DUI & Your Driver's License

Can I get a license in another state if Florida suspended mine?

Attorney-Reviewed Answer
Reviewed by Christopher Walsh, Criminal Trial Attorney (Fla. Bar #127459). Last reviewed: September 2026
Short Answer
Generally no. States share driver records through an interstate compact, and a Florida suspension will follow you.

The assumption behind this question is that state lines create a fresh start. They don't.

Most states participate in an interstate compact for sharing driver license information, and there's a national registry that flags drivers under suspension in another state. A new state running your record before issuing a license will see the Florida suspension and generally won't issue.

The same works in reverse — a suspension in another state can affect your Florida privilege.

What this means practically is that the Florida matter has to be resolved rather than escaped. Completing the requirements, satisfying the revocation period, and reinstating are what clears it, and that's true whether you intend to live here or not.

If you've moved, the process can generally be handled remotely and through counsel, but it does have to be handled.

Moving doesn't clear it, but it also doesn't stop you from resolving it from where you are. ---

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This page answers a common question for general informational purposes and is not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Florida law changes; while this answer is reviewed by a licensed Florida attorney, the right answer depends on the specific facts of your situation — consult an attorney. Serving Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties.