How long is your license suspended for a DWI in Louisiana?

If you are arrested for DWI in Louisiana, one of the first concerns is usually your driver’s license.

A common question is:
“How long will my license be suspended?”

The answer depends on several factors, including whether you submitted to a chemical test, your prior history, and whether you take action quickly after the arrest.

Two Separate Issues: Suspension vs. Criminal Case

In Louisiana, a DWI arrest triggers two separate processes:

Administrative license suspension through the Office of Motor Vehicles
Criminal court proceedings

The license suspension happens independently of the criminal case. That means your license can be suspended even if your court case is still pending.

The 30-Day Deadline Most People Miss

After a DWI arrest, you typically have 30 days to request an administrative hearing.

If you do not request that hearing in time:

Your license will be automatically suspended
You lose the opportunity to challenge the suspension

This is one of the most important deadlines in a Louisiana DWI case.

How Long Is the Suspension?

The length of a license suspension depends largely on:

whether you submitted to testing
whether you refused testing
your prior DWI history

First Offense DWI (Most Common Situation)

If you submitted to a breath or blood test over the legal limit:

License suspension is typically 90 days

If you refused the test:

License suspension is typically 1 year

Refusal penalties are longer because Louisiana’s implied consent law allows the state to impose additional consequences for refusing chemical testing.

Second Offense or Prior History

If you have prior DWI-related incidents within the applicable time period, the suspension periods can increase.

In those cases, the exact length of the suspension depends on:

prior convictions
prior refusals
timing of previous cases

These situations often require a more detailed review.

What Is an Administrative Hearing?

An administrative hearing is your opportunity to challenge the proposed license suspension.

At that hearing, issues may include:

whether the officer had legal grounds for the stop
whether proper procedures were followed
whether the arrest was lawful
whether testing procedures were handled correctly

This process is separate from your court case and follows its own rules and timeline.

Can You Still Drive During the Suspension?

In many cases, drivers may be eligible for a hardship license or a restricted license.

This can allow driving for:

work
school
medical needs

However, eligibility depends on:

the type of suspension
prior history
compliance with certain requirements

Ignition Interlock and Reinstatement Requirements

After certain DWI suspensions, drivers may be required to:

install an ignition interlock device
obtain SR-22 insurance
pay reinstatement fees

These requirements can affect how quickly full driving privileges are restored.

Why Timing Matters

One of the biggest mistakes drivers make is assuming they can wait to deal with the license issue.

Because the administrative process moves quickly:

missing deadlines can eliminate options
delays can extend the time without driving privileges

Taking action early can affect how the license suspension is handled.

The Bottom Line

The length of a DWI-related license suspension in Louisiana depends on several factors, but for many first-time cases:

180 days if you submitted to testing. 2 years if you tested .15 or above
1 year if you refused testing

More importantly, the suspension process starts quickly after the arrest and operates separately from the criminal case.

Understanding the timing and procedures involved is critical to protecting your ability to drive.

DWI Attorney Can Help

Hiring a DWI attorney in Shreveport such as Carl Barkemeyer can help you when facing a DWI suspension or charge.

Carl Barkemeyer wrote the book on DWI: Practical Information for the Accused and Attorneys in Louisiana.

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