Arkansas ignition interlock & DUI requirements

What Arkansas law requires

Arkansas's ignition interlock, SR-22, and reinstatement rules are set by the statute and agency rules cited below. The values in the tables on this page are taken from those sources and are not interpretations of how they apply to any particular case.

Primary source: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-118

Ignition interlock requirement

The DFA Office of Driver Services states that, for an alcohol-related DWI/BWI conviction (first offense = 6-month suspension under § 5-65-104), the individual 'must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for a period equal to the driver's license suspension time' before the license may be reinstated, and must submit a 'Confirmation of Interlock Requirement' form. Act 841 of 2025 (amending § 5-65-118(b)(1)) likewise provides that when the office restricts a person to an interlock in conjunction with an ignition interlock restricted license under § 5-65-104, the interlock period runs until the original suspension has been completed. The codified text of § 5-65-118 could not be fetched (see notes), so the statutory basis is recorded from the Act and the DFA page.

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Arkansas licensing agency's approved-device list. Listing order is alphabetical and is not a ranking or endorsement. Installation locations are on each vendor's own locator.

Official approved-vendor list: Arkansas agency vendor list

SR-22 requirement

An SR-22 is a certificate an insurer files with the state to confirm that a driver carries the liability coverage the state requires. Some states use an FR-44 or a different form for alcohol-related offenses; where Arkansas does, the sources below say so.

The DFA DUI/DWI reinstatement page enumerates every requirement for reinstatement after an alcohol-related DWI/BWI conviction (education/treatment program, Victim Impact Panel, ignition interlock for the suspension period, $150 reinstatement fee, re-examination if revoked); no SR-22 or financial-responsibility filing is among them. The DFA Safety Responsibility page describes financial-responsibility requirements only in connection with accidents (SR-1 accident report, proof of insurance, security deposit); a DWI conviction is not among the listed triggers. Arkansas therefore is recorded as not requiring an SR-22 after a DWI.

Compare SR-22 rules in every state

Program costs

Fees set by the state are cited to the fee schedule. Vendor charges vary by vendor and are shown as published ranges with the month they were checked.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock required after a first DWI in Arkansas?

According to the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services, an individual convicted of an alcohol-related DWI/BWI 'must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for a period equal to the driver's license suspension time' before reinstatement, and must submit a Confirmation of Interlock Requirement form. DFA lists the first-offense suspension under § 5-65-104 as 6 months.

How long is the Arkansas interlock period?

DFA states the interlock period equals the driver's license suspension: 6 months for a first offense, 24 months for a second offense within 5 years, and 30 months for a third offense within 5 years. Act 841 of 2025 (§ 5-65-118(h), effective July 1, 2026) allows the period to be extended by 60 days if the provider confirms a violation such as a failed start attempt above 0.025% during the final 60 days.

What does it cost to reinstate an Arkansas license after a DWI?

DFA lists a $150 reinstatement fee for an alcohol-related DWI/BWI conviction, payable at a State Revenue Office, by mail, or online at mydmv.arkansas.gov. Reinstatement also requires completing a state-sanctioned drug and alcohol education or treatment program and a Victim Impact Panel class; a person with a revoked status must pass all phases of the Arkansas driver's license exam.

Does Arkansas require an SR-22 after a DWI?

The DFA reinstatement requirements for an alcohol-related DWI/BWI conviction list an education/treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel, an ignition interlock for the suspension period, and a $150 fee; an SR-22 filing is not among them. DFA's Safety Responsibility page ties proof of financial responsibility to accident reporting (SR-1) rather than DWI convictions.

Who approves ignition interlock devices in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Department of Health's Office of Alcohol Testing adopts the Rules for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices under Ark. Code § 5-65-118 and maintains the list of approved devices; Act 841 of 2025 requires approved devices to capture a digital image of the person at each test. DFA publishes the list of approved devices, manufacturers, and service providers (effective May 15, 2023).

Sources

1. Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services – DUI, DWI, BUI, BWI Offenses (suspension periods, interlock requirement, $150 reinstatement fee)
2. Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services – Interlock Providers (approved BAIIDs, manufacturers and service providers, effective May 15, 2023)
3. Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services – Refusals (reinstatement requirements after refusal)
4. Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services – Safety Responsibility (financial responsibility after an accident)
5. Act 841 of 2025 (HB1875) amending Ark. Code § 5-65-118, Arkansas General Assembly
6. Arkansas Department of Health – Regulations for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (2nd revision, effective April 1, 2015)
7. Code of Arkansas Rules – Part 21, Arkansas Rules for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (authority: Ark. Code § 5-65-118)