Iowa ignition interlock & OWI (DUI) requirements
Iowa 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 1 year from the date of reinstatement.
In Iowa the offense is called OWI, operating while intoxicated; this page uses the statute's term. Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Iowa, cited to the statute and Iowa Department of Transportation (Motor Vehicle Division).
- IID on first offense
- Court's discretion
- Minimum IID period (first)
- Restricted-license term or set by court
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 2 years
- Reinstatement fee
- $20 fee + $200 civil penalty
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- At the court's discretion
- Minimum period
- Restricted-license term or set by court
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“shall revoke the defendant's driver's license or nonresident operating privilege for one hundred eighty days if the defendant submitted to chemical testing and has had no previous conviction or revocation under this chapter ... The department shall require the defendant to install an ignition”
- Minimum period
“Installation of an ignition interlock device under this section shall be required for the period of time for which the temporary restricted license is issued, and for such additional period of time following reinstatement as is required under section 321J.17, subsection 3.”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $20 fee + $200 civil penalty
- Restricted-license fee
- $20 reinstatement fee plus the license fee
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“To reinstate your license or driving privileges after your revocation has ended, you will need to: [...] Pay a $200 civil penalty. [...] Pay a $20 reinstatement fee and the license fee.”
- State reinstatement fee
“If the department revokes a person's driver's license or nonresident operating privilege under this chapter, the department shall assess the person a civil penalty of two hundred dollars.”
- Restricted-license fee
“Complete Form 430400, Request for Temporary Restricted License – OWI Revocation. File proof of financial responsibility (SR-22) Pay any civil penalties - you can pay online or at a DMV location. Install an approved ignition interlock device.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available after a first offense · Temporary Restricted License
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 10 days from the notice
- Driving after a OWI in Iowa: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Iowa
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“If your driving privileges were revoked due to a first offense OWI, a TRL can be issued that allows you to operate a motor vehicle in any manner as long as you have an approved ignition interlock device on all vehicles you drive.”
- Waiting period
“620.3(1) Application. An application for a temporary restricted license may be submitted, at any time before or during the revocation period, by completing Form 430400. The application form should be furnished by the arresting officer.”
- Hearing-request deadline
“The form shall clearly state on its face that the form must be completed and returned within ten days of receipt or the person’s right to a hearing to contest the revocation is foreclosed.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ALCOLOCK | ALCOLOCK website | Find a location |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlocklisted by the agency as “RoadGuard XT Interlock” | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Iowa law requires
Iowa'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: Iowa Code § 321J.4
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Iowa rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | At the court's discretion |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | For the period of the temporary restricted license (TRL), if a TRL is sought; court-ordered interlocks under § 321J.4(8) last for a period set by the court |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 1 year from the date of reinstatement (second or subsequent revocation), reduced by time a valid TRL was held |
For a first OWI revocation, Iowa Code § 321J.4(1) requires the Department of Transportation to require an ignition interlock device only 'if the defendant seeks a temporary restricted license'; § 321J.4(8)(a) separately allows the court to order interlocks on conviction. A post-reinstatement interlock requirement applies under § 321J.17(3) only to a second or subsequent revocation. A medical waiver is available for offenses on or after Jan. 1, 2025 (Iowa DOT).
Periods, extensions and device rules from the fee and program pages
- Breath alcohol result must be below 0.025 g/210L for the vehicle to start — Device setpoint (Iowa DCI Laboratory) (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“shall revoke the defendant's driver's license or nonresident operating privilege for one hundred eighty days if the defendant submitted to chemical testing and has had no previous conviction or revocation under this chapter ... The department shall require the defendant to install an ignition”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“Installation of an ignition interlock device under this section shall be required for the period of time for which the temporary restricted license is issued, and for such additional period of time following reinstatement as is required under section 321J.17, subsection 3.”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“b. Unless otherwise extended under this chapter, the requirement for the installation of an approved ignition interlock device shall be for one year from the date of reinstatement unless a longer time period is required by statute.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“321J.4 Revocation of license — ignition interlock devices — temporary restricted license.”
- IID on first offense
“Iowa law allows individuals with medical conditions verified by a licensed doctor to waive the ignition interlock device (IID) requirement for OWI offenses occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Approved applicants can drive only with a Temporary Restricted License (TRL).”
Removal: Iowa uses statutory compliance-based removal. 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 Iowa does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 2 years |
SR-22. Iowa DOT states proof of SR-22 insurance must be provided for 2 years from the first day of the revocation (not needed for a 'zero tolerance' revocation).
What the source says (3)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Present satisfactory proof of SR-22 insurance, or a residency statement if you live out of state. You must provide proof of SR-22 insurance for 2 years from the first day of your revocation.”
- Filing period
“You must provide proof of SR-22 insurance for 2 years from the first day of your revocation. Failing to show or maintain future proof may suspend your driver's license and registrations. (Not needed if it is a "zero tolerance" revocation.)”
- SR-22 requirement
“(Not needed if it is a "zero tolerance" revocation.)”
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 | $20 reinstatement fee plus $200 civil penalty, plus the license fee | 2026-08-29 |
| Civil penalty on OWI revocation(Iowa Code § 321J.17(1)) | $200 | 2026-08 |
| Processing fee if civil penalty is paid through a county treasurer(§ 321J.17(1)) | $5 | 2026-08 |
| Reinstatement fee, plus the license fee(Iowa DOT) | $20 | 2026-08 |
| Early termination fee | Provider may not impose an early termination fee when the person is no longer required to have a device and presents an unrestricted license(§ 321J.4(8)(g)) | 2026-08 |
What the source says (2)
- License reinstatement fee
“To reinstate your license or driving privileges after your revocation has ended, you will need to: [...] Pay a $200 civil penalty. [...] Pay a $20 reinstatement fee and the license fee.”
- License reinstatement fee
“If the department revokes a person's driver's license or nonresident operating privilege under this chapter, the department shall assess the person a civil penalty of two hundred dollars.”
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 Iowa's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Iowa rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read Iowa Code §§ 321J.4, 321J.17, 321J.20 and 321J.20A, 761 IAC 620 (DOT OWI rules), 661 IAC 158 (DCI approved-device rules) and the Iowa DOT OWI and TRL pages do not mention motorcycles; the statute requires the device on "all vehicles operated by the defendant" / "all motor vehicles operated by the applicant". |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Not addressed on the official pages read No employer-vehicle exemption appears in Iowa Code §§ 321J.4, 321J.17, 321J.20, 321J.20A, 761 IAC 620, 661 IAC 158 or the Iowa DOT OWI/TRL pages. § 321J.20(2) conditions the temporary restricted license on installation on all motor vehicles operated by the applicant, without an exception for employer-owned vehicles. What the source says“A temporary restricted license issued under this section shall not be issued until the applicant installs an approved ignition interlock device on all motor vehicles operated by the applicant.” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Available Iowa Code § 321J.20A (offenses on or after Jan. 1, 2025): the DOT waives the interlock requirement for a person with a verifiable medical condition that makes the person incapable of properly operating a device; the person then needs no device for a temporary restricted license, but the TRL only authorizes driving described in § 321.215(1)(a). 761 IAC 620.3(3): on a medical doctor's certification on Form 430034, the provider may lower the minimum breath sample to the NHTSA-permitted level, or the DOT may waive the device where the applicant cannot provide a deep lung breath sample at the standard or lower level. Iowa DOT: apply electronically with the physician's email or on the printed form, together with the TRL application. What the source says“Iowa law allows individuals with medical conditions verified by a licensed doctor to waive the ignition interlock device (IID) requirement for OWI offenses occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Approved applicants can drive only with a Temporary Restricted License (TRL).” |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Not addressed on the official pages read No reduced-fee, indigent or affordability provision appears in Iowa Code §§ 321J.4, 321J.17, 321J.20 or 321J.20A, 761 IAC 620, 661 IAC 158 or the Iowa DOT OWI/TRL pages. The only interlock cost rule stated is § 321J.4(8)(g), which bars an early termination fee once the device is no longer required (see other). |
| Medical-waiver TRL driving limits (Iowa Code § 321J.20A(3)) | A TRL issued with a medical waiver only authorizes operation as described in § 321.215(1)(a). What the source says“A temporary restricted license issued to a person who received a medical waiver pursuant to this section shall only authorize the person to operate a motor vehicle as described in section 321.215, subsection 1, paragraph “a”.” |
| Medical certification – reduced breath sample (761 IAC 620.3(3)(a)) | On a medical doctor's certification on Form 430034 the provider may lower the minimum breath-sample size to a level permitted by the NHTSA model specifications. What the source says“Upon certification from a medical doctor provided to the department on Form 430034, the minimum breath sampling size on an ignition interlock device may be lowered by the ignition interlock device provider” |
| No early termination fee (Iowa Code § 321J.4(8)(g)) | A provider may not charge an early termination fee when the defendant is no longer required to have a device and presents an unrestricted license before the lease term ends. What the source says“An ignition interlock device provider shall not impose an early termination fee if the defendant is no longer required to have a device installed and presents an unrestricted driver’s license to the provider prior to the end of the term” |
| Commercial vehicles and school buses excluded from the TRL (Iowa Code § 321J.20(4), (5)) | A TRL holder may not operate a commercial motor vehicle requiring a CDL or CLP, and may not operate a school bus. What the source says“A person holding a temporary restricted license issued by the department under this chapter shall be prohibited from operating a school bus.” |
| Twelve-year exception for § 321J.21 revocations (Iowa Code § 321J.20(2)) | A person revoked under § 321J.21 may apply for a TRL without a device if at least twelve years have elapsed since the end of the underlying revocation for a § 321J.2 violation. What the source says“may apply to the department for a temporary restricted license without the requirement of an ignition interlock device if at least twelve years have elapsed since the end of the underlying revocation period for a violation of section 321J.2.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Is an ignition interlock required after a first OWI in Iowa?
- Under Iowa Code § 321J.4(1), for a first OWI conviction the Department of Transportation requires an approved ignition interlock device on all vehicles the defendant operates if the defendant seeks a temporary restricted license. The court may also order interlocks on conviction under § 321J.4(8)(a). The post-reinstatement one-year requirement in § 321J.17(3) applies to a second or subsequent revocation.
- How long must a repeat OWI offender keep an ignition interlock in Iowa?
- Iowa Code § 321J.17(3) requires certification of an approved ignition interlock device on all vehicles operated by a person seeking reinstatement after a second or subsequent revocation, for one year from the date of reinstatement, reduced by any period the person held a valid temporary restricted license.
- What does it cost to reinstate an Iowa license after an OWI revocation?
- Iowa Code § 321J.17(1) sets a $200 civil penalty that must be paid before reinstatement or a temporary restricted license. Iowa DOT also lists a $20 reinstatement fee plus the license fee, completion of a drinking driver course, and a substance use disorder evaluation.
- Does Iowa require an SR-22 after an OWI?
- Yes. Iowa DOT states that reinstatement requires satisfactory proof of SR-22 insurance (or a residency statement for out-of-state residents), maintained for 2 years from the first day of the revocation; it is not needed for a 'zero tolerance' revocation.
- Who approves ignition interlock devices in Iowa?
- Iowa Code § 321J.4(8)(b) directs the commissioner of public safety to adopt rules approving devices. The Iowa DCI Laboratory (breathalcohol.iowa.gov) publishes the list of devices approved for use in Iowa and states that only devices using fuel cell technology may be installed.
Sources
- Iowa Code § 321J.4 – Revocation of license; ignition interlock devices; temporary restricted license (Iowa Legislature PDF)
- Iowa Code § 321J.17 – Civil penalty; conditions for license reinstatement (Iowa Legislature PDF)
- Iowa Code § 321J.20 – Temporary restricted license; ignition interlock devices (Iowa Legislature PDF)
- Iowa DOT – Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) (revocation, IID, reinstatement, SR-22)
- Iowa DOT – Temporary Restricted License (TRL)
- Iowa DCI Laboratory (breathalcohol.iowa.gov) – approved ignition interlock devices
- Iowa DCI – Commissioner's Approval of Ignition Interlock Devices (PDF, image-only)
Record history
- — reinstatementFee: $200 → $20 reinstatement fee plus $200 civil penalty, plus the license fee
- — Record verified against primary sources.