas also requires an SR-22 proof of financial responsibility filing under K.S.A. 40-3118 for DUI-related suspensions and certain other serious violations. You must maintain continuous SR-22 coverage for 12 months, and if the coverage lapses even briefly the 12-month clock restarts from the date you restore it. The SR-22 itself is not a separate policy; it is a certificate your insurer files with the state confirming you carry at least minimum liability coverage. Expect a filing fee and a higher premium.
If you are serving a DUI interlock restriction, the device costs add up:
- Ignition interlock lease: roughly $70 to $100 or more per month
- Installation: a one-time fee starting around $150
- Calibration: periodic recalibration visits typically $25 or more each
- Application fee: $100 under K.S.A. 8-10154Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1015 – Authorized Restrictions of Driving Privileges and Ignition Interlock Device
- Reinstatement fee: $81 per charge when full privileges are restored
For a first-time offender serving a 30-day suspension followed by 180 days of interlock-only driving, the interlock alone (lease, installation, and calibration) can easily exceed $1,000 before insurance and reinstatement fees.
Penalties for Driving Outside the Restriction
Driving outside the terms of any restricted license or privilege is a misdemeanor under K.S.A. 8-291. A first conviction carries a fine of up to $250 and a license suspension of 30 days to two years. A second or subsequent conviction brings a fine of up to $500 and a suspension of 90 days to two years.7Justia. Kansas Code 8-291 – Operating Motor Vehicle in Violation of Restrictions
A DUI interlock violation is treated separately and more severely. Under K.S.A. 8-1015, a conviction for violating the interlock restriction adds a full year of suspension on top of whatever suspension or restriction time you were already serving.4Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1015 – Authorized Restrictions of Driving Privileges and Ignition Interlock Device
Commercial Drivers
A Kansas restricted driving privilege does not restore commercial driving. Federal regulations under 49 CFR 391.15 disqualify any driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for the entire duration of a license suspension, revocation, or withdrawal, and the disqualification lasts until the licensing authority fully restores commercial driving privileges. A restricted license or interlock-only authorization does not count.8eCFR. 49 CFR 391.15 – Disqualification of Drivers You must also notify your employer before the end of the next business day after receiving notice that your license has been suspended or revoked.
Driving Outside Kansas
A Kansas restricted privilege does not automatically travel across state lines. Most states participate in the Driver License Compact and report convictions and suspensions to one another, so a Kansas suspension or restriction will show up on your record elsewhere. Whether another state honors the specific terms of your Kansas restricted order is up to that state’s law and enforcement. If the other state treats your status as a plain suspension rather than a limited privilege, you could face charges for driving on a suspended license there. Unless the restriction order or the Division of Vehicles specifically authorizes out-of-state travel, staying within Kansas is the safest approach.