Iowa gives you 10 days to request a revocation hearing after a DUI arrest. Miss that window and your license is gone for at least 180 days before you can apply for SR-22 reinstatement.
Request Your Iowa DOT Revocation Hearing Within 10 Days of Arrest
Iowa law gives you exactly 10 calendar days from your OWI arrest date to request an administrative revocation hearing with the Iowa Department of Transportation. This hearing is separate from your criminal court case. If you do not request it in writing within 10 days, your license revokes automatically for a minimum of 180 days for a first offense, and you cannot apply for a temporary restricted license or SR-22 reinstatement until that period ends.
The 10-day clock starts the day you are arrested, not the day you are charged or arraigned. Weekends and state holidays count. Your criminal defense attorney does not automatically file this request unless you explicitly confirm they will. Most OWI attorneys handle the criminal case but expect you to handle the DOT hearing request separately.
To request the hearing, send a written request to the Iowa DOT Driver Services at Park Fair Mall, 100 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50313. Include your full name, date of birth, driver's license number, arrest date, and arresting agency. Send it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of the postmark date. If the DOT receives your request after the 10-day window closes, they will deny the hearing and proceed with automatic revocation.
What Happens If You Win or Lose the Revocation Hearing
If you win the DOT revocation hearing, your license stays valid until your criminal OWI case concludes. Winning the hearing does not dismiss the criminal charge. It only prevents the administrative license revocation during the criminal case. If you are later convicted in criminal court, the DOT will revoke your license at that point and require SR-22 filing for reinstatement.
If you lose the hearing or never request it, Iowa revokes your license immediately. For a first OWI offense with a BAC below 0.10, the revocation period is 180 days minimum. For a first offense with BAC at or above 0.10, the revocation period is 1 year. Repeat offenses carry longer revocation periods. You cannot drive during this time unless you qualify for a temporary restricted license after the first 30 or 90 days, depending on your offense level.
Once the revocation period ends, you must file SR-22 proof of insurance with the Iowa DOT to apply for reinstatement. Iowa requires SR-22 filing for 2 years from the reinstatement date, not the conviction date. If your SR-22 lapses at any point during those 2 years, the DOT suspends your license again and the 2-year filing clock resets to zero from the day you refile.
Find out exactly how long SR-22 is required in your state
Get SR-22 Insurance Before Your Revocation Period Ends
Iowa requires SR-22 filing to reinstate your license after an OWI revocation. The SR-22 is not a type of insurance. It is a certificate your insurance carrier files electronically with the Iowa DOT to prove you carry at least the state minimum liability coverage: $20,000 per person for bodily injury, $40,000 per incident, and $15,000 for property damage.
Most mainstream carriers, including State Farm, Geico, Allstate, and Progressive, will file SR-22 for existing customers but typically non-renew the policy at the end of the term. If you do not already have coverage, you will need a non-standard auto insurance carrier that writes OWI-SR-22 policies. Carriers actively writing OWI-SR-22 in Iowa include Dairyland, Progressive (through their non-standard division), The General, and Direct Auto. Not all national carriers write SR-22 policies for new OWI applicants.
Contact carriers 2 to 3 weeks before your revocation period ends so your SR-22 filing is active on the day you apply for reinstatement. The carrier files the SR-22 electronically with the Iowa DOT. Most filings appear in the DOT system within 24 to 48 hours. Iowa charges a $600 reinstatement fee in addition to the SR-22 filing fee, which ranges from $15 to $50 depending on the carrier. Your insurance premium will increase 70% to 150% after an OWI, with monthly premiums typically ranging from $180 to $320 per month for minimum liability coverage.
Temporary Restricted License Eligibility and Requirements
Iowa allows most first-offense OWI drivers to apply for a temporary restricted license (TRL) after serving a portion of the revocation period. If your BAC was below 0.10 and you did not refuse chemical testing, you can apply for a TRL after 30 days. If your BAC was at or above 0.10 or you refused testing, you must wait 90 days before applying.
The TRL allows you to drive only for work, school, medical appointments, substance abuse treatment, and court-ordered programs. You cannot use it for personal errands or social trips. Iowa requires SR-22 filing and installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on any vehicle you operate during the TRL period. The IID requirement lasts the entire TRL period, which runs until your full revocation period ends.
To apply for a TRL, submit an Application for Temporary Restricted License (form 430055) to the Iowa DOT, along with proof of SR-22 insurance, proof of IID installation, and a $200 application fee. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days. You cannot drive legally during the mandatory waiting period or while the TRL application is pending unless you have a valid out-of-state license from a state with an interstate compact exception, which Iowa does not honor for OWI revocations.
Complete Your OWI Education and Substance Abuse Evaluation
Iowa requires all OWI offenders to complete a state-approved substance abuse evaluation before reinstatement. The evaluation determines whether you need to complete additional treatment or education as a condition of getting your license back. Most first-offense drivers are assigned to the Iowa Drinking Driver Course, a 12-hour education program offered through community colleges and certified providers statewide.
You can complete the evaluation and course during your revocation period. Do not wait until the revocation ends. The Iowa DOT will not reinstate your license until you provide proof of completion, and most providers have 2- to 4-week waiting lists for available course dates. The evaluation costs $50 to $150 depending on the provider, and the education course costs $75 to $125.
If the evaluation recommends treatment instead of education, you must complete the full treatment program before reinstatement. Treatment programs range from outpatient counseling to inpatient residential programs depending on the evaluation findings. Failing to complete the assigned program extends your revocation indefinitely. Iowa will not accept education or treatment completed in another state unless that state's program is pre-approved by the Iowa Department of Public Health, which is rare.
What Happens to Your Out-of-State License After an Iowa OWI
If you hold a driver's license from another state and are arrested for OWI in Iowa, Iowa cannot revoke your out-of-state license. However, Iowa reports your OWI conviction to your home state through the Driver License Compact, and your home state will take action based on its own OWI laws. Most states will suspend or revoke your license for an out-of-state OWI just as they would for an in-state conviction.
Iowa will place a hold on your privilege to drive in Iowa until you satisfy Iowa's reinstatement requirements, including SR-22 filing and completion of the substance abuse evaluation. Even if your home state reinstates your license, you cannot legally drive in Iowa until you clear the Iowa hold. This matters if you live near the Iowa border, work in Iowa, or plan to return to Iowa for any reason.
If you move to Iowa with an active OWI revocation from another state, Iowa will not issue you an Iowa license until you satisfy the other state's reinstatement requirements and clear the revocation from your driving record. Iowa participates in the Problem Driver Pointer System, which flags unresolved out-of-state revocations when you apply for an Iowa license.
Timeline Summary: First 30 Days and Beyond
Day 1 to 10: Request your Iowa DOT revocation hearing in writing and send it certified mail. If you miss this window, your license revokes automatically and you cannot contest it.
Day 1 to 30: Hire a criminal defense attorney if you have not already. Complete your substance abuse evaluation so you know what education or treatment you must finish before reinstatement. Contact non-standard insurance carriers for SR-22 rate quotes so you are not scrambling later.
Day 30 to 90: If eligible, apply for a temporary restricted license. Install an ignition interlock device and file SR-22 insurance before submitting your TRL application. Complete your assigned OWI education course if the evaluation recommends it.
Day 180 or 365: Your revocation period ends based on your offense level. File SR-22 insurance if you have not already, pay your $600 reinstatement fee, and submit proof of completed education or treatment to the Iowa DOT. Once reinstated, maintain continuous SR-22 coverage for 2 years from the reinstatement date. Any lapse resets the clock to zero.
