After a DUI arrest in Texas, you have 15 days to request an Administrative License Revocation hearing or your license suspends automatically. Here's how to file, what the hearing covers, and what happens to your car insurance during the process.
What Is an ALR Hearing and Why Does It Matter for Your Insurance?
An Administrative License Revocation hearing is a civil proceeding held by the Texas Department of Public Safety to determine whether your driver's license should be suspended after a DUI arrest. This hearing is separate from your criminal DUI case. The ALR process begins the moment you are arrested — not when you are convicted.
If you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, or if you fail one, the arresting officer confiscates your license on the spot and issues a temporary driving permit valid for 40 days. You have 15 days from the date of arrest to request an ALR hearing. If you miss this window, your license suspends automatically on the 40th day. That suspension appears on your driving record immediately, which triggers your insurance carrier's underwriting review at your next renewal.
Most carriers will non-renew a policy or raise rates 70–130% after a license suspension appears on your record, even if your criminal DUI case is still pending. The ALR hearing is your only opportunity to contest the administrative suspension before it hits your record. Winning the hearing means no administrative suspension. Losing or missing the hearing means the suspension proceeds, your insurance company is notified, and you will likely need to switch to a non-standard carrier that specializes in high-risk drivers.
How to Request an ALR Hearing in Texas
You request an ALR hearing by submitting a written request to the Texas DPS within 15 days of your arrest. The request must include your full name, date of birth, driver's license number, the date and location of your arrest, and a statement that you are requesting a hearing to contest the suspension.
You can submit the request by mail to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Administrative License Revocation Program, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773-0001, or by fax to 512-424-2365. Some counties allow online submission through the DPS website, but mail and fax are universally accepted. Send the request via certified mail with return receipt if mailing, so you have proof of the submission date.
Once DPS receives your request, they schedule a hearing, typically 30 to 60 days out. You receive notice of the hearing date and location by mail. The hearing can be conducted in person at a DPS office or by telephone. If you hire an attorney, they can request the hearing on your behalf and represent you at the proceeding. Missing the 15-day request window means you forfeit your right to contest the suspension — the suspension becomes final on day 40, and there is no appeal process for a missed filing deadline.
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What the ALR Hearing Covers
The ALR hearing is narrow in scope. The administrative law judge reviews only whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop you, probable cause to arrest you, and whether you refused or failed the chemical test. The hearing does not address whether you were actually intoxicated or whether you should be convicted of DUI in criminal court. Those questions are handled separately in your criminal case.
If the judge finds the officer followed proper procedure and you either refused the test or tested over the legal limit, the suspension is upheld. If the judge finds procedural errors — the officer lacked probable cause, the breathalyzer was not calibrated correctly, or you were not properly informed of the consequences of refusal — the suspension is dismissed. A dismissal means no administrative suspension appears on your driving record, which keeps your insurance status unchanged until your criminal case is resolved.
If you lose the hearing, the suspension length depends on whether you refused or failed the test and whether you have prior DUI offenses. First offense with a failed test: 90-day suspension. First offense with a refusal: 180-day suspension. Prior DUI within 10 years: suspension extends to one or two years. The suspension begins immediately after the hearing decision unless you file an appeal, which temporarily stays the suspension until the appeal is resolved.
What Happens to Your Car Insurance During the ALR Process
Your current insurance policy remains active during the 40-day temporary permit period and while your ALR hearing is pending. Most carriers do not pull driving records between renewal cycles, which means they will not know about the arrest until your policy renews or until a suspension appears on your Motor Vehicle Record.
If you win the ALR hearing and avoid the administrative suspension, your carrier may still find out about the DUI arrest when your criminal case concludes or at your next renewal. A DUI conviction in criminal court triggers the same rate increase or non-renewal that a license suspension does — typically a 70–130% premium increase, depending on your age, driving history, and the carrier's underwriting guidelines. If your carrier non-renews you, you will need to shop for coverage with a non-standard carrier like Progressive, Dairyland, The General, or Bristol West.
If you lose the ALR hearing or miss the request deadline, the suspension hits your record on day 40. Your carrier is notified at your next renewal, and most will either non-renew your policy or move you into a high-risk tier with significantly higher premiums. Texas does not require SR-22 filing for a first-offense DUI suspension, but you will need to carry continuous coverage to avoid a separate suspension for lack of insurance. If your license is suspended and you allow your insurance to lapse, Texas adds a separate suspension on top of the DUI suspension, which extends your total suspension period and makes reinstatement more expensive.
How Long the Suspension Lasts and What You Need to Reinstate
If the ALR suspension is upheld, the length depends on your refusal or failure status and your DUI history. First offense with a failed breath test: 90 days. First offense with a test refusal: 180 days. Second offense within 10 years: one year. Third or subsequent offense: two years. The suspension runs from the date of the final hearing decision or from day 40 if you did not request a hearing.
During the suspension, you may be eligible for an occupational driver's license, which allows you to drive to work, school, or essential household duties. You apply for an ODL through your criminal defense attorney or directly with the court. The ODL does not erase the suspension from your record — it only grants limited driving privileges while the suspension is active. Your insurance carrier still sees the suspension at renewal.
To reinstate your license after the suspension ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee of $125 to Texas DPS, provide proof of insurance, and complete any required alcohol education or intervention programs ordered by the court. If your criminal DUI case resulted in a conviction, you may also be required to install an ignition interlock device for a specified period. Reinstatement requires all fees, programs, and proof of insurance to be submitted together — missing any component delays reinstatement and extends the period during which your carrier sees an active suspension on your record.
Your Next Steps: What to Do Right Now
1. Request the ALR hearing within 15 days of your arrest. Submit your written request to Texas DPS by certified mail or fax. If you are past day 10, fax the request and follow up with a phone call to confirm receipt. Missing this deadline means automatic suspension on day 40 with no opportunity to contest it.
2. Contact your insurance carrier or agent to understand your current policy status. Ask whether your policy renews before the hearing date and what happens if a suspension appears on your record. Do not wait until the suspension is final — if your carrier non-renews you, you need time to find a non-standard carrier before a coverage gap appears. A gap in coverage after a DUI triggers a second suspension in Texas.
3. Prepare for the hearing or hire an attorney to represent you. If you plan to contest the suspension, gather evidence: dashcam footage, witness statements, breathalyzer calibration records. An attorney experienced in ALR hearings knows which procedural errors to challenge and can cross-examine the arresting officer. The hearing is your only chance to prevent the administrative suspension from hitting your record before your criminal case is resolved.
4. If the suspension is upheld, apply for an occupational license immediately. File your ODL petition with the court as soon as the hearing decision is issued. The ODL allows you to maintain employment and meet household responsibilities during the suspension, but it does not prevent your insurance carrier from seeing the suspension or raising your rates. Use the suspension period to compare quotes from non-standard carriers and switch coverage before your current policy non-renews.
5. Maintain continuous insurance coverage throughout the suspension and reinstatement process. Even if your license is suspended, you must keep active insurance to avoid a second suspension for no insurance. Texas tracks coverage lapses electronically, and any gap triggers an additional suspension that extends your total downtime and makes reinstatement more expensive. If your current carrier drops you, switch to a high-risk carrier immediately — do not let the policy lapse.
