The Point Question Drivers Ask After a DUI Arrest
You received a DUI citation in Idaho and immediately started calculating how many points would land on your record. You know that accumulating points triggers license suspension, so you searched for the specific point value assigned to DUI convictions. The search brought you here because the answer contradicts what most drivers expect: Idaho DUI convictions do not add points to your driving record.
The confusion is structural. Idaho operates two parallel systems — a point-based system for moving violations like speeding or failure to yield, and an administrative suspension system for DUI offenses that bypasses points entirely. Your license suspension happens through Idaho Transportation Department administrative action under Idaho Code 18-8002A, not through point accumulation. The 90-day suspension period begins 30 days after your arrest unless you request an administrative hearing within seven calendar days.
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Get Your Free QuoteIdaho DUI Suspension Period
90 days
First-offense DUI triggers automatic 90-day administrative license suspension under I.C. 18-8002A. The suspension starts 30 days after arrest unless you file for an administrative hearing within seven days of the arrest date.
Idaho Code 18-8002A
Why Idaho DUI Suspensions Bypass the Point System
Idaho's point system exists to track and penalize unsafe driving patterns — speeding tickets, improper lane changes, following too closely. These violations accumulate points over a 12-month period, and reaching specific thresholds (12 points for drivers under 21, 18 points for drivers 21 and older within 12 months) triggers a suspension. DUI offenses operate outside this framework because the state treats impaired driving as an immediate public safety threat requiring instant administrative response.
The administrative suspension process begins the moment law enforcement submits your arrest report to the Idaho Transportation Department. You receive a Notice of Suspension that functions as a temporary driving permit for 30 days. During this window you can request an administrative hearing to contest the suspension, but most drivers do not realize the hearing must be requested within seven calendar days — missing this deadline means the suspension proceeds automatically on day 31.
The criminal DUI case in court runs on a separate timeline. Your license is already suspended administratively before the criminal case resolves. If you are convicted in criminal court, that conviction adds no additional points but does trigger the three-year SR-22 filing requirement and the $285 reinstatement fee. The point system never touches your DUI — the administrative suspension and the criminal conviction penalties operate independently.
Idaho DUI administrative suspension proceeds automatically 30 days after arrest unless you request a hearing within seven calendar days — missing this window removes your only chance to contest the suspension before it starts.
The Two Pathways That Run Simultaneously After DUI Arrest
The administrative suspension pathway begins when Idaho Transportation Department receives your arrest report. You receive a Notice of Suspension that serves as a 30-day temporary permit. Within seven calendar days of arrest, you must file a written request for an administrative hearing if you want to contest the suspension. The hearing examines only whether law enforcement had probable cause to stop you, whether you were lawfully arrested, and whether your BAC exceeded .08 or you refused testing. If you do not request a hearing or if the hearing officer upholds the suspension, your driving privilege ends on day 31 and remains suspended for 90 days.
The criminal court case runs independently. Your arraignment typically occurs within weeks of arrest, but the case may take months to resolve through plea negotiations or trial. A criminal DUI conviction carries separate penalties: fines, possible jail time, mandatory alcohol evaluation and treatment, and ignition interlock device installation if you seek a Restricted Driving Permit during suspension. The criminal conviction also triggers the three-year SR-22 filing requirement and the $285 reinstatement fee. These penalties layer on top of the administrative suspension — they do not replace it.
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Restricted Driving Permits and the SR-22 Filing Requirement
Idaho allows drivers to apply for a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) during the 90-day administrative suspension period. The permit costs $60 and allows driving to work, school, medical appointments, alcohol treatment programs, and basic life necessities within geographic limits set by the court. For first-offense DUI with administrative suspension under 18-8002A, the permit restricts driving to 8am–5pm Monday through Friday.
Obtaining the RDP requires completing several steps before Idaho Transportation Department will issue the permit. You must submit Form ITD-3227, employer or school verification on Form ITD-3208, a signed Drivers Agreement (ITD-3238), proof of liability insurance, and SR-22 filing if your criminal case has resolved. The ignition interlock device must be installed before the permit is issued — the installer provides verification directly to ITD. Processing takes approximately five business days after ITD receives complete documentation.
The SR-22 filing requirement begins after criminal conviction, not at the time of administrative suspension. SR-22 is a certificate your insurance carrier files with Idaho Transportation Department confirming you maintain continuous liability coverage meeting state minimums: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage. The filing must remain active for three years from your conviction date. If your policy lapses or cancels during this period, your carrier notifies ITD and your license is suspended again immediately.
Carriers writing SR-22 policies in Idaho after DUI include Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Farmers, Dairyland, Bristol West, National General, The General, and USAA. Not all carriers writing standard auto insurance will file SR-22 — some exit at DUI conviction regardless of your prior history with them. Allstate and Auto-Owners do not explicitly confirm SR-22 filing capability in Idaho despite being licensed statewide. You need to compare carriers that explicitly write post-DUI coverage and file SR-22 before your reinstatement deadline.
Idaho DUI Reinstatement Fee
$285
After completing your 90-day suspension period and satisfying all court-ordered requirements, you pay $285 to Idaho Transportation Department to reinstate your driving privilege. This fee is separate from the $60 Restricted Driving Permit application fee and any court fines.
Idaho Transportation Department fee schedule
What Happens If You Accumulate Points During SR-22 Filing
The DUI itself adds no points, but any moving violations you receive during your three-year SR-22 filing period do accumulate points under Idaho's standard point system. Speeding 1-15 mph over the limit adds three points. Failure to yield adds four points. Reckless driving adds six points. If you reach 12 points within 12 months (for drivers under 21) or 18 points within 12 months (for drivers 21 and older), Idaho suspends your license again through the point-based system.
A second suspension during your SR-22 filing period creates compounding consequences. Your SR-22 filing requirement does not pause during the new suspension — the three-year clock continues running and your carrier must maintain the filing throughout. If your policy lapses during suspension, ITD receives notice and extends your suspension indefinitely until you refile. When you reinstate after the point-based suspension, you pay another reinstatement fee and your SR-22 filing period may be extended depending on the violation that triggered the new suspension.
Compare Carriers Writing Post-DUI Coverage in Idaho
Your next step is comparing carriers that explicitly write SR-22 policies after DUI conviction in Idaho. Not every carrier licensed in the state will accept post-DUI drivers, and those that do price coverage differently based on whether you are seeking owner or non-owner SR-22 filing, whether you need monthly payment terms, and how they tier DUI risk internally. Progressive, Dairyland, Bristol West, and The General write non-standard auto insurance and file SR-22 in Idaho. GEICO, State Farm, and Farmers write SR-22 but may require you to move to a non-standard subsidiary depending on your full driving history. National General and USAA confirm SR-22 filing capability but tier placement varies by underwriting review. Use the comparison tool to see which carriers will quote your specific situation and what monthly premium ranges look like with SR-22 filing included.