Georgia ignition interlock & DUI requirements
Georgia 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 Georgia, cited to the statute and Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
- IID on first offense
- Court's discretion
- Minimum IID period (first)
- Not required (optional permit)
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 3 years
- Reinstatement fee
- $200 by mail / $210 in person
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- At the court's discretion
- Minimum period
- Not required (optional permit)
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“IID Limited Permit - The option to request an ignition interlock device limited permit (IIDLP) may be available to you during the period of suspension of your driver’s license or privilege.”
- Minimum period
“Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit (IDLP) If customers consented to the state-administered chemical test Required to successfully maintain the ignition interlock for a period of 4 months.”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $200 by mail / $210 in person
- Restricted-license fee
- $25 (Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit); $32 (Limited Permit, up to 1 year)…
- State fee cap
- Installation, de-installation or secured deposit of a device not to exceed $75 each…
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Suspension Cost by Mail Cost in Person Child Support Non-Compliance $25.00 $35.00 DUI (First Offense for Age 21 and Over) $200.00 $210.00”
- Restricted-license fee
“If customers DID NOT consent to the state-administered chemical test Required to successfully maintain the ignition interlock for a period of 12 months. $25”
- State fee cap
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Limited Driving Permit
- Hearing-request deadline
- 30 days from the notice
- Driving after a DUI in Georgia: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Georgia
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (2)
- Restricted license
“When a license gets suspended, drivers may qualify for a limited driving permit. The limited permits are available during the suspension period. Permits will restrict where and why you can drive.”
- Hearing-request deadline
“if you fail to choose an option within 30 calendar days of your serve date (located on the front of the DS-1205 form), your license will go into suspension on the forty-sixth (46th) day after your serve date (located on the front of the DDS-1205 form).”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Georgia 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 Systemslisted by the agency as “Determinator” | Alcohol Detection Systems website | Find a location |
| AutoSense International | On the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) list | |
| B.E.S.T. Labs, Inc | B.E.S.T. Labs, Inc website | Find a location |
| Guardian Interlock | Guardian Interlock website | Find a location |
| Intoxalocklisted by the agency as “Consumer Safety Technology, Inc.” | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlocklisted by the agency as “Draeger Safety Diagnostics, Inc” | 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 Georgia law requires
Georgia'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: O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111 and § 40-5-64.1, as cited in DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10 (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs.)
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Georgia rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | At the court's discretion |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | No IID is required for a first DUI conviction (DDS lists no IID among first-offense reinstatement conditions). Optional IID limited permit (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64.1) during the administrative suspension after a first DUI arrest: 4 months if the driver consented to the state-administered test, 12 months if the driver refused (DDS) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 12 months (second DUI conviction within 5 years, incidents on or after July 1, 2013), beginning after a 120-day hard suspension within the 18-month suspension (DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10(8)(c)); a third conviction (habitual violator) also carries a 12-month IID requirement at reinstatement |
Georgia DDS pages reviewed do not state that an IID is mandatory for a first DUI conviction. The DDS Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit Customer Information Sheet describes the IID limited permit as an option a driver 'may' request during the administrative license suspension period following a first DUI arrest (available to drivers 21+ with a valid Georgia license and no DUI conviction within 5 years). The DDS Suspensions page lists 'Ignition Interlock Device Permit' among administrative actions. The DDS Fees and Terms page states the IID limited permit requires the interlock for 4 months if the driver consented to the state-administered chemical test, or 12 months if the driver did not consent. The official O.C.G.A. text (LexisNexis-hosted) was not available online when the record was verified; statute numbers are taken from DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10, which cites them.
What the source says (6)
- IID on first offense
“IID Limited Permit - The option to request an ignition interlock device limited permit (IIDLP) may be available to you during the period of suspension of your driver’s license or privilege.”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit (IDLP) If customers consented to the state-administered chemical test Required to successfully maintain the ignition interlock for a period of 4 months.”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(c) For incidents on or after July 1, 2013: twelve (12) months. After maintaining such interlock for the time required, such customer shall be eligible for a permit without the interlock restriction if otherwise eligible.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“who has been granted an exemption from installing an ignition interlock device limited driving due to financial hardship pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111(a)(1) until such person has served at least twelve months of such suspensions.”
- IID on first offense
“The DDS is unable to issue the ignition interlock device limited permit until: - The DDS-1205 has been received by the Department, and - The ignition interlock device has been installed in the vehicle”
- firstOffenseIidNote_susp
“Administrative License Suspensions/Revocations Refusal to submit to a test to determine the driver’s alcohol concentration Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level requires suspension ... Ignition Interlock Device Permit”
Removal: On the DDS sources, removal is time-based: the interlock restriction ends after the required term is maintained. 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 Georgia does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 3 years |
DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 requires an SR-22 to be filed and maintained for three years from the date of conviction to reinstate a license suspended for a conviction under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391. Minimum limits: $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage for a first DUI conviction; $100,000/$300,000 and $100,000 for a second or subsequent conviction (rule adopted to align with SB 121, passed April 2025).
Filing period and required coverage, as the agency states them
- $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident bodily injury; $50,000 property damage (DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24) — SR-22 minimum liability limits after first DUI conviction (as of 2026-08)
- $100,000 / $300,000 bodily injury; $100,000 property damage (DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24) — SR-22 minimum liability limits after second or subsequent DUI conviction (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (4)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Reinstatement of driver’s licenses suspended for convictions under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391 will require an SR-22 to be filed and maintained for three (3) years from the date of conviction.”
- Filing period
“will require an SR-22 to be filed and maintained for three (3) years from the date of conviction.”
- sr22Note_limits
“(a) Not less than $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident; (b) Not less than $100,000 for bodily injury to or death of all persons in any one accident; and (c) Not less than $50,000 for loss of, damage to, or destruction of property in any one accident.”
- sr22Note_sb121
“The purpose of this new rule is to align with SB 121, which passed in April 2025. It requires specific amounts of liability insurance after one DUI conviction and increased amounts of liability insurance for a second or subsequent DUI conviction.”
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 | $200 by mail / $210 in person (DUI, first offense, age 21 and over) | 2026-08-29 |
| Limited permit fees(DDS Fees and Terms) | Limited permit $32 (up to 1 year); renewal $10; Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit (IDLP) $25; IDLP renewal (2 months) $5; IDLP restrictions removal $100, in addition to any reinstatement fee | 2026-08 |
What the source says (1)
- License reinstatement fee
“Suspension Cost by Mail Cost in Person Child Support Non-Compliance $25.00 $35.00 DUI (First Offense for Age 21 and Over) $200.00 $210.00”
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 Georgia's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Georgia rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read None of the DDS pages read addresses motorcycles: the Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit Customer Information Sheet, DDS Fees and Terms, the DDS Ignition Interlock Program and Ignition Interlock Program FAQs pages (both written for provider centers), the Approved Ignition Interlock Devices list and DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10 (Limited Driving Permits). The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-64.1, 42-8-111) is hosted for the state by LexisNexis and was not available online when the record was verified. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Not addressed on the official pages read No employer-vehicle exemption or prohibition is stated on the DDS IIDLP Customer Information Sheet, DDS Fees and Terms, the DDS Ignition Interlock Program / FAQ pages, or DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10; the O.C.G.A. text was not available online when the record was verified. |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not addressed on the official pages read No medical waiver or alternative for a person unable to provide a breath sample is stated on any DDS page read (IIDLP Customer Information Sheet, Fees and Terms, Ignition Interlock Program and FAQ pages, Approved Ignition Interlock Devices, Rule 375-3-3-.10); the O.C.G.A. text was not available online when the record was verified. |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Not available No program that reduces interlock costs for low-income drivers is stated by the Department of Driver Services. The DDS Ignition Interlock Offender Information sheet (form RC-IID-500) states that if a financial burden exists, the offender may petition the sentencing court for a Financial Hardship Waiver; if the waiver is granted, the offender must undergo a 12 month hard suspension and may then be eligible for a non-interlock limited driving permit for the balance of the 18 months. The same sheet states that installation, monthly monitoring and removal fees are each capped at $75 by DDS Rule 375-3-6-.04, that providers may charge additional contract fees, and that a $100 interlock restriction removal fee is payable to DDS. What the source says“If a financial burden exists, the offender may petition the sentencing court for a Financial Hardship Waiver. If the waiver is granted, the offender must undergo a 12 month hard suspension” |
| Financial-hardship exemption from installing an IID (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111(a)(1), as referenced by DDS) | DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10(6)(c)(i): no limited driving permit is available to a person under a § 40-5-63(a)(2) suspension who has been granted an exemption from installing an ignition interlock device due to financial hardship under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111(a)(1) until the person has served at least twelve months of the suspension. The rule's text reads 'ignition interlock device limited driving' as printed. What the source says“who has been granted an exemption from installing an ignition interlock device limited driving due to financial hardship pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111(a)(1) until such person has served at least twelve months of such suspensions.” |
| Non-residents and persons never licensed in Georgia | DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10(3): customers who are not Georgia residents, and customers who have never been issued a Georgia driver's license, are not eligible for a limited driving permit; the IIDLP Customer Information Sheet likewise lists 'Currently licensed in another state' and 'Not licensed' as eligible only for an appeal or doing nothing, not the IID limited permit. What the source says“(3) The following applicants are not eligible for a limited driving permit: (a) Customers who are not Georgia residents; (b) Customers who have never been issued a Georgia driver's license;” |
| Prior DUI within five years | The IIDLP Customer Information Sheet's option table shows a person convicted of DUI within the past five years (calculated from incident/arrest dates) as eligible only for an appeal or doing nothing, not the IID limited permit, after a DUI arrest (DDS-1205). What the source says“**Have been convicted of DUI within the past five (5) years” |
| DDS not responsible for device cost if permit is denied | The DDS information sheet states DDS is not financially responsible to customers who install the device and turn out not to be eligible for the IID limited permit. What the source says“The DDS is not financially responsible to customers who install the Ignition Interlock Device and may not be eligible for the ignition interlock device limited permit.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Does Georgia require an SR-22 after a DUI conviction?
- Yes. Under Georgia DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24, reinstatement of a license suspended for a conviction under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391 requires an SR-22 to be filed and maintained for three years from the date of conviction, with minimum limits of $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage for a first conviction and $100,000/$300,000 and $100,000 for a second or subsequent conviction.
- What is the Georgia reinstatement fee for a first DUI?
- The Georgia DDS Reinstatement Fees and Payment page lists the DUI (first offense, age 21 and over) reinstatement fee as $200.00 by mail or $210.00 in person. DDS notes the effective conviction date, multiple convictions, and other factors can produce a different fee.
- How long is a Georgia license suspended for a first DUI, and when is reinstatement possible?
- According to the Georgia DDS DUI (First Offense) FAQ, a first DUI in 5 years results in a 12-month suspension, but after 120 days the driver can apply for reinstatement by presenting a certificate of completion of a DDS-approved DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program and paying the reinstatement fee.
- Is an ignition interlock device limited permit available after a Georgia DUI arrest?
- The Georgia DDS Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit Customer Information Sheet lists requesting an IID limited permit as one option (with appeal or doing nothing) after a DUI arrest, generally for drivers 21 or older with a valid Georgia license and no DUI conviction in the past five years. DDS cannot issue the permit until the DDS-1205 is received and the device is installed.
- Which ignition interlock devices are approved in Georgia?
- The Georgia DDS Approved Ignition Interlock Devices page lists devices by manufacturer and model, including A Simple Interlock, LLC; Alcohol Detection Systems; AutoSense International; B.E.S.T. Labs, Inc.; Consumer Safety Technology, Inc.; Draeger Safety Diagnostics, Inc; Guardian Interlock System; LifeSafer Interlock; and Smart Start.
Sources
- Georgia DDS — Approved Ignition Interlock Devices
- Georgia DDS — Reinstatement Fees and Payment
- Georgia DDS — Rule 375-3-3-.24 Reinstatement Procedures for Suspensions Based on Convictions for Driving Under the Influence (PDF)
- Georgia DDS — Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit Customer Information Sheet (PDF)
- Georgia DDS — DUI (First Offense) FAQ
- Georgia DDS — Suspensions and Disqualification Offenses
- Georgia DDS — Limited Permits
- Georgia DDS — Reinstate License
- Georgia DDS — Violations, Suspensions, & Revocations
- Georgia DDS — Rule 375-3-3-.10 Limited Driving Permits (PDF; cites O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-64.1, 42-8-111; 12-month IID term for second DUI in 5 years)
- Georgia DDS — Fees and Terms (limited permit and IDLP fees and IID terms)
- Georgia DDS — ADAP Student Manual, Chapter 1 Continued (TADRA/DUI suspensions; IID periods)
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.