APPEALING THE LOSS OF YOUR DRIVING and/OR VEHICLE REGISTRATION PRIVILEGES
If you receive an official notice taking away your privileges to operate and/or register motor vehicles, you may be able to appeal. Your notice will let you know if you qualify for an appeal and specify the deadline to submit your request to the Iowa DMV. If eligible, your official notice will also include a request to appeal at the bottom of the notice.
The deadline to appeal an OWI is 10 days from being served by the officer.
How do I request an appeal?
To request an appeal you must complete and submit the following before the deadline:
- Verify/correct your personal information listed on the official notice.
- Indicate that you would like to contest the withdrawal by marking the box on the official notice.
- Enclose a written request clearly stating the reason for your appeal. If you have retained the services of an attorney, include your attorney’s name, address, and phone number. If you have not yet secured an attorney but plan to, you may still submit your request for an appeal and notify us of your attorney’s information once you have it.
- Include any other information, documents, or requests for subpoena that you would like to have considered by the reviewing officer.
Submit the completed official notice, your written statement, and other supporting documents in person at any Iowa DMV or by emailing, mailing, or faxing the documents to:
Motor Vehicle Division
Iowa Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, IA 50306-9204
Fax: 515-239-1837
Email: DriverServices.Appeals@iowadot.us
Your request for an appeal must be received on or before the date indicated in the official notice or within 10 days from being served by the officer. This deadline might be different from the date when you can no longer legally drive or register vehicles. Please read your notice carefully.
If your appeal
deadline falls on a day when both the USPS and the Iowa DMV are closed, we
will consider your appeal delivered on time if it's physically delivered or
electronically submitted by the next day, or if it's postmarked by USPS for the
next day that either USPS or the Iowa DMV are open.
What if I don't have my official notice?
If you do not have your official notice, you may also request an appeal by completing the Request to Appeal Loss of Driving/Registration Privileges Form. Submit the completed form, along with a written request clearly stating the reason for your appeal, to any Iowa DMV or by emailing, mailing, or faxing to the address above.
Can I continue driving?
If you are eligible for an appeal, you may be able to keep your driving/registration privileges while your case is being reviewed. Once we receive your request for an appeal, we will send you a notice letting you know whether or not you can continue driving. You should not drive or register a vehicle until you receive that notice.