Massachusetts ignition interlock & OUI (DUI) requirements
Massachusetts 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 2 years.
In Massachusetts the offense is called OUI, operating under the influence; this page uses the statute's term. Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Massachusetts, cited to the statute and Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
- IID on first offense
- Court's discretion
- Minimum IID period (first)
- Hardship-license term (BAC .15+ only)
- SR-22 filing
- Not required
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- At the court's discretion
- Minimum period
- Hardship-license term (BAC .15+ only)
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“shall be issued a new license or right to operate or have his license or right to operate restored if he has previously been so assigned or convicted, unless a certified ignition interlock device has been installed on each vehicle owned, each vehicle leased and each vehicle operated by that person”
- Minimum period
“except in the case of first offenders, who are only required to have the IID through the length of the hardship.”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $500
- Reduced-cost rule
- IID Indigency Program
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“For the reinstatement of any license or right to operate a motor vehicle which has been suspended or revoked under subsections (a) and (e) of section 22, sections 22F, 23, 24, ... the fee shall be $500.”
- reinstatementFee_range
“Reinstatement fees are determined by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, Section 33. They range from $100.00 to $1200.00.”
- Reduced-cost rule
“Effective July 1, 2021, drivers who are required to have an IID installed as a condition of reinstatement may apply for waiver of certain costs relative to the Interlock Program.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Hardship License
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 15 days from the notice
- Driving after a OUI in Massachusetts: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Massachusetts
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“a defendant may immediately upon entering a program pursuant to this section apply to the registrar for consideration of a limited license for hardship purposes. The registrar, at his discretion, may issue such license under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe.”
- Waiting period
“for 30 days in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 24(1)(f)(2) unless you are eligible for a 1st offender court disposition and your case has been resolved under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 24D”
- Hearing-request deadline
“You are entitled to a RMV hearing for a chemical test refusal, but you must appear within 15 days of the chemical test refusal.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Massachusetts 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 |
| RoadGuard Interlocklisted by the agency as “Draeger” | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Sens-O-Lock of Americalisted by the agency as “Sens-o-Lock of America, LLC” | Sens-O-Lock of America website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Massachusetts law requires
Massachusetts'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: M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Massachusetts rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | At the court's discretion |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | Length of the hardship license period (first offenders with a breath test of .15 or greater who obtain a hardship license only) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 2 years |
M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½ mandates the device only for persons previously assigned to an alcohol program or convicted (i.e., repeat offenders). Per the RMV, since July 1, 2021 certain first-time OUI offenders who seek a hardship license and who took a breath test with a result of .15 or greater must install an IID as a condition of that hardship license; other first offenders are not required to install one.
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“shall be issued a new license or right to operate or have his license or right to operate restored if he has previously been so assigned or convicted, unless a certified ignition interlock device has been installed on each vehicle owned, each vehicle leased and each vehicle operated by that person”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“except in the case of first offenders, who are only required to have the IID through the length of the hardship.”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“A certified ignition interlock device shall be installed on all vehicles owned, leased and operated by the licensee for a period of 2 years”
- Ignition interlock statute
“Section 241/2: Ignition interlock device license restriction; revocation of license for failure to install or maintain device; revocation of license for attempt to operate motor vehicle with elevated blood alcohol level”
- IID on first offense
“certain first time OUI offenders seeking a hardship license, who took a breathalyzer at the time of arrest with results of .15 or greater will be required to have an IID installed as a condition of that hardship license.”
Removal: Compliance-based, authorized by an RMV Hearings Officer. The RMV IID guide states the restriction is not automatically removed and all operators must apply to a hearings officer to have the IID removed. 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 Massachusetts does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | No |
|---|---|
| Filing period | Not applicable |
The RMV 'Reinstate your driver's license' page enumerates what is needed to reinstate: check your license status and the requirements for your specific case, pay the reinstatement fee (which varies by violation), and pass any learner's permit exam and/or road test that is required; no SR-22, FR-44 or financial-responsibility filing is listed. The RMV's OUI hardship-license criteria (DCU107 first offense, DCU109 multiple offense) and its 'Interlock Program - Road to Reinstate Your Driver's License' document likewise list no insurance filing; the latter states that after reinstatement fees are paid a driver can apply to get the insurance needed to register a vehicle. The strings 'SR-22', 'SR22' and 'financial responsibility' do not appear on any RMV page or document, and M.G.L. c. 90, § 34J (operating without liability insurance) contains no financial-responsibility filing provision.
What the source says (3)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“To reinstate your license, you will need to: Check your license status, and see what requirements are necessary for your specific case Pay the reinstatement fee, which varies based on violation You may be required to pass one or more of the following tests”
- SR-22 requirement
“Please note that once you have active driving privileges after paying your reinstatement fees, you can apply to get the insurance needed to register your vehicle.”
- sr22Note_hardship
“NOTE: Reinstatement is only allowed once the proof of installation of the IID and affidavits have been returned to an RMV Hearings Officer. A learner's permit exam and road test may be required if you have been suspended or otherwise inactive for more than two years.”
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 | $500 | 2026-08-29 |
| Reinstatement fee following revocation under c. 90, § 24(1)(c)(2)(c. 90, § 33(36)) | $700 | 2026-08 |
| Reinstatement fee following revocation under c. 90, § 24(1)(c)(3) and (3½)(c. 90, § 33(36)) | $1,200 | 2026-08 |
| RMV monthly IID program administration fee, collected by the vendor at each service visit(801 CMR 4.02) | $30 per month | 2026-08 |
| IID Indigency Program (effective July 1, 2021):qualifying device, installation, removal, monitoring and service at no cost to approved drivers; RMV reinstatement and exam fees are not waived | No cost for qualifying device costs | 2026-08 |
What the source says (2)
- License reinstatement fee
“For the reinstatement of any license or right to operate a motor vehicle which has been suspended or revoked under subsections (a) and (e) of section 22, sections 22F, 23, 24, ... the fee shall be $500.”
- License reinstatement fee
“Reinstatement fees are determined by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, Section 33. They range from $100.00 to $1200.00.”
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 Massachusetts's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Massachusetts rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | May not operate a motorcycle while interlock-restricted The RMV's Melanie's Law / IID Program document states that the IID will not be installed on motorcycles and that drivers must downgrade an 'M' (Motorcycle) endorsement before an interlock-restricted license is issued. The RMV's Road to Reinstatement guide instructs applicants to cancel active motorcycle registrations and states that motorcycle endorsements are removed after the hearing approving IID installation. 540 CMR 25.02 adds that a person seeking a motorcycle license or right to operate who has two or more OUI violations is not eligible for a hardship license or full reinstatement until the interlock restriction has been removed, and may instead apply for Class D privileges subject to the restriction. What the source says“The IID will not be installed on motorcycles. Drivers will be required to downgrade an “M” (Motorcycle) endorsement prior to being issued an interlock-restricted license.” |
| Employer-owned vehicle | No exemption The RMV states that an IID must be installed in every vehicle the operator owns, leases or operates, including the employer's vehicle, and that no exceptions are made. M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½ requires a certified device on each vehicle owned, leased and operated by the person as a precondition of reinstatement. The $30 monthly program fee is collected per participant, not per vehicle. What the source says“You must have an IID installed in every vehicle that you own, lease, or operate (including your employer’s vehicle). No exceptions are made to this requirement.” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not addressed on the official pages read M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½, the RMV Ignition Interlock Device Program guide, the Melanie's Law / IID Program document and 540 CMR 25.00 do not address a person who is physically unable to provide a breath sample; 540 CMR 25.04 describes only the device's deep-lung air sample requirement. |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — IID Indigency Program Effective July 1, 2021, drivers required to have an IID as a condition of reinstatement may apply for waiver of certain program costs. Approved drivers may receive a qualifying interlock device, installation, removal, monitoring and service at no cost; the $30 monthly RMV program administration fee collected by the vendor also does not apply to drivers approved under the program. Not covered: costs for unjustified lockouts or other behavioral penalties, upgrades and service plans, and any fees due to the RMV (reinstatement fees, citation late and release fees, exam and issuance fees). Qualifying criteria (one required): current enrollment in MassHealth or receipt of benefits through a Department of Transitional Assistance EBT card (electronically verified); a court document dated within 12 months stating appointed counsel or court-verified financial status; or after-tax income not exceeding 125% of the Federal Poverty Line under the Supreme Judicial Court guidelines issued under G.L. c. 261, § 27B. Applications are made through the RMV's IID Indigency Application Portal; the RMV reviews them, notifies the driver, and electronically notifies IID vendors when installation is approved by an RMV Hearings Officer. A denial may be appealed within ten days to the Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds. The RMV lists a dedicated information line (989-321-6846). What the source says“Effective July 1, 2021, drivers who are required to have an IID installed as a condition of reinstatement may apply for waiver of certain costs relative to the Interlock Program.” |
| Motorcycle license applicants with two or more OUI violations (540 CMR 25.02) | A person seeking issuance or reinstatement on or after January 1, 2006 of a license or right to operate a motorcycle who has two or more OUI violations is not eligible for a hardship license or full reinstatement until the ignition interlock restriction has been removed; the person may apply for Class D privileges, to which the interlock restriction applies. What the source says“who has two or more motor vehicle violations for operating under the influence of intoxicants, shall not be eligible for Hardship License or full reinstatement until the Ignition Interlock Restriction has been removed from his license or right to operate.” |
| Motorcycle registrations and endorsements at reinstatement (RMV Road to Reinstatement) | The RMV's interlock reinstatement checklist tells applicants to cancel active motorcycle registrations and states that motorcycle endorsements are removed from the license after the hearing approving IID installation. What the source says“Cancel active motorcycle registrations. Any motorcycle endorsements will be removed from your license after the hearing when you are approved for IID installation during your license reinstatement.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Who must have an ignition interlock device in Massachusetts?
- Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½, a person whose license was suspended for an OUI-related conviction or program assignment and who has previously been so assigned or convicted may not have the license restored unless a certified ignition interlock device is installed on each vehicle owned, leased, and operated. The RMV states the program covers multiple offenders and certain first-time offenders.
- How long is the device required?
- M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½ provides that a certified ignition interlock device shall be installed on all vehicles owned, leased and operated by the licensee for a period of 2 years. The RMV states that if the IID is issued on a conditional hardship license, it is required for the length of the suspension plus two years after full reinstatement, except first offenders, who need it only through the hardship.
- Are first-time OUI offenders required to install an IID?
- According to the RMV's Ignition Interlock Device Program guide, as a result of Chapter 227 of the Acts of 2020, effective July 1, 2021, certain OUI first offenders seeking a hardship license who took a breathalyzer at the time of arrest with results of .15 or greater are required to have an IID installed as a condition of that hardship license.
- What are the state fees for the IID program and reinstatement?
- The RMV states that operators subject to an ignition interlock restriction pay a $30 monthly program administration fee under 801 CMR 4.02, collected by the vendor on behalf of the RMV. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 33(36), the reinstatement fee after a suspension or revocation under c. 90, § 24 is $500, with $700 and $1,200 fees for specified repeat revocations.
- Which vendors does the RMV list?
- The RMV's Melanie's Law / Ignition Interlock Device Program document lists Alcohol Detection Systems, CST Intoxalock, Draeger, Guardian Interlock, Lifesafer, Sens-O-Lock of America, LLC, and Smart Start as approved vendors/service providers. The RMV states a hearings officer provides the list of approved vendors after approval for a hardship license or reinstatement.
Sources
- M.G.L. c. 90, § 24½ Ignition interlock device license restriction (Massachusetts Legislature)
- M.G.L. c. 90, § 33 Fees (Massachusetts Legislature)
- Mass.gov RMV: Ignition Interlock Device Program guide
- Mass.gov RMV: Melanie's Law / Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program document (vendor list, fees)
- Mass.gov RMV: Reinstate your driver's license
- Mass.gov RMV: Schedule of Fees (PDF)
- M.G.L. c. 90, § 34J Operating without liability insurance (Massachusetts Legislature; no financial-responsibility filing provision)
- Mass.gov RMV: Interlock Program - Road to Reinstate Your Driver's License (PDF)
- Mass.gov RMV: First Offense (24D) OUI Hardship License Criteria (DCU107, PDF)
- Mass.gov RMV: Multiple Offense OUI Hardship License Criteria (DCU109, PDF)
- Mass.gov RMV: Suspension Hearings
- Mass.gov RMV: Required classes and programs to reinstate your driver's license
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.