Home / Traffic Services / Licence reinstatement
Disqualified a long time? You
may be able to get your licence back
If a Queensland court disqualified you for more than 2 years — or absolutely — you can apply to have that disqualification removed once you’ve served at least 2 years. It’s not automatic, and courts can be reluctant. But it’s exactly the application we do again and again, with a 100% success rate.
Written and reviewed by Steven Brough, founder · practising in Queensland courts for 25+ years · Last updated 9 July 2026
2 years
served before you can apply
100%
our reinstatement success rate
Fixed fee
quoted upfront, no surprises
Ready to apply for your licence back? Talk to us today — free.
We’ll call you back in around 15 minutes during business hours.
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4.9 on Google · fixed fees quoted upfront
How it works
Getting your licence back in Queensland — the honest picture
A licence reinstatement — sometimes called removal of a disqualification — is a formal application to a court to end a long disqualification early. It’s a genuine second chance, but it’s earned, not given. Six things are worth knowing before you apply:
1
It's only for long disqualifications
You can only apply if the court disqualified you for more than 2 years, or absolutely (an unlimited period). If your disqualification was 2 years or less, there’s generally no early removal — you serve it out.
2
You must have served at least 2 years
There are no exceptions. Under no circumstances can you apply before you’ve served a full 2 years of the disqualification — but you can prepare everything in advance so you file the moment you’re eligible.
3
It's about proving you've changed
The court must be satisfied of three things: that you’ve changed and understand the importance of your licence, that you can be trusted with one, and that you won’t reoffend.
4
The affidavit is the whole case
Your application stands or falls on the affidavit evidence — how the loss of your licence affects you financially and affects your family, your conduct since the disqualification, and the circumstances of the original offence.
5
Where you apply matters
You apply to the court nearest where you now live, at the same level that disqualified you (Magistrates, or District/Supreme). If you were disqualified interstate, a Queensland court can’t remove it — you must apply in that state.
6
You get one shot a year
If the court refuses your application, you can’t re-apply for another 12 months. That’s exactly why doing it properly the first time — with the right evidence and argument — matters so much.
The application at a glance
2 years
minimum served before you can apply
28 days
minimum notice — filed before the hearing
12 months
wait before re-applying if refused
100%
our success rate on these applications
A driving course such as QTOP, and a clean record since your disqualification, add real strength to the application. The first phone call is free.
Two years off the road can feel permanent — but for the right application, it isn't.
Check in 30 seconds
Can you apply to get your licence back?
Three quick questions decide whether the removal process is open to you. Answer them and see roughly where you stand — then call us to confirm and get started.
Not eligible yet? Prepare now.
If you’re close to the 2-year mark, we can have your affidavit and QTOP ready so you file the day you become eligible — not weeks later.
General guidance only, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with a lawyer on 1300 952 255, free.
1. Were you disqualified by a Queensland court (not interstate)?
2. Was your disqualification more than 2 years, or an absolute (unlimited) disqualification?
3. Have you now served at least 2 years of the disqualification?
What we actually do
How we get your licence back
Courts can be reluctant to grant reinstatement — so the application has to be built properly, filed correctly, and argued well. Here’s how we do it, with a 100% success rate.
We confirm you're eligible
First we check the essentials — that your disqualification was over 2 years or absolute, that you’ve served the 2 years, and that it was a Queensland court. If you’re not eligible yet, we tell you the earliest date you can apply.
01
We build the affidavit — the whole case
We draft detailed affidavit evidence covering the financial and family impact of losing your licence, your conduct since the disqualification, and the original offence — the material that proves you’ve changed, can be trusted, and won’t reoffend.
02
We gather the evidence that wins it
A QTOP course or driving workshop, character references, and your traffic and criminal history — a clean record since the disqualification is powerful. We tell you exactly what to get and when, so nothing holds up your filing date.
Do this early
03
We file correctly, at the right court
We lodge the application and supporting material with the prosecution and the correct court — the one nearest where you now live, at the right level — at least 28 days before the hearing, so it’s ready to be heard on time.
04
We handle the prosecutor's enquiries
The prosecutor will scrutinise your application — sometimes even asking neighbours whether they’ve seen you driving. We make sure your material anticipates that scrutiny and stands up to it.
05
Your lawyer argues it in court with you
We appear with you and put the application to the court — because a refusal means waiting another 12 months, this is not the moment to go it alone. You leave knowing the outcome and, when it’s granted, how to get back on the road.
06
Fixed fee, quoted in writing upfront — and one of the most competitive prices for reinstatement in Queensland.
Steven Brough Founder · Queensland Law Society member · 25+ years in Queensland courts
Our approach
A 100% success rate isn't luck — it's preparation.
Steven founded the firm in 2010 and our team has run licence reinstatement applications across Queensland for years. Courts are cautious about handing a licence back — so the difference between success and a wasted 12 months is the quality of the affidavit and the strength of the argument put on the day.
Our method is thorough: confirm eligibility, build affidavit evidence that genuinely proves change, gather the QTOP certificate, references and clean-record material courts give credit for, file properly at the right court, and appear to argue it in person. It's this experience — knowing the process and the magistrates — that underpins our record.
And before you spend a cent, we'll tell you honestly how likely your application is to succeed, and whether you're even eligible yet. If you're not, we'll tell you when you will be.
100% success rate
QTOP sponsor
Fixed fee, quoted upfront
2 minutes — who can apply, what the court needs to see, and how we prepare it, from Steven
Diving deeper
Want the full picture on licence reinstatement?
Steven has written a complete guide to drug driving in Queensland — the charges, the penalties, the myths, and how a work licence works. Here’s the short version.
Who qualifies
That you’ve changed and value your licence, that you can be trusted with one, and that you won’t reoffend — all through detailed affidavit evidence.
The three things to prove
That you’ve changed and value your licence, that you can be trusted with one, and that you won’t reoffend — all through detailed affidavit evidence.
The process
File with the prosecution and the correct court at least 28 days before the hearing. The prosecutor investigates before it’s heard, so the material must be watertight.
Facts & myths
You can’t apply before 2 years, ever. A refusal locks you out for 12 months. Interstate disqualifications can’t be removed by a Queensland court.
Who can apply, and when
If a Queensland court disqualified you for a period of more than 2 years, or disqualified you absolutely, you can apply to have your licence reinstated after you have served a minimum of 2 years. Under no circumstances can you apply before serving at least 2 years. If your disqualification was 2 years or less, this process doesn’t apply — you serve the disqualification out.
Which court hears it
The application is made to the court closest to where you currently live. If your disqualification was ordered in a Magistrates Court, the application is heard in a Magistrates Court; if it was ordered in the District or Supreme Court, it must be heard there. If you were disqualified outside Queensland, you must apply to the court in the state or territory that disqualified you — a Queensland court cannot remove it.
The affidavit evidence
Your affidavit must clearly show why your licence should be returned: how not having it affects you financially and affects your family and those around you, your behaviour since the disqualification, and the circumstances of the original offence. The court must be satisfied you have changed and realise the importance of your licence, that you can be trusted with one, and that you will not reoffend.
Filing and the prosecutor
The application and supporting documents are filed with the prosecution and the court at least 28 days before the hearing. Your traffic and criminal history are filed in support. The prosecutor will look into your application and quite often approach your neighbours to ask whether they have witnessed you driving — so everything must be accurate and consistent.
What strengthens your application
Attending a driving course or workshop such as QTOP adds great strength, as does not having received any charges of any kind since your licence was disqualified. Character references and evidence of genuine change all help. Courts can be reluctant to grant reinstatement, so the stronger and more complete the material, the better.
Why not to do it yourself
If the court refuses your application, you cannot re-apply for another 12 months. That single fact is why representation matters so much — you effectively get one attempt a year. Engaging a lawyer to prepare the affidavit and argue the application gives you the best possible chance of getting it right the first time.
General information only, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts — call 1300 952 255 for free, specific advice.
Courts we attend
A local lawyer at the court
From Southport to Hervey Bay and everywhere in between, we appear in these Magistrates Courts every week. A removal application is filed in the District or Magistrates court closest to where you live.
Belinda Smyth · Director & Client Services Manager · 24 years in the legal industry — she and Sara take your calls
How we operate
What happens when you contact us
No scripts. No sales pitch. No chasing or hounding. At worst, you hang up knowing more about your charge than when you called.
01
Belinda or Sara takes your call
Our client services team answer every call themselves — no call centre, no scripts. We’ll tell you straight away whether you’re eligible yet, and answer your questions at no cost.
02
A fixed quote lands in your inbox the same day
With an honest view of how likely your application is to succeed. The money stays in our trust account until you authorise it.
03
You decide, on your own time
Sleep on it. Compare it. If you’d rather another firm, that’s fine — no pressure.
04
Engaged? We prepare everything with you
You get your lawyer’s direct mobile and email, and we handle the affidavit, filing and court appearance — most of it by phone and email, so you barely need to come in.
Frequently asked questions
Asked at 2am, answered here
These are the questions clients ask us most in the first phone call. Anything else — the call is free: 1300 952 255.
Who can apply to have a licence disqualification removed in Queensland?
You can apply if a Queensland court disqualified you for more than 2 years, or disqualified you absolutely (for an unlimited period), and you’ve already served at least 2 years of it. If your disqualification was 2 years or less, there’s generally no early-removal process — you serve it out.
When can I apply for licence reinstatement in Queensland?
Only after you’ve served a minimum of 2 years of the disqualification. Under no circumstances can you apply before serving at least 2 years, whatever your circumstances — though we can prepare everything in advance so you file the day you’re eligible.
What is an absolute disqualification?
An absolute disqualification is a disqualification for an unlimited, indefinite period — your licence isn’t returned automatically at any date. If you’ve been disqualified absolutely, you can apply to have it removed once you’ve served at least 2 years.
Which court do I apply to for licence reinstatement?
The court closest to where you currently live. If your disqualification was ordered in a Magistrates Court, the application is heard in a Magistrates Court; if in the District or Supreme Court, it must be heard there. If you were disqualified outside Queensland, you must apply in the state or territory that disqualified you — a Queensland court can’t remove it.
What do I need to prove to get my licence back?
Through detailed affidavit evidence, that you’ve changed and understand the importance of your licence, that you can be trusted with one, and that you won’t reoffend. The affidavit covers how losing your licence affects you financially and affects your family, your conduct since the disqualification, and the circumstances of the original offence.
What happens if my reinstatement application is refused?
If the court refuses, you can’t re-apply for another 12 months. That’s the single biggest reason not to attempt it yourself — getting the affidavit and the argument right the first time is critical.
Does a QTOP course help my licence reinstatement application?
Yes — completing a driving course or workshop such as QTOP adds real strength, as does not having received any charges of any kind since your licence was disqualified. Your traffic and criminal history are filed in support of the application.
How long does the licence reinstatement process take?
The application and supporting affidavit must be filed with the prosecution and the court at least 28 days before it can be heard. The prosecutor reviews it and may make enquiries — sometimes even asking neighbours whether they’ve seen you driving — so everything needs to be in order before you file.
From our clients
Back behind the wheel.
Every review here is a 100% authentic Google review.
4.9 on Google
“Thank you Russell & Belinda ! Your Experience and Professionalism helped me out immensely. The matter was sorted with meticulous planning . Personal attention was never neglected and you were available and comforted me in the most difficult of times. All the best and thank you once again.”
Niiranjjan B Taste — Google review
“Braden Milburn and the Clarity team did an outstanding job representing me. His professionalism, expertise, and dedication were evident throughout my case, and I’m incredibly grateful for his excellent work and support. Highly recommend!”
Zachary Liddle — Google review
“Nothing short of perfect service and a fantastic outcome, Highly recommended and very stress free. Belinda and Russell know how to ensure the best possible outcome for the given situation.”
Andrew Gilbert — Google review
“Definitely recommended Russell and Belinda.. Russell couldn’t of helped my partner anymore best outcome 100 percent recommend and so very grateful for Russell .”
Lisa Renwick — Google review
“I appreciated having Russell appear for me in court in regards to my DUI charge. He was very professional and made attending court a lot less stressful. Clarity Law also charged a lot less than other businesses.”
Jason Sproule — Google review
“I found myself wrongly charged so I needed the best professional, ethical and honest representation, so I engaged Clarity law and Jacob Pruden successfully had the charges dismissed .We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome! IF you want the best results, don’t hesitate to call Clarity law Maroochydore.”
Peter Kelly — Google review
Questions at 2am?
Ask our assistant about getting your licence back — any time.
Instant answers on who can apply, when, what the court needs, and how the process works — trained on Steven and Belinda’s guides. For advice on your situation, it hands you straight to a human.
our team
The lawyers who'll stand beside you
Every matter is run by a lawyer who appears in these courts constantly — the person you speak to is the person at the bar table.
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Office locations
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