Louisiana ignition interlock & DWI (DUI) requirements
Louisiana requires an ignition interlock after a first DUI for not less than 6 months during probation.
In Louisiana the offense is called DWI, operating a vehicle while intoxicated; this page uses the statute's term. Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Louisiana, cited to the statute and Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles.
- IID on first offense
- Required
- Minimum IID period (first)
- 6 months
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 3 years
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- Required
- Minimum period
- 6 months
What the source says (3)
- First offense
“the court shall order that the offender not operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation, for no less than six months, unless any vehicle, while being operated by the offender, is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device in compliance with the requirements of R.S. 14:98.5(C)”
- Minimum period
“the court shall order that the offender not operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation, for no less than six months, unless any vehicle, while being operated by the offender, is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device”
- firstOffenseIid_probation
“Imposition or execution of sentence under this Paragraph shall not be suspended unless the offender is placed on probation with the minimum conditions that he complete the following:”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $100
- Restricted-license fee
- $50 plus the cost of the license
- Reduced-cost rule
- Ignition interlock affordability plan
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Pay Fee Fee DWI 1st: $100 DWI 2nd: $200 DWI 3rd+: $300 UDUI: $60”
- Restricted-license fee
“The installation of an ignition interlock device is required for the following violations. Only the vehicle equipped with an approved interlock device can be driven by the applicant. Submit to the breath alcohol content test Refusal of a chemical test for intoxication Driving While Intoxicated”
- Reduced-cost rule
“Individuals that meet the economic hardship standard shall be required to pay no more than fifty percent of fees assessed by the ignition interlock service center for installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal of the device.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available after a first offense · Hardship License
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 30 days from the notice
- Driving after a DWI in Louisiana: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Louisiana
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“shall, upon proof of need to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, be immediately eligible for and shall be issued an ignition interlock restricted license sufficient to maintain livelihood or allow the licensee to maintain the necessities of life.”
- Waiting period
“shall, upon proof to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections that his motor vehicle has been equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device, be immediately eligible for and shall be granted a restricted license.”
- Hearing-request deadline
“The temporary receipt shall also provide and serve as notice to the person that he has not more than thirty days from the date of arrest to make written request to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for an administrative hearing in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 32:668.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Louisiana 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 “ADS ALCOHOL DETECTION SYSTEMS (SAFESTART)” | Alcohol Detection Systems website | Find a location |
| B.E.S.T. Labs, Inclisted by the agency as “B.E.S.T. LABS (SENS-O-LOCK OF AMERICA)” | B.E.S.T. Labs, Inc website | Find a location |
| Guardian Interlock | Guardian Interlock website | Find a location |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlocklisted by the agency as “DRAEGER US INTERLOCK (DUI)”listed by the agency as “ROADGUARD INTERLOCK BY DRAEGER US INTERLOCK” | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Louisiana law requires
Louisiana'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: La. R.S. 32:378.2
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Louisiana rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | Required |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | Not less than 6 months during probation (R.S. 14:98.1(A)(1)(d)); entire 2-year suspension if BAC 0.15 or more (R.S. 32:378.2(B)(1)(a)(ii)(aa)); administrative 'submit' suspension: 180 days (BAC .08–.14) or 730 days (.15+) when interlock is required (OMV) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | Not less than 6 months from conviction during probation for a second offense (R.S. 14:98.2(A)(1)(d)); entire 4-year suspension if BAC 0.15 or more (R.S. 14:98.2(A)(3)(c); R.S. 32:378.2(B)(1)(a)(ii)(bb)) |
Mandatory as a condition of probation for a first offender whose sentence is suspended: under La. R.S. 14:98.1(A)(1)(d), imposition or execution of the first-offense sentence shall not be suspended unless the offender is placed on probation with minimum conditions including that 'the court shall order that the offender not operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation, for no less than six months, unless any vehicle ... is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device.' If the BAC was 0.15 percent or more, R.S. 14:98.1(A)(2)(b)/(3)(b) impose a two-year license suspension and R.S. 32:378.2(B)(1)(a)(ii)(aa) requires the interlock during that entire two-year suspension (restricted license). Separately, R.S. 32:378.2(A) states the court 'may' require an interlock for a person on probation under R.S. 14:98.1 and 'shall' for R.S. 14:98.2; the specific probation condition in 14:98.1(A)(1)(d) is the operative first-offense mandate. For a first offender who serves the sentence without probation, no statutory interlock mandate was found (OMV's DWI-conviction suspension table lists no interlock period for a first DWI under 0.15).
What the source says (6)
- IID on first offense
“the court shall order that the offender not operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation, for no less than six months, unless any vehicle, while being operated by the offender, is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device in compliance with the requirements of R.S. 14:98.5(C)”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“the court shall order that the offender not operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation, for no less than six months, unless any vehicle, while being operated by the offender, is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device in compliance with the requirements of R.S. 14:98.5(C), R.S. 15:306, and R.S. 32:378.2, which requirement shall remain in effect for a period of not less than six months from the date of conviction.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“RS 32:378.2 ... §378.2. Ignition interlock devices; condition of probation for certain DWI offenders; restricted license”
- IID on first offense
“Upon first offense, if the offender had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or greater, the offender shall be issued a restricted driver's license during the entire period of the two-year driver's license suspension [...] and shall be required to have a functioning ignition interlock”
- firstOffenseIidNote_suspension
“upon conviction of a first offense, if the offender had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or more by weight based on grams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood, the driver's license of the offender shall be suspended for two years.”
Removal: No compliance-based early-removal provision was found in La. R.S. 32:378.2 or on the OMV Suspensions page. 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 Louisiana does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 3 years |
SR-22. The OMV Suspensions page lists, for reinstatement after a DWI/UDUI conviction, 'File Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of conviction', and for a chemical-test refusal suspension 'for 3 years from the date of arrest'. The Disqualifications page states the reinstatement fee and SR22 requirements for disqualifications and suspensions are the same.
Filing period and required coverage, as the agency states them
- 3 years — SR-22 must be maintained for 3 years from the date of conviction (OMV Suspensions page) (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (6)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“The Department shall suspend the driving privileges of any person upon receiving satisfactory evidence of conviction for a charge of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) [...] File Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of conviction Pay Fee”
- Filing period
“File Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of conviction”
- SR-22 must be maintained for 3 years from the date of conviction (OMV Suspensions page)
“C. Individuals that meet the economic hardship standard shall be required to pay no more than fifty percent of fees assessed by the ignition interlock service center for installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal of the device.”
- SR-22 must be maintained for 3 years from the date of conviction (OMV Suspensions page)
“shall be satisfied if an individual required to have the ignition interlock device is eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), income from social security, or a judge's order for services of an indigent public defender”
- SR-22 requirement
“The reinstatement fee and SR22 requirements for disqualifications and suspensions are the same.”
- sr22Note_refusal
“File Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of arrest”
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 | $100 (DWI 1st) | 2026-08-29 |
| OMV reinstatement fee after a DWI conviction suspension(OMV Suspensions page) | DWI 1st $100; DWI 2nd $200; DWI 3rd+ $300; UDUI $60 | 2026-08 |
| OMV reinstatement fee after an administrative 'submit' (BAC over the limit) or refusal suspension(OMV Suspensions page) | $50 | 2026-08 |
| Ignition interlock affordability plan:individuals showing economic hardship (SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI, Social Security income, or indigent-defender order under 125% of the federal poverty level) pay no more than 50% of installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal fees(La. R.S. 15:307.1) | max 50% of fees | 2026-08 |
| Manufacturer monitors the device at least every 30 days at the manufacturer's expense(La. R.S. 32:378.2(H)) | manufacturer-paid monitoring | 2026-08 |
What the source says (2)
- License reinstatement fee
“Pay Fee Fee DWI 1st: $100 DWI 2nd: $200 DWI 3rd+: $300 UDUI: $60”
- Ignition interlock affordability plan (La. R.S. 15:307.1): individuals showing economic hardship (SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI, Social Security income, or indigent-defender order under 125% of the federal poverty level) pay no more than 50% of installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal fees
“Compliance Serve Mandatory Suspension and/or Disqualification Period Pay Fee Ignition Interlock Installment/Agreement (if required as a condition of reinstatement) Fee $50.00”
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 Louisiana's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Louisiana rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read Neither La. R.S. 32:378.2 nor the OMV's interlock policies (II-11.09 Ignition Interlock as a Condition of Reinstatement; II-30.00 Hardship License Requirements) mention motorcycles; the statute and the OMV refer only to the 'motor vehicle' or 'vehicle(s)' the driver operates. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Exempt with conditions Under La. R.S. 32:378.2(I), if a person is required in the course and scope of employment to operate a motor vehicle that does not have an approved device and the vehicle is owned by the employer, the court may allow the person to operate the employer's vehicle while actually in the course and scope of employment, if the employer has been notified by the person that the driving privilege is restricted and the person has proof of that notification and evidence of court approval in possession, or the notice (or a facsimile) is with the vehicle. The exemption does not apply to a vehicle owned by a business entity all or partly owned or controlled by the person. OMV policy II-30.00 states the applicant must provide documentation from the court and the employer must provide a written statement that it is aware the employee is otherwise restricted to a personal vehicle equipped with the device; if the applicant owns the company and drives the company vehicle, the interlock must be installed in that vehicle. What the source says“the court may allow the person who is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle without such a device to operate the employer's vehicle while actually in the course and scope of employment, if the employer has been notified by the person that the person's driving privilege has been restricted” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not available OMV policy II-11.09 states that there are no provisions in the statute to exempt or waive the interlock requirement for any reason, including medical conditions. La. R.S. 32:378.2 contains no medical waiver or alternative device; its device standards require 'a proper, deep lung breath sample or other accurate measure of blood alcohol content equivalence.' What the source says“There are no provisions in the statute to exempt or waive the interlock requirement for any reason. This includes medical conditions.” |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Ignition interlock affordability plan (La. R.S. 15:307.1) Economic hardship is established by eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI, income from Social Security, or a judge's order for an indigent public defender where the defendant showed income below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Qualifying individuals pay no more than fifty percent of the fees assessed by the interlock service center for installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal of the device; they remain responsible for optional services, noncompliance fees under R.S. 32:378.2, state-mandated fees, and costs for damaged, missing, or unreturned equipment. Eligibility begins on the date the individual gives the manufacturer or service center acceptable documentation (an eligibility card or qualifying letter for SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI or SSI, or the indigent-defender order; a notarized affidavit if the documentation does not name the individual). A manufacturer or service center may not refuse service to an eligible individual. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, promulgates the rules and monitors compliance. What the source says“Individuals that meet the economic hardship standard shall be required to pay no more than fifty percent of fees assessed by the ignition interlock service center for installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal of the device.” |
| Out-of-state licensee (administrative refusal/submit suspensions) | OMV policy II-11.09: interlock as a condition of reinstatement is not required when the refusal or submit suspension was issued to a driver who held an out-of-state driver's license on the date of arrest. What the source says“Interlock as a condition of reinstatement is not required when the Refusal or Submit was issued to a driver who, on the date of arrest, has an out of state driver's license.” |
| Business vehicle owned or controlled by the driver (excluded from employer exemption) | La. R.S. 32:378.2(I) excludes from the employer-vehicle exemption any motor vehicle owned by a business entity that is all or partly owned or controlled by the restricted driver. What the source says“The exemption provided by this Subsection shall not apply to any motor vehicle owned by a business entity which is all or partly owned or controlled by a person otherwise subject to this Subsection.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Is an ignition interlock required after a first DWI in Louisiana?
- Under La. R.S. 14:98.1(A)(1)(d), a first-offense sentence may be suspended only if the offender is placed on probation with conditions that include a court order not to operate a vehicle for at least six months of probation unless it has a functioning ignition interlock device meeting R.S. 32:378.2. If the BAC was 0.15 percent or more, R.S. 32:378.2(B)(1)(a)(ii)(aa) requires the interlock for the entire two-year license suspension.
- How long does the interlock stay installed in Louisiana?
- R.S. 14:98.1(A)(1)(d) sets a minimum of six months of probation for a first offense; R.S. 14:98.2(A)(1)(d) sets not less than six months from conviction for a second offense. Where the BAC was 0.15 or more, R.S. 32:378.2(B)(1)(a)(ii) requires the device for the full two-year (first offense) or four-year (second offense) suspension. The OMV lists interlock periods of 180 or 730 days for administrative 'submit' suspensions when an interlock is required.
- What does Louisiana charge to reinstate a license after a DWI?
- The Louisiana OMV Suspensions page lists reinstatement fees of $100 for a first DWI, $200 for a second, $300 for a third or subsequent, and $60 for underage DUI, after serving the mandatory suspension and filing proof of financial responsibility (SR-22). Administrative 'submit' and refusal suspensions carry a $50 fee, and an ignition interlock installation agreement is required where the interlock is a condition of reinstatement.
- Does Louisiana require an SR-22 after a DWI, and for how long?
- Yes. The Louisiana OMV Suspensions page states that reinstatement after a DWI or UDUI conviction requires filing proof of financial responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of conviction; after a chemical-test refusal suspension, the SR-22 runs 3 years from the date of arrest. OMV's Disqualifications page states the SR-22 requirements for disqualifications and suspensions are the same.
- Is there help with interlock costs in Louisiana?
- La. R.S. 15:307.1 requires the Office of State Police to maintain an ignition interlock affordability plan. A person who is eligible for SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI, Social Security income, or an indigent-defender order with income below 125 percent of the federal poverty level pays no more than 50 percent of the service center's installation, monthly calibration, lease, and removal fees; providers may not refuse service, and complaints go to the State Police Applied Technology Unit.
Sources
- La. R.S. 32:378.2 – Ignition interlock devices; condition of probation for certain DWI offenders; restricted license (Louisiana State Legislature)
- La. R.S. 14:98.1 – Operating while impaired; first offense; penalties (Louisiana State Legislature)
- La. R.S. 14:98.2 – Operating while impaired; second offense; penalties (Louisiana State Legislature)
- La. R.S. 15:307.1 – Ignition interlock affordability (Louisiana State Legislature)
- Louisiana OMV – Approved Interlock List (manufacturers approved by State Police Applied Technology)
- Louisiana OMV – Suspensions (DWI suspension periods, interlock periods, SR-22, reinstatement fees)
- Louisiana OMV – Driver Reinstatement
- Louisiana OMV – Disqualifications
- Louisiana OMV – Links page (link to Approved Interlock Installers list)
Record history
- — reinstatement.education: (b) Participate in a court-approved substance abuse program, which may include an assessment by a licensed clinician to determine if the offender has a diagnosis of substance abuse disorder. → (b)(i) Participate in a court-approved substance abuse program, which shall include a screening to determine if the offender is at risk for a substance use disorder.
- — firstOffenseIid_probation: …the minimum conditions that he complete all of the following: → …the minimum conditions that he complete the following:
- — Record verified against primary sources.