A driver whose license has been suspended or revoked following arrest for a DUI/DWI charge may sometimes apply for an occupational or restricted driver’s license to perform essential life functions until the driver is able to seek to have their driver’s license reinstated. This temporary and limited driver’s license is known by a number of names, including an occupational license, a restricted license, an essential need license, a hardship license, or a limited driving privilege (LDP) license.

Laws regarding the availability and use of such restricted licenses vary from state to state but generally allow the driver to drive to and from (1) work; (2) school, college, or university; (3) places the driver must visit to maintain the household, including the grocery store or market, pharmacy, laundromat, and gas station; (4) church or place of worship; (5) medical appointments; and (6) court-ordered alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs. Driving to visit family or friends or to attend social events is not permitted on a restricted license.

A person applying for an occupational or restricted driver’s license will be required to pay application fees to the department of motor vehicles and will often be required to submit an SR-22 proof of insurance form (see the related subtopic).

Laws regarding the availability and use of restricted licenses following a DUI/DWI arrest are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the vehicle code, motor vehicle code, or transportation code.

In Tennessee, individuals whose driver's licenses have been suspended or revoked due to a DUI/DWI arrest may be eligible to apply for a restricted driver's license. This type of license allows them to drive for specific purposes such as commuting to work, attending school, performing household duties like grocery shopping, going to medical appointments, attending church, and participating in court-ordered treatment programs. The restricted license does not permit driving for social visits or leisure activities. To apply for a restricted license, the individual must pay the required application fees to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and typically must provide an SR-22 insurance form, which is a certificate of financial responsibility. The specific provisions for obtaining and using a restricted license in Tennessee are outlined in the state's vehicle or transportation codes.