Colorado ignition interlock & DUI requirements
Colorado requires an ignition interlock after a first DUI only at a BAC of 0.15 or higher; below that threshold it is not automatic, though other circumstances set by the statute can still require one. A repeat offense carries at least 2 years.
Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Colorado, cited to the statute and Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles.
- IID on first offense
- High-BAC only
- Minimum IID period (first)
- 2 years if BAC 0.15+ or refusal
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 3 years
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- Required only above a high-BAC threshold
- Threshold
- BAC 0.15
- Minimum period
- 2 years if BAC 0.15+ or refusal
What the source says (3)
- First offense
“(I) A person whose license has been revoked for excess BAC pursuant to the provisions of section 42-2-126 when the person's BAC was 0.15 or more at the time of driving or within two hours after driving or whose driving record otherwise indicates a designation of persistent drunk driver”
- Minimum period
“if the department's monthly monitoring reports required in subsection (6) of this section show that, for four consecutive monthly reporting periods, the approved ignition interlock device did not interrupt or prevent the normal operation of the motor vehicle due to an excessive breath alcohol”
- firstOffenseIid_pdd
“A person required to hold an interlock-restricted license pursuant to this section who is a persistent drunk driver as defined in section 42-1-102 (68.5), based on an offense that occurred on or after July 1, 2004, shall be required to hold the interlock-restricted license for at least two years”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $120
- Restricted-license fee
- $95 reinstatement fee + $25 DUI restoration fee
- Reduced-cost rule
- Financial Assistance for Ignition Interlock
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (4)
- State reinstatement fee
“To Reinstate: Pay the $95 reinstatement fee and $25 DUI restoration fee. Maintain SR-22 insurance for 9 months (3 years if an accident or high BAC was involved).”
- reinstatementFee_total
“You will need to pay all fees ($120 total), maintain SR-22 insurance for 1 to 3 years, enroll in Level 2 Alcohol and Drug Education and Treatment, and keep an Ignition Interlock device in your car for at least 2 years.”
- Restricted-license fee
“To apply for reinstatement, you will need to bring/submit the following: Application (See below) Fees: $95.00 Reinstatement Fee + $25.00 DUI Restoration Fee. SR-22 Insurance: A certificate from your auto insurer proving you have liability coverage.”
- Reduced-cost rule
“administers an account established to provide financial assistance for first-time offenders installing an ignition interlock device or those designated as persistent drunk drivers completing their initial installation on or after January 1, 2014, who are unable to pay the full costs of the device.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Early Reinstatement with Interlock
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 7 days from the notice
- Driving after a DUI in Colorado: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Colorado
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (2)
- Restricted license
“Early reinstatement is limited to drivers who: Are residents of Colorado Are 21 years of age or older at the time of the violation Have satisfied all reinstatement requirements (other than time)”
- Hearing-request deadline
“You have 7 calendar days from the date of your arrest (or the date on the DMV letter if you took a blood test) to request an Expressed Consent Hearing. If you miss this 7-day window, you automatically waive your right to a hearing, and your license will be revoked.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Guardian Interlock | Guardian Interlock website | Find a location |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Colorado law requires
Colorado'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: C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Colorado rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | Required only above a high-BAC threshold |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | Not mandatory for a first offense under 0.15 BAC; voluntary early reinstatement carries the remainder of the 9-month revocation (DMV: 9-month interlock requirement, removable after 4 consecutive compliant months). 2 years if BAC 0.15 or more or a chemical-test refusal (persistent drunk driver) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | At least 2 years (not more than 5) after reinstatement for a revocation for multiple DUI/DUI per se/DWAI convictions (§ 42-2-132.5(1)(b)); DMV: 2-year interlock requirement for 2nd+ per se |
Threshold: BAC of 0.15 or more (persistent drunk driver designation). Under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(1)(a)(I) and (3), a person whose license was revoked for excess BAC when the BAC was 0.15 or more, or who is otherwise designated a persistent drunk driver (which, per the DMV, includes refusing a chemical test), must hold an interlock-restricted license for at least two years after reinstatement. For a first DUI/DUI per se or excess-BAC (0.08–0.149) revocation of nine months, an interlock is not mandatory: under § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(A) a first-time offender aged 21 or older may voluntarily apply for early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license at any time (DMV: on the first day the revocation goes active for violations on or after January 1, 2023), and the restriction then runs for the remainder of the nine-month restraint, with removal possible after four consecutive compliant monthly reports (§ 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(B)). Persistent drunk drivers are excluded from early removal.
What the source says (7)
- IID on first offense
“(I) A person whose license has been revoked for excess BAC pursuant to the provisions of section 42-2-126 when the person's BAC was 0.15 or more at the time of driving or within two hours after driving or whose driving record otherwise indicates a designation of persistent drunk driver”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“if the department's monthly monitoring reports required in subsection (6) of this section show that, for four consecutive monthly reporting periods, the approved ignition interlock device did not interrupt or prevent the normal operation of the motor vehicle due to an excessive breath alcohol”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(b) A person whose privilege to drive was revoked for multiple convictions for any combination of a DUI, DUI per se, or DWAI pursuant to section 42-2-125 (1)(g)(I) or (1)(i) shall hold an interlock-restricted license pursuant to this section for at least two years, but not more than five years,”
- Ignition interlock statute
“42-2-132.5. Mandatory and voluntary restricted licenses following alcohol convictions - rules. (1) Persons required to hold an interlock-restricted license. (a) The following persons shall hold an interlock-restricted license pursuant to this section for at least one year following reinstatement”
- IID on first offense
“for a first violation that requires only a nine-month revocation, a person twenty-one years of age or older at the time of the offense may apply for an early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license pursuant to this section at any time.”
- firstOffenseIidNote_dmv
“1st Per Se or DUI conviction, May be eligible to reinstate early on the first day the revocation action goes active - 2 year interlock requirement with BAC above .15 May be eligible to reinstate early on the first day the revocation action goes active – 9-month Interlock requirement with BAC below”
- firstOffenseIidNote_refusal
“You Refused to Submit to Chemical Testing Automatic 2 year Interlock requirement”
Removal: Compliance-based early removal for first offenders, otherwise term-based. 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 Colorado does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 3 years |
SR-22. C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(b)(II) requires proof of financial responsibility before early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license, maintained for the longer of three years or the restriction period; C.R.S. § 42-7-408(1)(b)-(c) sets the general period at three years but, for a one-time DUI/DWAI/excess-BAC offender with no accident, only for as long as the driving privilege is under restraint, up to a maximum of three years. The DMV reinstatement FAQ states: first-offense BAC 0.08+ — SR-22 for 9 months (3 years if an accident or high BAC was involved); multiple offenses — SR-22 for 3 years; refusal — 1 to 3 years. sr22Years is recorded as the 3-year standard; a first low-BAC offense without an accident is shorter (9 months per DMV).
Filing period and required coverage, as the agency states them
- 9 months (3 years if accident or high BAC) — SR-22 period after a first BAC 0.08+ revocation (Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ) (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (5)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Before being eligible for early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license under this section, a person shall provide proof of financial responsibility to the department [...] for the longer of three years or the period that the person's license is restricted under this section”
- Filing period
“only one time and no accident was involved in such offense, proof of financial responsibility for the future shall be required to be maintained only for as long as the insured's driving privilege is ordered to be under restraint, up to a maximum of three years.”
- SR-22 period after a first BAC 0.08+ revocation (Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ)
“If the appeal is approved, you will receive a pro-rated amount of assistance on future interlock lease charges for each calendar month that ends with you having a valid Colorado Restricted (Interlock) License. Total assistance cannot exceed $400.”
- SR-22 period after a first BAC 0.08+ revocation (Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ)
“(C) Financial assistance for first-time offenders and persistent drunk drivers. The department shall establish a program to assist persons who apply for an interlock-restricted license pursuant to this subparagraph (II) [...] and who are unable to pay the full cost of an approved ignition interlock”
- SR-22 requirement
“You may be required to file an SR-22 when you reinstate from specific suspensions and/or revocations. The SR-22 requires the insurance company to notify the DMV of any policy cancellation. The SR-22 form is not an insurance policy.”
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 | $95 reinstatement fee plus $25 DUI restoration fee ($120 total) | 2026-08-29 |
| Driver license reinstatement fee(Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ) | $95 | 2026-08 |
| DUI restoration fee, in addition to the $95 reinstatement fee, for alcohol/drug revocations(Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ) | $25 | 2026-08 |
| Total fees for early interlock reinstatement after a chemical-test refusal(Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ) | $120 | 2026-08 |
| Interlock financial assistance for first-time offenders and persistent drunk drivers unable to pay: income-tested at installation; on an approved appeal, total assistance cannot exceed $400(C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(C); DMV) | up to $400 (appeal cap) | 2026-08 |
What the source says (2)
- License reinstatement fee
“To Reinstate: Pay the $95 reinstatement fee and $25 DUI restoration fee. Maintain SR-22 insurance for 9 months (3 years if an accident or high BAC was involved).”
- License reinstatement fee
“You will need to pay all fees ($120 total), maintain SR-22 insurance for 1 to 3 years, enroll in Level 2 Alcohol and Drug Education and Treatment, and keep an Ignition Interlock device in your car for at least 2 years.”
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 Colorado's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Colorado rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read Neither C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5 (2024 text) nor the Colorado DMV Ignition Interlock Program, Early Reinstatement, Approved Interlock Vendors or Financial Assistance pages mentions motorcycles. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Not addressed on the official pages read C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5 contains no employer-vehicle exemption, and the DMV interlock pages state only that an interlock-restricted driver who drives a non-equipped vehicle is subject to a revocation of at least one year; no employer-vehicle provision appears on them. |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not addressed on the official pages read No waiver or alternative for a person physically unable to provide a breath sample appears in C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5 or on the DMV Ignition Interlock Program, Early Reinstatement, Approved Interlock Vendors or Financial Assistance pages. |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Financial Assistance for Ignition Interlock (Interlock Financial Assistance), funded from the first time drunk driving offender account C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(C) directs the department to establish a program to assist persons applying for an interlock-restricted license who are unable to pay the full cost of an approved device, funded from the first time drunk driving offender account in the highway users tax fund. DMV: the Department of Revenue may pay a portion of the interlock device cost if funds are available for a first-time offender (violation on or after January 1, 2009) or a persistent drunk driver completing initial installation on or after January 1, 2014, who is lawfully present, a Colorado resident, was 21 or older at the violation, and whose Federal Adjusted Gross Income on the Colorado tax file falls within a predetermined percentage of the current HHS Poverty Guidelines. Eligibility is checked by the interlock provider through the State Portal at installation via an authorized check of the Colorado tax file; a declined applicant may appeal with an IRS tax transcript, a Division of Human Services Notice of Action for a PEAK program, or a court Declaration of Indigency. On an approved appeal, assistance is a pro-rated amount on future lease charges for each month ending with a valid restricted (interlock) license, total assistance cannot exceed $400, no retroactive funds are paid, and any subsequent suspension or revocation terminates assistance. Drivers who refused a chemical test before January 1, 2014 and reinstate early with interlock are not eligible. What the source says“administers an account established to provide financial assistance for first-time offenders installing an ignition interlock device or those designated as persistent drunk drivers completing their initial installation on or after January 1, 2014, who are unable to pay the full costs of the device.” |
| Statutory basis of the financial-assistance program | C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(C): the department shall establish a program to assist interlock-restricted-license applicants unable to pay the full cost of an approved device, funded from the first time drunk driving offender account (§ 42-2-132(4)(b)(II)). What the source says“The department shall establish a program to assist persons who apply for an interlock-restricted license pursuant to this subparagraph (II) or pursuant to subparagraph (I) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) and who are unable to pay the full cost of an approved ignition interlock device.” |
| Pre-2014 chemical-test refusals | DMV: a driver who refused a chemical test before January 1, 2014 may serve at least two months and apply for early reinstatement with interlock for one year, but is not eligible for Financial Assistance in that case. What the source says“or serve at least two months and apply for early reinstatement with Interlock for one year. They are not eligible for Financial Assistance in this case.” |
| Driving a non-equipped vehicle | DMV: an interlock-restricted driver who drives a non-equipped vehicle or attempts to circumvent the device is subject to a license revocation with no driving for at least one year. What the source says“Any Interlock-restricted driver who either drives a non-equipped vehicle or attempts to circumvent the proper functioning of the interlock device is subject to a license revocation with no driving for at least one year.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Is an ignition interlock required after a first DUI in Colorado?
- Under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(1)(a)(I), an interlock-restricted license is mandatory for at least one year (two years under subsection (3) for persistent drunk drivers) when the BAC was 0.15 or more. For a first offense below 0.15 with a nine-month revocation, the interlock is not mandatory; under § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(A) a driver 21 or older may apply for early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license instead of serving the full revocation.
- How long does the interlock stay on a Colorado vehicle?
- The Colorado DMV states that for arrests on or after January 1, 2023, a first per se or DUI conviction with BAC below 0.149 carries a 9-month interlock requirement running with the revocation, a BAC above 0.15 carries a 2-year requirement, and a second or later per se offense requires 2 years. Under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(B), a first-time offender may have the restriction removed after four consecutive monthly reports with no failed starts or tampering.
- What are the Colorado reinstatement fees after a DUI?
- The Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ lists a $95 reinstatement fee plus a $25 DUI restoration fee for alcohol-related revocations, with an Application for Reinstatement (DR 2870), an SR-22, an interlock lease/installation agreement, and an affidavit of enrollment in Level 2 alcohol and drug education and treatment. For refusals the DMV states the fees total $120.
- Does Colorado require an SR-22 after a DUI, and for how long?
- Yes. C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(b)(II) requires proof of financial responsibility before early interlock reinstatement, maintained for the longer of three years or the restriction period, and C.R.S. § 42-7-408(1)(c)(I) limits a one-time DUI offender with no accident to the restraint period, up to three years. The DMV states SR-22 for 9 months after a first BAC 0.08+ revocation (3 years if an accident or high BAC was involved) and 3 years for multiple offenses.
- Is there financial help for the interlock in Colorado?
- C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(C) directs the Department of Revenue to run a program assisting first-time offenders and persistent drunk drivers who cannot pay the full cost of an approved interlock, funded from the first time drunk driving offender account. The DMV states eligibility is checked against the Colorado tax file at installation, that a subsequent suspension ends assistance, and that total assistance on an approved appeal cannot exceed $400.
Sources
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 42 (incl. § 42-2-132.5 interlock-restricted licenses; § 42-7-408 proof of financial responsibility) – Office of Legislative Legal Services PDF, leg.colorado.gov
- Colorado DMV – Ignition Interlock Program (interlock periods by offense)
- Colorado DMV – Approved Interlock Vendors
- Colorado DMV – Early Reinstatement (Interlock)
- Colorado DMV – Financial Assistance for Ignition Interlock
- Colorado DMV – Suspension and Reinstatement FAQs (fees, SR-22 periods)
- Colorado DMV – SR-22 and Insurance Information
- Colorado DMV – Driver License Reinstatement Center
- Colorado DMV – The DUI Administrative Process
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.