California ignition interlock & DUI requirements
California does not mandate an ignition interlock for every first DUI: a court may order one, or it is required to obtain a restricted license during the suspension. A repeat offense carries 12 months.
Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in California, cited to the statute and California Department of Motor Vehicles.
- IID on first offense
- Court's discretion
- Minimum IID period (first)
- Up to 6 months if court-ordered
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 3 years
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- At the court's discretion
- Minimum period
- Up to 6 months if court-ordered
What the source says (3)
- First offense
“(A) Upon a conviction with no priors, punishable under Section 23536, only one of the following may occur: (i) The court may order installation of a functioning, certified ignition interlock device on any vehicle that the person operates”
- Minimum period
“If the court orders the ignition interlock device restriction, the term shall be determined by the court for a period not to exceed six months from the date of conviction.”
- firstOffenseIid_alt
“(ii) The person may apply to the department for a restriction of the driving privilege under Section 13352.4. (iii) The person may apply to the department for a restriction of the driving privilege under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352 or subdivision (c) of Section 13352.1.”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $125
- Restricted-license fee
- $125
- Reduced-cost rule
- Income-based IID fee schedule…
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (4)
- State reinstatement fee
“there shall be paid to the department a fee in an amount of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) to pay the costs of the administration of the administrative suspension and revocation programs for persons who refuse or fail to complete chemical testing, as provided in Section 13353”
- reinstatementFee_dmv
“provided you pay a $125 reissue fee to the DMV and you file proof of financial responsibility (insurance). The reissue fee remains at $100 if you were under age 21 and were suspended under the Zero Tolerance Law.”
- Restricted-license fee
“To apply for this restricted license: • Visit a DMV offce (appointment recommended) • Provide proof of enrollment in a DUI program • Provide proof of insurance (SR 22) • Provide proof of IID installation (DL 920) • Pay a $125 APS fee”
- Reduced-cost rule
“A person with an income at 100 percent of the federal poverty level or below and who provides income verification pursuant to paragraph (2) is responsible for 10 percent of the cost of the manufacturer’s standard ignition interlock device program costs”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Restricted license – Ignition Interlock Device restriction
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 10 days from the notice
- Driving after a DUI in California: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in California
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (2)
- Restricted license
“You may apply for a restricted license immediately with the installation of an IID. With this restriction, you may drive at any time to any place, so long as the vehicle is equipped with an IID. You will have this restriction for up to 4 months.”
- Hearing-request deadline
“You have the right to request a hearing from the DMV within 10 days of receipt of the suspension or revocation order. If the review shows there is no basis for the suspension or revocation, the action will be set aside.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the California 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.
Where to get it installed — the official approved-installer list: Agency approved-vendor list
| Vendor | Website | Location finder |
|---|---|---|
| A&A Product Companylisted by the agency as “A&A Interlock, LLC” | A&A Product Company website | Find a location |
| Alcohol Detection Systemslisted by the agency as “Alcohol Detection Systems, Inc.” | Alcohol Detection Systems website | Find a location |
| ALCOLOCK | ALCOLOCK website | Find a location |
| AutoSense Internationallisted by the agency as “Autosense International, Inc” | On the California Department of Motor Vehicles list | |
| B.E.S.T. Labs, Inclisted by the agency as “Best Labs, Inc.” | B.E.S.T. Labs, Inc website | Find a location |
| Clear2Drive | On the California Department of Motor Vehicles list | |
| Guardian Interlock | Guardian Interlock website | Find a location |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| Low Cost Interlocklisted by the agency as “Low Cost Interlock, Inc.” | Low Cost Interlock website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlock | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Simple Interlocklisted by the agency as “A Simple Interlock, LLC” | Simple Interlock website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What California law requires
California'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: Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | California rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | At the court's discretion |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | Court-ordered: up to 6 months from conviction (court's discretion); otherwise optional IID-restricted license for up to 6 or 10 months (DMV) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 12 months (one prior within 10 years, § 23575.3(h)(1)(B)); 24 months with two priors; 36 months with three or more priors |
For a first non-injury DUI conviction (Veh. Code § 23152, punishable under § 23536), § 23575.3(h)(1)(A) provides that only one of the following may occur: the court MAY order an ignition interlock for a term it sets not to exceed six months from conviction; or the person may apply to DMV for an IID-restricted license under § 13352.4; or the person may apply for a restricted (to/from work and DUI program) license under § 13352(a)(1) or § 13352.1(c). DMV states: 'You are not required to install an IID unless the court orders you to do so.' The IID becomes mandatory for a first DUI causing injury (§ 23153, 12 months) and for repeat offenses. No BAC threshold changes the first-offense rule; § 23575.3 applies to violations on or after January 1, 2019.
What the source says (6)
- IID on first offense
“(A) Upon a conviction with no priors, punishable under Section 23536, only one of the following may occur: (i) The court may order installation of a functioning, certified ignition interlock device on any vehicle that the person operates”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“If the court orders the ignition interlock device restriction, the term shall be determined by the court for a period not to exceed six months from the date of conviction.”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(B) Upon a conviction with one prior, punishable under Section 23540, the person shall install a functioning, certified ignition interlock device in the vehicle, as ordered by the court, that is operated by that person for a mandatory term of 12 months.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“ARTICLE 5. Additional Penalties and Sanctions [23573 - 23582] [...] 23575.3. (a) In addition to any other requirement imposed by law, a court shall notify a person convicted of a violation listed in subdivision (h) that the person is required to install a functioning, certified ignition interlock”
- IID on first offense
“You are not required to install an IID unless the court orders you to do so. If the court did not order IID installation, then you still have the option to obtain an IID-restricted driver license for up to 6 or 10 months, or obtain a restricted driver license that limits you to driving to, from,”
- firstOffenseIidNote_injury
“(A) Upon a conviction with no priors, punishable under Section 23554, the person shall install a functioning, certified ignition interlock device in the vehicle, as ordered by the court, that is operated by that person for a mandatory term of 12 months.”
Removal: Term-based; no violation-free window or early-removal provision is stated. Full rule and source
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 California does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 3 years |
SR-22. DMV states a license is reinstated after a DUI suspension/revocation only on payment of the $125 reissue fee and filing proof of financial responsibility (insurance); the DMV DUI First Offenders flyer (DL 1046A) states 'You will be required to maintain the SR 22 for 3 years.'
Filing period and required coverage, as the agency states them
- 3 years — SR-22 must be maintained for 3 years after a DUI (DMV flyer DL 1046A) (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (3)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Your driver’s license will be reinstated at the end of the suspension or revocation, provided you pay a $125 reissue fee to the DMV and you file proof of financial responsibility (insurance).”
- Filing period
“To fully reinstate your driving privilege with no restrictions, you must serve your full suspension or restriction, provide the DMV with proof of completion of a DUI program and provide proof of insurance (SR 22). You will be required to maintain the SR 22 for 3 years.”
- SR-22 must be maintained for 3 years after a DUI (DMV flyer DL 1046A)
“(A) A person with an income at 100 percent of the federal poverty level or below and who provides income verification pursuant to paragraph (2) is responsible for 10 percent of the cost of the manufacturer’s standard ignition interlock device program costs”
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.
| Item | Amount | As of |
|---|---|---|
| License reinstatement fee | $125 | 2026-08-29 |
| Reissue fee to reinstate after a DUI suspension/revocation, incl. APS suspension. $100 for under-21 Zero Tolerance suspensions(Cal. Veh. Code § 14905; DMV DUI page) | $125 | 2026-08 |
| Reissue fee plus restriction fee for a restricted license after a first DUI conviction(DMV flyer DL 1046A) | $55 reissue + $15 restriction | 2026-08 |
| Additional administrative service fees when subject to a mandatory IID restriction period(DMV Statewide IID Program page) | $103 | 2026-08 |
| Income-based IID cost schedule:offender pays 10% at or below 100% of federal poverty level; 25% at 101–200%; 50% at 201–300% or if receiving CalFresh; 90% at 301–400%; 100% otherwise; manufacturer pays the remainder(Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(k)) | 10% / 25% / 50% / 90% / 100% | 2026-08 |
What the source says (4)
- License reinstatement fee
“there shall be paid to the department a fee in an amount of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) to pay the costs of the administration of the administrative suspension and revocation programs for persons who refuse or fail to complete chemical testing, as provided in Section 13353”
- Additional administrative service fees when subject to a mandatory IID restriction period (DMV Statewide IID Program page)
“• Provide proof of IID installation (DL 920) • Pay a $55 reissue fee and a $15 restriction fee • Pay a $55 reissue fee, a $15 restriction fee, and an IID restriction fee”
- Income-based IID cost schedule (Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(k)): offender pays 10% at or below 100% of federal poverty level; 25% at 101–200%; 50% at 201–300% or if receiving CalFresh; 90% at 301–400%; 100% otherwise; manufacturer pays the remainder
“Yes, if you are subject to the mandatory IID restriction period, then there are extra administrative service fees of $103 in addition to any other required fees, such as reissue fees, duplicate license fees, and restriction fees.”
- License reinstatement fee
“provided you pay a $125 reissue fee to the DMV and you file proof of financial responsibility (insurance). The reissue fee remains at $100 if you were under age 21 and were suspended under the Zero Tolerance Law.”
Exemptions and special cases
Four questions readers ask once an interlock is ordered — motorcycles, employer vehicles, medical inability to give a breath sample, and reduced-cost programs — answered as California's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | California rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | May not operate a motorcycle while interlock-restricted Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(o)(5): 'vehicle' does not include a motorcycle until the state certifies an ignition interlock device that can be installed on a motorcycle, and a person subject to an IID restriction shall not operate a motorcycle for the duration of the restriction period. What the source says““Vehicle” does not include a motorcycle until the state certifies an ignition interlock device that can be installed on a motorcycle. A person subject to an ignition interlock device restriction shall not operate a motorcycle for the duration of the ignition interlock device restriction period.” |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Exempt with conditions Cal. Veh. Code § 23576(a): a person required to operate a motor vehicle in the course and scope of employment may operate an employer-owned vehicle without a device if the employer has been notified that the person's driving privilege is restricted and the person has proof of that notification in their possession or the notice (or a facsimile) is with the vehicle. § 23576(b): a vehicle owned by a business entity all or partly owned or controlled by the restricted person is not an employer-owned vehicle for this exemption. DMV: the driver must hold an IID-restricted license, complete the Notice to Employers Ignition Interlock Restriction (DL 923) form, give it to the employer and keep a copy in their possession or with the employer's vehicle; a person granted an exemption from mandatory IID installation does not qualify for the employer's-vehicle exemption. What the source says“the person may operate that vehicle without installation of a functioning, certified approved ignition interlock device if the employer has been notified by the person that the person’s driving privilege has been restricted” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Available DMV: a person with a medical condition that prevents operating an IID does not have to install one. The person obtains an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Medical Exemption Request (DL 4063) form from the Mandatory Actions Unit, completes it with their medical provider and submits it to DMV; DMV also accepts an original note from the medical provider stating the person cannot breathe with sufficient strength to activate an IID, with the provider's license or certificate number and signature. DMV states that a person granted an exemption from mandatory IID installation must serve the full suspension or revocation term and complete the DUI treatment program. What the source says“No, you do not have to install an IID. You will need to obtain an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Medical Exemption Request (DL 4063) form from the Mandatory Actions Unit by calling (916) 657-6525. You and your medical provider must complete and submit the form to DMV.” |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Income-based IID fee schedule (Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(k)); DMV calls it the low income program Every certified manufacturer must adopt a fee schedule based on the offender's income relative to the federal poverty level: at or below 100% of FPL the person pays 10% of the manufacturer's standard program costs; 101-200% pays 25%; 201-300% pays 50%; a person receiving CalFresh benefits pays 50%; 301-400% pays 90%; all others pay 100%. The manufacturer is responsible for the remaining percentage. The person also pays any additional costs accrued for noncompliance. The IID provider verifies income from the previous year's federal income tax return, the previous three months of income statements, or Employment Development Department verification of unemployment benefits. The Department of Consumer Affairs may assess up to $1,000 against a manufacturer that fails to inform an offender of the schedule or fails to comply with it (§ 23575.3(l)). What the source says“A person with an income at 100 percent of the federal poverty level or below and who provides income verification pursuant to paragraph (2) is responsible for 10 percent of the cost of the manufacturer’s standard ignition interlock device program costs” |
| No vehicle owned or access to a vehicle (DL 4062 exemption) | DMV: a person who does not own or have access to a vehicle, or who no longer has the vehicle used in the violation, may submit an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Exemption Request (DL 4062) to DMV within 30 days of the Order of Suspension or Revocation; a person who owns a car that does not run or has a planned non-operation on file does not qualify. An exempted person serves the full suspension/revocation, completes the DUI program and is not required to pay the additional $103 administrative service fees. What the source says“If you do not own or have access to a vehicle, or if you no longer have the vehicle you violated in, then you must submit an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Exemption Request (DL 4062) (PDF) form to DMV within 30 days of your Order of Suspension or Order of Revocation.” |
| Business entity owned or controlled by the restricted person | Cal. Veh. Code § 23576(b): a vehicle owned by a business entity that is all or partly owned or controlled by the restricted person is not an employer-owned vehicle for purposes of the employer exemption. What the source says“(b) A motor vehicle owned by a business entity that is all or partly owned or controlled by a person otherwise subject to Section 13352, 13352.1, 13353.6, 13353.75, 23573, 23575, 23575.3, or 23700, is not a motor vehicle owned by the employer subject to the exemption in subdivision (a).” |
| Non-residents convicted in California | DMV: a non-resident who did not complete a California DUI program submits an Application for Termination of Action (DL 4006); one who completed the program but has not installed an IID submits a DL 4062 form. What the source says“If you did not complete a DUI program in California, then you will need to complete and submit an Application for Termination of Action (DL 4006) (PDF) to DMV. If you did complete a DUI program in California but you have not installed an IID, then you will need to complete and submit a DL 4062 form” |
| Commercial driver license holders | DMV: the law applies regardless of license class; a CDL holder must downgrade to a non-commercial license to obtain an IID-restricted driver license. What the source says“The new law applies to all drivers regardless of class of license. If you hold a CDL, then you are required by law to downgrade to a non-commercial driver license to obtain an IID-restricted driver license.” |
| Wet reckless conviction | DMV: a person convicted of a wet reckless is not required to install an IID unless the court orders it. What the source says“You are not required to install an IID unless the court orders you to do so.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Is an ignition interlock mandatory after a first DUI in California?
- Not automatically. Under Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(h)(1)(A), for a first non-injury DUI conviction the court may order an IID for up to six months, or the person may apply to DMV for an IID-restricted license under § 13352.4, or for a restricted license to drive to work and the DUI program. DMV's IID program page states a first offender is not required to install an IID unless the court orders it; a first DUI with injury requires 12 months.
- How long is the interlock term for repeat DUI offenders in California?
- Under Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(h)(1), a DUI conviction with one prior within 10 years carries a mandatory 12-month IID term, two priors 24 months, and three or more priors 36 months. For DUI causing injury (§ 23153), terms are 12, 24, 36, or 48 months depending on priors. Under § 23575.3(h)(4), the term begins after proof of installation and reinstatement or issuance of a restricted license.
- What does California charge to reinstate a license after a DUI?
- Cal. Veh. Code § 14905 sets a $125 fee before a license is reissued after an administrative (APS) suspension or revocation under §§ 13353 or 13353.2, and DMV states a license is reinstated after the suspension on payment of the $125 reissue fee and filing proof of financial responsibility. DMV's first-offender flyer lists a $55 reissue fee and $15 restriction fee for a post-conviction restricted license, and DMV notes $103 in additional administrative service fees for mandatory IID restrictions.
- Does California require an SR-22 after a DUI, and for how long?
- Yes. DMV states that reinstatement after a DUI suspension or revocation requires filing proof of financial responsibility (insurance), and its DUI First Offenders flyer (DL 1046A) states that full reinstatement requires proof of insurance (SR 22) and that the SR 22 must be maintained for 3 years.
- Is there help paying for an ignition interlock in California?
- Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3(k) requires every DMV-certified IID manufacturer to adopt an income-based fee schedule: offenders at or below 100% of the federal poverty level pay 10% of standard program costs, 101–200% pay 25%, 201–300% (or CalFresh recipients) pay 50%, 301–400% pay 90%, and all others pay 100%; the manufacturer covers the remainder. DMV's IID program page reproduces this schedule.
Sources
- Cal. Veh. Code § 23575.3 – ignition interlock device requirement for DUI convictions (California Legislative Information)
- Cal. Veh. Code § 14905 – $125 fee after administrative suspension/revocation (California Legislative Information)
- California DMV – Ignition Interlock Device List (approved manufacturers and BAIIDs)
- California DMV – Driving Under the Influence (DUI) (reissue fee, financial responsibility)
- California DMV – Statewide Ignition Interlock Device Program (first-offender rules, administrative service fees, income-based schedule)
- California DMV – DUI First Offenders, Alcohol Involved – Non-Injury, 21 and Older (flyer DL 1046A; SR-22 3 years, restricted-license fees)
- California DMV – Ignition Interlock Device Program FAQ (PDF)
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.