Is an ignition interlock device required after a first DUI in Delaware?

21 Del. C. § 4177G(a) states that an offender must participate in the Ignition Interlock Device Program, and § 4177G(d)(2) requires the IID to be installed on each vehicle the offender operates before the Division of Motor Vehicles reinstates the license. Under § 4177C(d)(4), a first conviction with a BAC below .15 requires at least 12 months with the IID installed and an IID license issued.

How does BAC affect the Delaware IID period?

Under 21 Del. C. § 4177C(d)(4), the minimum IID period before reinstatement rises with BAC: for a first conviction, 12 months (below .15), 17 months (.15 to under .20), or 23 months (.20 or greater); for a second conviction, 16, 22, or 28 months respectively; a fourth or later offense requires at least 54 months.

When can a Delaware first offender apply for an IID license?

Under 21 Del. C. § 4177C(a), a person who enters a first offender election is immediately eligible to apply once all licenses are surrendered and the IID is installed. Under § 4177C(b), a person sentenced for a first offense may apply after at least 30 days of revocation (BAC below .15) or 45 days (BAC .15 or greater).

What does Delaware charge to reinstate a license after a DUI revocation?

The Delaware DMV License Revocations page states a $200.00 fee is charged to reinstate a revoked license ($50.00 for a suspended license) and lists driving under the influence among mandatory revocations. Written, road, and eye-screen exams may also be required.

Which IID service providers does Delaware DMV list?

The Delaware DMV Interlock Program Application (Form 2008 IID APP) requires applicants to select one of two listed service providers, Smart Start or Intoxalock, and states applications will not be processed until a provider is selected.

DEVerified against primary sources · August 28, 2026

Delaware ignition interlock & DUI requirements

Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Delaware, cited to the statute and the Delaware Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles.

IID on first offense: Required
Minimum IID period (first): 12 months
SR-22 filing: No
Reinstatement fee: $200

What Delaware law requires

Delaware'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: 21 Del. C. § 4177G

Ignition interlock requirement

Ignition interlock requirements in Delaware by offense
Item	Delaware rule
IID on first offense	Required
Minimum IID period, first offense	12 months (first conviction, BAC below .15); 17 months (BAC .15 to under .20); 23 months (BAC .20 or greater); 4 months for a first-offender election under § 4177B
Minimum IID period, repeat offense	16 months (second conviction, BAC below .15); 22 months (BAC .15 to under .20); 28 months (BAC .20 or greater)

21 Del. C. § 4177G(a) states 'An offender must participate in the Ignition Interlock Device Program'; 'offender' includes a person who accepts a first offender election under § 4177B or is convicted under § 4177. Under § 4177G(d)(2) the IID must be installed on each vehicle the offender operates before the Secretary may reinstate the license, and § 4177C(d)(4) sets the minimum months the IID must be in place before reinstatement (4 months for a first-offender election; 12/17/23 months for a first conviction depending on BAC). Delaware DMV's IID web page still describes the older 'First Offense Election - Ignition Interlock Device (FOE-IID) Diversion' (5 months) and a 'voluntary' program; the statute as posted controls.

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Delaware 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: Delaware agency vendor list

Approved interlock vendors in Delaware
Vendor	Website	Location finder
Intoxalock	Intoxalock website	Find a location
Smart Start	Smart Start website	Find a location

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 Delaware does, the sources below say so.

SR-22 requirement in Delaware
SR-22 filing required after a DUI	No
Filing period	Not applicable

Not required. Delaware eliminated SR-22 certificate filings by statute: 130 Del. Laws ch. 77 (S.B. 129, approved June 26, 1979) is 'AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 29, TITLE 21, DELAWARE CODE TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT FOR FILING SR-22 INSURANCE CERTIFICATES.' Under the current Motor Vehicle Safety-Responsibility chapter (21 Del. C. ch. 29, subch. III, 'Proof of Future Responsibility'), proof of financial responsibility is triggered only by suspension for nonpayment of a motor-vehicle-accident judgment (§§ 2941-2943); no section of ch. 29 or of the DUI subchapter (§§ 4177-4177G) conditions reinstatement after a DUI on such proof. The Delaware DMV License Revocations page enumerates what is needed to reinstate after a revocation (DUI is a mandatory revocation): the $200 reinstatement fee and, if required, the written, road and eye-screen exams; the DMV IID page and Driver Improvement FAQ list the IID-license terms (course enrollment, surrender of the license, program application, proof of insurance for the IID vehicle, no other disqualifying revocation). An SR-22 / FR-44 / financial-responsibility filing is not among them. Residual reference: § 2905 (assigned-risk surcharges) still speaks of a certificate 'required for a conviction of ... Driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated', but no current section imposes that requirement.

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.

Post-DUI program costs in Delaware
Item	Amount	As of
License reinstatement fee	$200 (revoked license; DUI is a mandatory revocation)	2026-08-28
Reinstatement fee, revoked license	$200.00 (Delaware DMV; DUI is listed as a mandatory revocation)	2026-08
Reinstatement fee, suspended license	$50.00	2026-08
IID payment plan / indigent plan	21 Del. C. § 4177G(e) requires DMV to establish a payment plan administered by the service provider and an indigent plan for impoverished persons	2026-08
Program-violation extensions	Revocation/IID period extended 2 months for any 3 listed violations, 4 months for 5, 6 months for 8, plus 1 month per violation over 8 (21 Del. C. § 4177G(f)(3))	2026-08

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock device required after a first DUI in Delaware?: 21 Del. C. § 4177G(a) states that an offender must participate in the Ignition Interlock Device Program, and § 4177G(d)(2) requires the IID to be installed on each vehicle the offender operates before the Division of Motor Vehicles reinstates the license. Under § 4177C(d)(4), a first conviction with a BAC below .15 requires at least 12 months with the IID installed and an IID license issued.
How does BAC affect the Delaware IID period?: Under 21 Del. C. § 4177C(d)(4), the minimum IID period before reinstatement rises with BAC: for a first conviction, 12 months (below .15), 17 months (.15 to under .20), or 23 months (.20 or greater); for a second conviction, 16, 22, or 28 months respectively; a fourth or later offense requires at least 54 months.
When can a Delaware first offender apply for an IID license?: Under 21 Del. C. § 4177C(a), a person who enters a first offender election is immediately eligible to apply once all licenses are surrendered and the IID is installed. Under § 4177C(b), a person sentenced for a first offense may apply after at least 30 days of revocation (BAC below .15) or 45 days (BAC .15 or greater).
What does Delaware charge to reinstate a license after a DUI revocation?: The Delaware DMV License Revocations page states a $200.00 fee is charged to reinstate a revoked license ($50.00 for a suspended license) and lists driving under the influence among mandatory revocations. Written, road, and eye-screen exams may also be required.
Which IID service providers does Delaware DMV list?: The Delaware DMV Interlock Program Application (Form 2008 IID APP) requires applicants to select one of two listed service providers, Smart Start or Intoxalock, and states applications will not be processed until a provider is selected.