Maryland ignition interlock & DUI requirements
Maryland requires an ignition interlock after a first DUI for 6 months. A repeat offense carries 1 year.
Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Maryland, cited to the statute and Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA).
- IID on first offense
- Required
- Minimum IID period (first)
- 6 months
- SR-22 filing
- Not required
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- Required
- Minimum period
- 6 months
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“(d) (1) (i) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, an individual shall be a participant if: 1. The individual is convicted of, or is granted probation before judgment under § 6–220 of the Criminal Procedure Article for, a violation of § 21–902(a) or (b) of this article;”
- Minimum period
“(3) Except as provided in § 16–205 of this title, an individual who is subject to this subsection shall participate in the Program for: (i) 6 months the first time the individual is required under this subsection to participate in the Program;”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $150
- Reduced-cost rule
- Ignition Interlock Participation Fee Waiver / financial…
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (2)
- State reinstatement fee
“Driver license reinstatement fees Restoration fee $30 Non-CDL or CDL reinstatement $90 Non-CDL or CDL reinstatement due to drug or alcohol related offenses $150”
- Reduced-cost rule
“The MVA may waive the $47 enrollment fee if you are on medical assistance or food assistance. Interlock providers must offer 50% off rental rates for people on assistance.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available after a first offense · Interlock Restricted License
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 30 days from the notice
- Driving after a DUI in Maryland: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Maryland
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“You may be eligible to join Ignition Interlock Program if: Your license is not already suspended, revoked, canceled, or refused, AND Within 30 days of your Order of Suspension, you: Install an interlock device, Turn in your license (or sign a statement), and Enroll in the program with the MVA”
- Waiting period
“Instead of requesting a hearing or upon the suspension or revocation of your driver's license, you may elect to participate in the Ignition Interlock System Program if the following conditions are met: 1) your driver's license is not currently suspended, revoked, canceled, or refused”
- Hearing-request deadline
“You may request an Administrative Hearing at any time within 30 days of the date of the Order of Suspension to show cause why your driver's license or privilege should not be suspended. You must request a hearing within 10 days of the date of the Order of Suspension”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Maryland 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 |
| Guardian Interlock | Guardian Interlock 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 “Sens-O-Lock” | Sens-O-Lock of America website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Maryland law requires
Maryland'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: Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404.1
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Maryland rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | Required |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | 6 months |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 1 year (3 years for a third or subsequent time) |
Under Transp. § 16-404.1(d)(1)(i)1, an individual convicted of, or granted probation before judgment for, a violation of § 21-902(a) (DUI) or § 21-902(b) (DWI, alcohol) 'shall be a participant' in the Ignition Interlock System Program. The MVA states participation is required for a PBJ or conviction for DUI or DWI. Drug-impaired (§ 21-902(c)) cases are eligible but not mandated under subsection (c).
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“(d) (1) (i) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, an individual shall be a participant if: 1. The individual is convicted of, or is granted probation before judgment under § 6–220 of the Criminal Procedure Article for, a violation of § 21–902(a) or (b) of this article;”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“(3) Except as provided in § 16–205 of this title, an individual who is subject to this subsection shall participate in the Program for: (i) 6 months the first time the individual is required under this subsection to participate in the Program;”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(ii) 1 year the second time the individual is required under this subsection to participate in the Program; and (iii) 3 years the third or any subsequent time the individual is required under this subsection to participate in the Program.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“Article - Transportation ... §16-404.1. (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.”
- IID on first offense
“Participation is required if you have: Probation Before Judgment or a conviction for DUI Probation Before Judgment or a conviction for DWI Homicide or life-threatening injury by motor vehicle while DUI or DWI”
Removal: Compliance-based. The MVA states program time counts only after the device is installed and the restricted license is obtained within 30 days of installation, and that the participant must have no violations in the last… 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 Maryland does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | No |
|---|---|
| Filing period | Not applicable |
The MDOT MVA 'Reinstate a License' page (the reinstatement page the MVA's DUI page points to) enumerates the reinstatement requirements: meet eligibility requirements, complete the mandatory waiting period, submit an application with the required fees, complete any required treatment or testing, and in some cases accept driving restrictions or retake licensing tests. None is an SR-22, FR-19 or other financial-responsibility filing; the MVA states only that it reviews the driving record for unresolved insurance violations. Maryland's FR-19 (eFR-19, 'Maryland Insurance Certification') is the MVA's insurance-verification form submitted by insurers through the Insurance Compliance Division; no MVA page connects it to a DUI conviction or alcohol-related suspension, and no MVA page mentions SR-22 (the MVA has no SR-22 page). Md. Code, Transp. §§ 17-103 and 17-110 (required security) also contain no financial-responsibility filing provision.
What the source says (4)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Reinstatement is not automatic. You must: Meet eligibility requirements Complete the mandatory waiting period Submit an application with the required fees Complete any required treatment or testing In some cases, you may also need to accept driving restrictions or retake licensing tests”
- sr22Note_efr19
“How to submit an eFR-19 To submit an eFR-19, you'll use myMVA online services.”
- SR-22 requirement
“The MVA will review your driving record for insurance violations, child support violations, and other issues that could affect eligibility.”
- sr22Note_eligibility
“Several issues can delay or prevent reinstatement, including: Unresolved insurance or child support violations Past alcohol or drug-related offenses Violations of driving restrictions (such as Ignition Interlock requirements)”
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 | $150 | 2026-08-29 |
| Non-CDL or CDL license reinstatement due to drug or alcohol related offenses(MVA fee page) | $150 | 2026-08 |
| Restoration fee to lift a suspension(MVA fee page) | $30 | 2026-08 |
| Ignition Interlock Program enrollment fee(MVA may waive for medical assistance or food assistance recipients) | $47 | 2026-08 |
| Provider rental-rate discount required for participants on assistance | 50% off rental rates | 2026-08 |
| Driver's license corrected (fee charged for the interlock-restricted license and again when the restriction is removed) | $30 | 2026-08 |
What the source says (1)
- License reinstatement fee
“Driver license reinstatement fees Restoration fee $30 Non-CDL or CDL reinstatement $90 Non-CDL or CDL reinstatement due to drug or alcohol related offenses $150”
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 Maryland's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Maryland rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404.1, § 21-902.2, COMAR 11.11.13 (Ignition Interlock Program) and the MVA Ignition Interlock Program page refer to 'a motor vehicle' or 'the participant's vehicle' and do not mention motorcycles. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Exempt with conditions Md. Code, Transp. § 21-902.2(g)(2)(ii): a person required in the course of employment to operate a motor vehicle owned or provided by the employer may operate it in the course of employment without an ignition interlock system if (1) the person has not been convicted of § 21-902(a) more than once within a 5-year period, or of § 21-902(a) within 5 years after a § 21-902(d) conviction, or of § 21-902(d) within 5 years after a § 21-902(a) conviction, and (2) the court or the Administration has expressly allowed it. § 21-902.2(g)(2)(iii): the Administration may allow an Ignition Interlock System Program participant to do so if the person provides information acceptable to the Administration about current employment and the need to operate the vehicle in the course of employment and has none of the listed convictions. COMAR 11.11.13.03D: except for a repeat offender subject to Transp. § 16-205(e), an employer waiver allowing the participant to drive an employer vehicle in the course of employment during normal working hours may be granted by the courts or by the Administration on submission of documentation of current employment and need in a form acceptable to the Administration. § 16-404.1(g) makes the license restriction subject to § 21-902.2(g)(2). What the source says“If a person is required in the course of the person’s employment to operate a motor vehicle owned or provided by the person’s employer, the person may operate that motor vehicle in the course of the person’s employment without installation of an ignition interlock system if:” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not addressed on the official pages read No waiver or alternative for a person unable to provide a breath sample appears in Transp. § 16-404.1, § 21-902.2, COMAR 11.11.13 or the MVA program page; COMAR 11.11.13.08 only preserves the Administration's authority to refer a participant to the Medical Advisory Board. |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Ignition Interlock Participation Fee Waiver (Form DC-212) / financial assistance The MVA may waive the $47 Ignition Interlock Participation (enrollment) fee for a person on medical assistance or food assistance, and interlock providers must offer 50% off rental rates for people on assistance (the participant asks the provider directly for the reduced price). Transp. § 16-404.1(k)(2) requires the Administration to waive the program fee for an individual who is indigent, and COMAR 11.11.13.03H allows the participation fee to be waived for participants experiencing financial hardship as set forth in COMAR 11.11.11.02. Form DC-212 (09-24) requests both the $47 fee waiver and reduced service fees and lists qualifying assistance received or declared eligible within the past 12 months (TCA, SSI, TEMHA, PAA, Temporary Disability Assistance, Burial Assistance, SNAP/Maryland Food Supplement, Emergency Assistance to Families with Children, Homeless Services, Individual Support Services under Developmental Disabilities, Maryland Medical Assistance, Maryland Energy Assistance, SSDI, IDEA transportation services); it is submitted through myMVA document upload, by mail, or by fax to the MVA Ignition Interlock Unit. What the source says“The MVA may waive the $47 enrollment fee if you are on medical assistance or food assistance. Interlock providers must offer 50% off rental rates for people on assistance.” |
| Statutory fee waiver for indigent individuals (Transp. § 16-404.1(k)(2)) | An individual required to use an ignition interlock system under a court order or the section is monitored by the Administration and pays the program fee, except that the Administration must waive the fee for an individual who is indigent. What the source says“The Administration shall waive the fee required under this subsection for an individual who is indigent.” |
| Employer waiver by regulation; repeat offenders excluded (COMAR 11.11.13.03D) | The MVA regulation restates the employer waiver and excludes participants who are repeat offenders subject to Transp. § 16-205(e). What the source says“an employer waiver, allowing the participant to drive an employer vehicle in the course of the participant’s employment during normal working hours, may be granted by the courts, or by the Administration, with submission of documentation of current employment” |
| Drivers with an out-of-state license | The MVA states that Maryland law still applies to a driver stopped in Maryland; on conviction Maryland reports the result to the home state, which decides the penalties that apply to the license. What the source says“Maryland law still applies if you are stopped in Maryland. If you are convicted, Maryland sends the result to your home state. Your home state decides what penalties apply to your license” |
| Device installed in a vehicle not owned by the participant (COMAR 11.11.13.03F) | A participant who installs the device in a vehicle they do not own must give the Administration a notarized signed statement from the vehicle owner authorizing the installation. What the source says“If the device is installed in a vehicle not owned by the participant, the individual shall provide the Administration with a notarized signed statement from the owner of the vehicle authorizing the installation of the interlock device.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Who must participate in Maryland's Ignition Interlock System Program?
- Under Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404.1(d)(1), an individual who is convicted of, or granted probation before judgment for, a violation of § 21-902(a) or (b) shall be a participant. The MVA states participation is required for a probation before judgment or conviction for DUI or DWI, and for homicide or life-threatening injury by motor vehicle while DUI or DWI.
- How long does the interlock requirement last?
- Under Transp. § 16-404.1(d)(3), an individual subject to that subsection participates for 6 months the first time, 1 year the second time, and 3 years the third or any subsequent time. The MVA notes that time counts only after the device is installed and that a court order or the MVA can require a longer period.
- What does the MVA charge to reinstate a license after an alcohol-related revocation?
- The MVA's fee page lists 'Non-CDL or CDL reinstatement due to drug or alcohol related offenses' at $150 and a 'Restoration fee' of $30. The MVA's Reinstate a License page states reinstatement is not automatic and that an application with required fees must be approved.
- Is there financial help for the interlock program in Maryland?
- According to the MVA's Ignition Interlock Program page, the MVA may waive the $47 enrollment fee for participants on medical assistance or food assistance, and interlock providers must offer 50% off rental rates for people on assistance. The waiver form is the Ignition Interlock Participation Fee Waiver Application (DC-212).
- What happens if a participant fails to complete the program?
- Under Transp. § 16-404.1(d)(1)(ii), if an individual required to participate fails to participate in or successfully complete the Program, the Administration shall suspend the individual's license until the individual successfully completes the Program. The MVA lists violations such as missed monthly visits, tampering, and attempts to start the car with a BAC over 0.025.
Sources
- Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404.1 Ignition Interlock System Program (Maryland General Assembly)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 16-205 Revocation/suspension for alcohol and drug offenses (Maryland General Assembly)
- MDOT MVA: Ignition Interlock Program (includes service provider list)
- MDOT MVA: License & ID fees
- MDOT MVA: Reinstate a License
- MDOT MVA: Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- MDOT MVA: Information for Auto Insurers (eFR-19)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 17-103 Required security (checked for financial-responsibility filing language; none)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 17-110 (checked for financial-responsibility filing language; none)
- MDOT MVA: Auto Insurance Requirements in Maryland (no SR-22/FR-19 trigger language)
- MDOT MVA: Insurance Compliance Division FAQ / Auto Insurance Violation Penalties & Payments (FR-19 correction instructions only)
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.