If you have an out-of-state DUI tied to Florida, you can usually complete Florida DUI school in one of two ways. You can attend a licensed Florida DUI program, or you can transfer the requirement to a state approved DUI program where you live. Florida rules recognize DUI programs approved by another state’s driver license agency. The key is to set up the transfer the right way and make sure your completion reaches the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
The right path depends on where you live and where the DUI happened. A visitor convicted in Florida faces different steps than a Florida driver arrested in Georgia or New York. This guide from Boca Bay DUI Program Inc. covers each case. You will learn which school to take, how a transfer works, which forms are used and how to avoid delays that keep your license on hold.
Quick Answer: Where Do You Take DUI School?
Find your situation below. Each row shows where you usually take DUI school and the first step to take.
| Your situation | Where you usually take DUI school | First step |
|---|---|---|
| You live in another state and got a DUI in Florida | A DUI program approved by your home state, through a transfer | Contact a Florida DUI program and ask for an interstate transfer |
| You live in Florida and got a DUI in another state | A licensed Florida DUI program in the county where you live or work | Check your Florida driving record for the conviction date |
| You moved to Florida with past DUIs from another state | Proof of an out-of-state program, or a Florida DUI program | Bring completion proof to your driver license office |
| You enrolled in Florida, then moved to another state | Your new state’s approved program, through a transfer | Ask your current Florida program to start the transfer |
| You moved to another Florida county after enrolling | The DUI program that serves your new county | Ask your current program for a client transfer |
No matter which row fits, the end goal is the same. Your completion must be reported so FLHSMV can update your Florida record.
Florida DUI School Basics
Florida DUI school is a state licensed substance abuse education course. Courts order it after a DUI conviction, and FLHSMV requires it before reinstatement. Every course starts with a private evaluation interview. The evaluator decides if you also need treatment.
| Course | Who takes it | Length at Boca Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Level I DUI Course | First DUI or felony drug arrest | 13 hours, interview included |
| Level II DUI Course | More than one DUI arrest, a DUI reduced to reckless driving, or a prior DUI school | 21 hours, interview included |
Three Florida Rules That Shape Out-of-State Cases
The Florida Administrative Code sets the rules for DUI programs. Three of them matter most when another state is involved.
- The county rule. Under Rule 15A-10.009, you attend the DUI program that serves the county where you live, work or go to school. Another program can serve you if your home program does not object.
- The out-of-state option. The same rule lets out-of-state residents attend a substance abuse program in their own state, as long as it has reciprocal recognition.
- Reciprocity. Under Rule 15A-10.003, FLHSMV treats DUI programs approved by another state or country’s driver license authority as similar to Florida’s program.
One more point catches many drivers. Classes only count if you take them after the arrest for that offense. A course you finished years ago for an older case will not satisfy a new one.
If You Live in Another State and Got a DUI in Florida
You can usually complete your Florida DUI school requirement in your home state. The program must be approved by your state’s driver license agency. Even so, do not simply sign up for a local class on your own. Use a Florida DUI program to set up the transfer so Florida records the result.
This step matters more than most people think. Florida keeps a driving record on you even if you hold another state’s license. Florida also reports DUI convictions to your home state through the Driver License Compact. Until Florida shows your DUI school as complete, your Florida privilege stays suspended. That hold can block your home state from renewing or reissuing your license.
How to Transfer Florida DUI School to Your Home State
- Contact a licensed Florida DUI program. Tell them you live out of state and need an interstate transfer. Boca Bay DUI Program Inc. can help you start.
- Share your court paperwork. Include your sentencing order and any deadlines the judge set.
- Get court approval if your order requires it. Some judges name a specific program or want permission before you finish school elsewhere.
- Let the Florida program confirm the receiving school. By rule, the Florida program must make sure your home state approves the receiving program before the transfer.
- The paperwork goes out. The Florida program sends the Interstate DUI Transfer Form, HSMV 77040, and copies of your records to the receiving program by certified mail.
- Complete the course and any treatment. Follow the receiving program’s schedule and any treatment plan from your evaluation.
- Make sure completion is reported. Your completion should reach FLHSMV so your Florida record updates. Ask for a copy of your DUI school certificate.
- Clear the rest of your Florida reinstatement. This can include fees and an FR-44 filing for the required three years.
Keep copies of every form, receipt and certificate. If a record goes missing between two states, your copies are your proof.
If You Are a Florida Driver With a DUI From Another State
A DUI conviction in another state still counts in Florida. Section 322.24, Florida Statutes, lets FLHSMV suspend or revoke your Florida license as if the offense happened here. Florida adds the conviction to your record once the other state reports it. FLHSMV then mails you a notice of suspension or revocation.
To get a hardship license or full reinstatement in Florida, you will usually need Florida DUI school. Florida residents take it at the licensed program that serves the county where they live or work. FLHSMV may also require an ignition interlock device under Section 322.2715.
Steps for Florida Drivers After an Out-of-State DUI
- Check your Florida driving record. Note the date the out-of-state conviction posts.
- Handle the court case in the other state. Pay fines and finish any terms that court set.
- Enroll in a Florida DUI program in your county. Boca Bay DUI Program Inc. offers Level I and Level II courses.
- Ask if your out-of-state class can count. If you already finished an approved program in the other state, ask FLHSMV or your Florida program whether it meets the requirement before you pay twice.
- Apply for a hardship license if you qualify. You may apply once the conviction posts and you have enrolled in or finished DUI school.
- Meet all reinstatement terms. These can include fees, exams and an ignition interlock.
If You Are a New Florida Resident With Past DUIs
New residents with recent DUIs from another state may face extra steps when they apply for a Florida license. One example is a driver with two DUIs in five years or three in ten years. Local tax collector offices have asked these drivers for proof of DUI school completion from the other state or from Florida, plus proof of insurance. Bring your out-of-state completion certificate to your appointment. If you never finished DUI school, a Florida program can enroll you.
How a Florida DUI School Transfer Works
A DUI school transfer moves your case from one program to another. It can move you to a new Florida county or to another state. Rule 15A-10.019 controls client transfers. The original program sends your records to the new one by certified mail.
| Form | What it does | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| HSMV 77009, Client Transfer Record | Moves your file to another Florida DUI program | Moving between Florida counties, or a supervision transfer |
| HSMV 77040, Interstate DUI Transfer Form | Moves your file to an approved program in another state | Moving or living out of state |
| HSMV 77011, Request to Release or Obtain Information | Lets programs share your records | Supervision transfers |
| HSMV 77057, Student Status Report | Reports completion or failure to FLHSMV | At the end of your course |
Transfer Fees
The transfer fee is a standardized amount approved by FLHSMV. If you transfer before you enroll anywhere in Florida, the state assessment fee is not collected until you enroll in a Florida program. The receiving program in your new state sets its own course fees. Ask both programs for a fee list before you start.
Deadlines You Cannot Miss
- Hardship license deadline. If you reinstate on a hardship basis, finish DUI school within 90 days. If you do not, FLHSMV can cancel your license until the course is done.
- Court deadlines. Your sentencing order may set its own completion date.
- Supervision transfers. Under Rule 15A-10.037, you must report in person to the new program within 15 calendar days. If you miss it, the program can ask FLHSMV to cancel your restricted license.
Treatment and Special Supervision Across State Lines
Your evaluation may refer you to treatment. If you move, your original program can work with the new one to find a treatment provider near you. Drivers in Special Supervision Services, which track early reinstatement after a long revocation, follow the same transfer rules with stricter reporting.
Common Mistakes That Delay Your License
Most delays come from paperwork, not the class itself. Avoid these mistakes:
- Taking an online class that your home state or Florida does not approve
- Finishing a class before the arrest date, which does not count for the new offense
- Skipping court approval when your sentencing order names a program
- Assuming your home state will tell Florida you finished
- Ignoring the Florida suspension because you do not live there
- Missing the 90 day deadline after a hardship reinstatement
- Letting your FR-44 insurance lapse during the three year period
How Boca Bay DUI Program Inc. Helps Out-of-State Drivers
Boca Bay DUI Program Inc. works with drivers who face a DUI in Florida, whether they live here or in another state. We know how stressful a DUI is. Our goal is to make your DUI course one that does not add to that stress.
Here is how we can help:
- Enroll you in our Level I or Level II DUI course
- Explain your options if you live out of state or plan to move
- Start the transfer paperwork and confirm the receiving program is state approved
- Guide you on hardship license timing after an arrest
- Point you to FR-44 insurance help through our insurance partner, Nexus Insurance Group
- Share class schedules and answer your questions
Ready to start? Call 954-449-4762 to enroll or ask about a transfer.
Out-of-State DUI and Florida DUI School: FAQs
Can I take Florida DUI school in my home state?
Yes, in most cases. Florida recognizes DUI programs approved by another state’s driver license agency. Set it up as a transfer through a Florida DUI program so your completion is reported to FLHSMV.
Can I take Florida DUI school online from another state?
Only if the course is approved for your case. Many online classes are not accepted by Florida or by your home state. Confirm approval with a Florida DUI program and your court before you pay.
Does Florida require DUI school for a DUI in another state?
Often, yes. FLHSMV treats an out-of-state DUI as if it happened in Florida. Florida drivers usually need Florida DUI school before a hardship license or full reinstatement.
What happens if I never finish Florida DUI school?
Your Florida driving privilege stays suspended. Florida can report that status to your home state, which may refuse to renew or issue your license. Unfinished DUI school can also violate your court order.
How long does a DUI school transfer take?
It depends on the court, your records and the receiving program. Start right after sentencing. Supervision transfers require you to report to the new program within 15 calendar days.
Is there a fee to transfer DUI school out of Florida?
Yes. Florida programs charge a standardized transfer fee approved by FLHSMV. Your new program charges its own course fees.
Will I still need FR-44 insurance if I live out of state?
If you were convicted of DUI in Florida, Florida usually requires an FR-44 for three years from reinstatement. Some out-of-state insurers do not file FR-44 forms, so ask before you buy.
Does a DUI class I took years ago count?
No. Florida only counts classes taken after the arrest for the offense in your current case.
