Jon 'Bones' Jones -- Back Behind the Wheel ... License Restored After DUI

UFC champ Jon "Bones" Jones is PSYCHED he got his driver's license back this afternoon ... after losing it for 6 months when he drunkenly crashed his Bentley into a pole, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... Bones was arrested last May when he totaled his whip while driving drunk in Binghampton, NY, and his license got revoked for 6 months as part of his plea deal.

So why didn't he get his license back when he was eligible last January? We're told he's a bad procrastinator with a busy travel schedule ... plus he just got used to being chauffeured around.

But Jones is pumped to be back behind the wheel (for better or worse) ... and posted a hilarious video to Instagram looking giddier than a 16-year-old who just passed the permit exam.

As for his next car purchase ... his manager tells us "He’s really into pickups. He wants a sporty truck. But who knows. He could change his mind and want a Ferrari tomorrow.”