Pennsylvania · DUI · Checked October 2026
DUI License Suspension in Pennsylvania: Hearing Deadline and Hardship License
DUI License Suspension in Pennsylvania: What Are the Rules?
You have 30 days to challenge a license suspension after a DUI arrest in Pennsylvania.
- Deadline to challenge
- 30 days
- How it is counted
- The entry of PennDOT's suspension order (appeal to the court of common pleas, serving a copy on PennDOT's legal office)
- Failed test
- No pre-conviction administrative suspension for a failed test; suspension follows conviction (12 or 18 months, none for a first general impairment offense)
- Refused test
- 12 months; 18 months if you had a prior refusal suspension or a prior DUI sentence
- Hardship license
- Ignition interlock limited license
How to Request a Hearing in Pennsylvania
file a petition for appeal in the county court of common pleas and serve it, with the suspension notice, on PennDOT's legal office; filing generally stays the suspension until the court decides
Suspension if You Fail a Test in Pennsylvania
No pre-conviction administrative suspension for a failed test; suspension follows conviction (12 or 18 months, none for a first general impairment offense)75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1547(b), 1550(a)-(b), 3804(e); 42 Pa.C.S. § 5571(b)
Official source: suspension if you fail a test (Pennsylvania)
Suspension if You Refuse a Test in Pennsylvania
12 months; 18 months if you had a prior refusal suspension or a prior DUI sentence75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1547(b), 1550(a)-(b), 3804(e); 42 Pa.C.S. § 5571(b)
Official source: suspension if you refuse a test (Pennsylvania)
Getting a Ignition Interlock Limited License in Pennsylvania
Available for DUI, ARD and chemical test refusal suspensions; you may apply no sooner than 30 days after the conviction, ARD admission or refusal report. DUI and refusal suspensions are not eligible for an occupational limited license.
Official source: getting a ignition interlock limited license (Pennsylvania)
More on DUI Law in Pennsylvania
See the full overview of DUI laws in Pennsylvania and read about hardship licenses in every state.
This page summarizes Pennsylvania law from official sources, checked October 2026. It isn't legal advice; a lawyer licensed in Pennsylvania can advise on your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do You Have to Request a Hearing in Pennsylvania?
30 days. How it is counted: the entry of PennDOT's suspension order (appeal to the court of common pleas, serving a copy on PennDOT's legal office).
How Long Is the License Suspension for Failing a Test?
No pre-conviction administrative suspension for a failed test; suspension follows conviction (12 or 18 months, none for a first general impairment offense)
Can You Get a Hardship License in Pennsylvania?
Available for DUI, ARD and chemical test refusal suspensions; you may apply no sooner than 30 days after the conviction, ARD admission or refusal report. DUI and refusal suspensions are not eligible for an occupational limited license.