Connecticut ignition interlock & DUI requirements
Connecticut requires an ignition interlock after a first DUI for 1 year. A repeat offense carries 3 years.
Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Connecticut, cited to the statute and Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.
- IID on first offense
- Required
- Minimum IID period (first)
- 1 year, 6 months if administrative
- SR-22 filing
- Not required
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- Required
- Minimum period
- 1 year, 6 months if administrative
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“(C) have such person's motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for forty-five days and, as a condition for the restoration of such license, be required to install an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person”
- Minimum period
“upon such restoration, be prohibited for the one-year period following such restoration from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $175
- Restricted-license fee
- $175 license reinstatement fee + $100 IID administration fee
- Reduced-cost rule
- Discount re for indigent persons
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Sec. 14-50b. Fee for restoration of operator's license ... shall pay a restoration fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars to said commissioner prior to the issuance to such person of a new operator's license”
- Restricted-license fee
“License reinstatement fee: $175 IID Administration fee: $100”
- Reduced-cost rule
“For low-income applicants, please contact the vendors to determine eligibility for discounted or no fees associated with getting the device. To qualify, you will be required to provide a letter from the state Department of Social Services to prove low-income status.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Not available during the suspension
- Hearing-request deadline
- 7 days from the notice
- Driving after a DUI in Connecticut: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Connecticut
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (2)
- Restricted license
“To qualify for a special use permit, you cannot have any of the following on your driving record: Suspensions for failure to appear/pay a citation Suspensions for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI/DWI/OUI)”
- Hearing-request deadline
“A notice of your driver’s license suspension will be mailed to the address of record, allowing you seven days to request a hearing.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Detection Systems | Alcohol Detection Systems website | Find a location |
| ALCOLOCK | ALCOLOCK website | Find a location |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| Low Cost Interlock | Low Cost Interlock website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlock | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Sens-O-Lock of Americalisted by the agency as “Sensolock of America” | Sens-O-Lock of America website | Find a location |
| Simple Interlock | Simple Interlock website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Connecticut law requires
Connecticut'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: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(g)
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Connecticut rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | Required |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | 1 year (conviction, § 14-227a(g)(1)); 6 months for a first administrative per se suspension (age 21+, failed test, § 14-227b(i)(2)) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 3 years (second conviction, § 14-227a(g)(2)); 1 year for a second administrative per se suspension (§ 14-227b(i)(2)) |
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(g)(1)(C) makes IID installation a condition of license restoration after a first conviction, with a one-year IID period following restoration. Separately, the administrative per se suspension under § 14-227b(i) also requires an IID for restoration (six months for a first suspension, age 21+, failed test; one year for refusal or under-21). DMV applies whichever period is longer.
Periods, extensions and device rules from the fee and program pages
- DMV extends the IID requirement by 30 days for each reported violation (CT DMV) — IID violation extension (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“(C) have such person's motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for forty-five days and, as a condition for the restoration of such license, be required to install an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“upon such restoration, be prohibited for the one-year period following such restoration from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(2) for conviction of a second violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense ... be prohibited for the three-year period following such restoration from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device”
- Ignition interlock statute
“Sec. 14-227a. Operation while under the influence of liquor or drug or while having an elevated blood alcohol content ... (g) Penalties for operation while under the influence.”
- IID on first offense
“(i) For a first suspension under this section, six months; (ii) for a second suspension under this section, one year; and (iii) for a third or subsequent suspension under this section, two years”
Removal: Term-based with violation extensions. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(g), the IID restriction runs for one year following restoration after a first conviction and three years after a second… 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 Connecticut does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | No |
|---|---|
| Filing period | Not applicable |
Discretionary, not mandatory. Connecticut has no statute or DMV rule that conditions DUI reinstatement on an SR-22 or other financial-responsibility filing. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112(a) lets the commissioner require proof of financial responsibility only 'when, in the opinion of the commissioner, such person has a record on file with the commissioner which is sufficient ... to require evidence of financial responsibility' (case-by-case; proof may be an insurance certificate, surety bond, or deposit under § 14-112(b)). The CT DMV 'Reinstate your CT driver's license after a suspension' page enumerates the reinstatement steps (complete the requirements on the suspension notice, the work-zone course if applicable, pay the $175 reinstatement fee plus any IID administration fee of $100, check license status) and the CT DMV IID Program page lists what is required to restore a license after an OUI/chemical-test suspension (install an IID through an approved vendor, pay the $175 reinstatement fee and $100 IID administration fee, serve the suspension); an SR-22 / financial-responsibility filing is not among the listed requirements.
What the source says (3)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Pay the $175 reinstatement fee to the DMV. (Additional fees may apply - e.g., IID administration fee $100). You can pay the fee online , by phone at 860-263-5720, or by mail (check or money order made payable to “DMV”). Check your license status before you begin driving.”
- SR-22 requirement
“Sec. 14-112. Proof of financial responsibility. (a) When commissioner shall require. To entitle any person to receive or retain a motor vehicle operator's license or a certificate of registration of any motor vehicle when, in the opinion of the commissioner, such person has a record on file”
- sr22Note_discretion
“which is sufficient, in the opinion of the commissioner, to require evidence of financial responsibility for the reasonable protection of other persons, the commissioner shall require from such person proof of financial responsibility”
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 | $175(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-50b; CT DMV) | 2026-08-29 |
| IID administration fee(CT DMV) | $100 | 2026-08 |
| IID device cost | Not fixed by the state; set by vendors and paid directly to the vendor(CT DMV) | 2026-08 |
| Indigent discount | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227o allows providers to reduce or eliminate charges for indigent persons who show SNAP or LIHEAP participation | 2026-08 |
What the source says (1)
- License reinstatement fee
“Sec. 14-50b. Fee for restoration of operator's license ... shall pay a restoration fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars to said commissioner prior to the issuance to such person of a new operator's license”
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 Connecticut's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Connecticut rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read Neither Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(i) nor the CT DMV Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program page addresses motorcycles. The statute requires an approved device in 'each motor vehicle owned or to be operated' by the person, and the DMV IID regulation (Conn. Agencies Regs. §§ 14-227a-11a to 14-227a-28a) speaks only of 'motor vehicles'; no motorcycle rule, exemption or device-approval statement appears in any of them. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | No exemption No employer-vehicle exemption is stated. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(i)(1) permits operation only if the person has installed an approved ignition interlock device in each motor vehicle owned or to be operated by the person, and the CT DMV IID Program page states that the DMV record indicates an IID must be installed in each vehicle the person operates. The DMV IID regulation text reviewed (§ 14-227a-26a, permission to operate a motor vehicle with an IID) likewise refers to each motor vehicle owned or operated by the person, with no employer carve-out. What the source says“such person has installed an approved ignition interlock device in each motor vehicle owned or to be operated by such person, and verifies to the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, that such device has been installed.” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not addressed on the official pages read No medical waiver, alternative device or physician-certification process for a person unable to provide a breath sample is stated on the CT DMV IID Program page, in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(i), or in the DMV IID regulation text (Conn. Agencies Regs. §§ 14-227a-11a to 14-227a-28a) as posted on the state eRegulations portal. |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Discount re for indigent persons (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227o) CT DMV states there is no fixed IID cost and that low-income applicants contact the vendors to determine eligibility for discounted or no fees for the device; to qualify, the applicant must provide a letter from the state Department of Social Services showing participation in the state-administered federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and/or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227o provides that a provider of IID services (installation, maintenance and removal) may include in the lease agreement a reduction to or an elimination of the charge if the person is indigent, with a SNAP or LIHEAP participation card or an original DSS letter as proof. The reduction is at the provider's option ('may'); the DMV's $100 IID administration fee and $175 restoration fee are not stated as reduced, and § 14-227a(i)(2) bars a sentencing court from waiving IID fees or costs. What the source says“For low-income applicants, please contact the vendors to determine eligibility for discounted or no fees associated with getting the device. To qualify, you will be required to provide a letter from the state Department of Social Services to prove low-income status.” |
| Statutory indigent discount (§ 14-227o) | A provider of ignition interlock device services may include in a lease agreement with a person required to install a device a reduction to or elimination of the charge for installation, maintenance and removal if the person is indigent; proof is a valid SNAP or LIHEAP participation card or letter (a DSS letter must be original, on letterhead). What the source says“a reduction to or an elimination of the charge for such services if such person is indigent. Such person may provide to the provider of such ignition interlock device services as proof of indigency a valid participation card or letter indicating participation” |
| Work/school-limited driving for one year after a second conviction | For one year after IID installation, a person subject to § 14-227a(g)(2)(C) (second conviction) may operate a motor vehicle only for transportation to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an IID service center, or a probation appointment; the DMV records the limitation on the person's driving history. What the source says“such person's operation of a motor vehicle shall be limited to such person's transportation to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an ignition interlock device service center or an appointment with a probation officer.” |
| No court waiver of IID costs | All costs of installing and maintaining the device are borne by the person required to install it; a sentencing court may not waive IID fees or costs. What the source says“No court sentencing a person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section may waive any fees or costs associated with the installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device.” |
| Out-of-state IID requirements carry over | A person who moves to Connecticut with an IID requirement from another state keeps that requirement; the DMV requires the other jurisdiction's IID terms, a certified driving history less than 60 days old, installation by a Connecticut-approved vendor if not already so installed, and the $100 IID administration fee. What the source says“I moved to Connecticut and have an IID requirement in another state. What do I do? Those requirements carry over to Connecticut.” |
| No IID driving for other suspensions | The IID subsection does not authorize continued operation of an IID-equipped vehicle by a person whose license or nonresident operating privilege is withdrawn, suspended or revoked for any other reason. What the source says“The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to authorize the continued operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device by any person whose operator's license or nonresident operating privilege is withdrawn, suspended or revoked for any other reason.” |
| DMV Medical Form P-142M asks whether the patient can exhale into an ignition interlock device | The Connecticut DMV Medical Form P-142M (Rev. 2-20), completed by a licensed physician, PA or APRN after a personal examination within 90 days, includes in its Respiratory/Sleep Disorders section the question whether the patient is able to exhale 1000CC of air in one continuous breath during the operation of an ignition interlock device. The form states that, based upon all available information, DMV will make a final decision concerning the patient's ability to hold an operator's license. No DMV page states what follows from a 'No' answer or describes a waiver or alternative device. What the source says“Is this patient able to exhale 1000CC of air in one continuous breath during the operation of an ignition interlock device?” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Is an ignition interlock device required after a first DUI conviction in Connecticut?
- Yes. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(g)(1)(C), a first conviction carries a 45-day license suspension, and as a condition of restoration the person must install an ignition interlock device on each vehicle owned or operated and may drive only IID-equipped vehicles for one year after restoration.
- How long is the IID period after a second Connecticut DUI conviction?
- Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(g)(2)(C), a second conviction within ten years requires an IID for three years following restoration; during the first year, driving is limited to work, school, treatment programs, an IID service center, or probation appointments.
- Does a failed or refused chemical test also trigger an IID requirement?
- Yes. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227b(i), the administrative per se suspension requires an IID as a condition of restoration: six months for a first suspension (age 21 or older, failed test), one year for a second, two years for a third; one year, two years, and three years for refusals. The CT DMV applies the longer of the per se period or the conviction period.
- What fees does the Connecticut DMV charge to restore a license with an IID?
- The CT DMV lists a $175 license reinstatement fee (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-50b) and a $100 IID administration fee. The DMV states there is no fixed cost for the device itself; vendors set their own prices.
- Is there a reduced-cost IID option for low-income drivers in Connecticut?
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227o allows an IID provider to reduce or eliminate service charges for an indigent person who provides a valid participation card or Department of Social Services letter showing SNAP or LIHEAP participation. The CT DMV IID page describes the same documentation.
Sources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 248 (Vehicle Highway Use), incl. §§ 14-227a, 14-227b, 14-227o — Connecticut General Assembly
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 246, incl. § 14-50b (restoration fee) and § 14-112 (proof of financial responsibility) — Connecticut General Assembly
- CT DMV — Connecticut Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program (approved vendors, fees, rules)
- CT DMV — Driving Under the Influence: Laws & Penalties
- CT DMV — Pay license reinstatement fee
- CT DMV — Reinstate your CT driver's license after a suspension
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112 Proof of financial responsibility (chapter 246, section anchor) — Connecticut General Assembly
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.