The number everyone asks about is $680. That is a $250 reinstatement fee plus a $430 surcharge, charged "for each instance of revocation" after a DWI-related revocation (Minn. Stat. § 171.29, subd. 2). It is paid to Driver and Vehicle Services, not the court, and it is separate from any fine.
The sequence
- Serve the revocation period — or, if you qualify, enrol in the ignition interlock program and drive on a restricted license while you serve it. The periods are in the license guide: at least 90 days for a first test failure, at least a year for a refusal or a 0.16, and interlock for anyone with a qualifying prior in the past 20 years (§ 171.178).
- Pass the DWI knowledge test at a DVS exam station and apply for a new license.
- Pay the $250 fee and the $430 surcharge (§ 171.29, subd. 2).
- Show proof of insurance — usually the SR-22 certificate your insurer files.
- If you were ordered to treatment or counselling as a condition of an earlier reinstatement, show proof you complied (§ 169A.55, subd. 2).
The ignition interlock
The interlock program (§ 171.306) lets you drive during a revocation, with a breath-testing device wired to the ignition, a restricted license, and a monthly device fee paid to the vendor. For most repeat incidents it is not optional — the revocation simply continues until the commissioner determines you used an interlock in compliance with the program (§ 171.178). Driving without a required interlock while revoked is itself a gross misdemeanor under the 2025 law.
About "mandatory treatment"
You will read that the 2025 law makes treatment mandatory for everyone. Be careful with that. The subdivisions of § 169A.55 that used to carry a treatment requirement were repealed by the same 2025 law, and the current reinstatement section requires proof of compliance with treatment "previously prescribed, if any." Whether an assessment or treatment is required in your case depends on your revocation, your court sentence and any interlock conditions — it is a question for the attorney, not a blog.
Where to go
Reinstatement paperwork is handled by DVS exam stations and the Driver Compliance unit; forms and the interlock application are on the DVS interlock program page. If a chemical health assessment is required, assessment providers listed in The Blue Pages →
Sources
- Minn. Stat. § 171.29, subd. 2 — reinstatement fee ($250) and surcharge ($430)
- Minn. Stat. § 171.306 — ignition interlock device program
- Minn. Stat. § 171.178 — revocation periods and interlock requirement for repeat incidents
- Minn. Stat. § 169A.55, subd. 2 — reinstatement; compliance with treatment previously prescribed
- Minnesota DVS — Ignition Interlock Device Program
Checked against the sources above on 2026-09-04. This is general information about Minnesota law, not legal advice, and it can't account for your situation. Laws change — several of these did on August 1, 2025. Talk to an attorney.