Is an ignition interlock mandatory after a first DUI in Montana?

No. Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010(1) provides that for a first DUI conviction the court may, if it recommends a probationary license, require participation in the 24/7 sobriety and drug monitoring program or restrict the person to driving only a vehicle with a functioning ignition interlock during the probationary period. The Motor Vehicle Division states such a driver 'may be restricted' to an interlock-equipped vehicle.

What happens after a second DUI conviction in Montana?

Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010(2) requires the court to order 24/7 sobriety program participation or a court-approved testing program; or, if recommending a probationary license, restrict the person to an interlock-equipped vehicle during the probationary period at the person's cost; or order vehicle forfeiture. Under § 61-5-208(2)(b)(ii) the license is suspended for one year, with no probationary license until 45 days are served.

How long is the license suspension for DUI in Montana?

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division lists a 6-month suspension for a first DUI or 0.08 BAC conviction and a 1-year suspension for a second or subsequent conviction within 10 years; a first refusal of alcohol testing also brings a 6-month suspension. These periods are set in Mont. Code Ann. § 61-5-208.

What is the Montana license reinstatement fee after a DUI suspension?

Mont. Code Ann. § 61-2-107 provides that a license suspended or revoked under § 61-5-205 or § 61-8-1016 remains suspended until the driver pays the department a $200 fee, in addition to any fines or penalties; half funds county drinking and driving prevention programs. The Motor Vehicle Division accepts reinstatement fees online or by check or money order to its Records and Driver Control Bureau.

Which ignition interlock vendors are approved in Montana?

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division's Suspensions, Revocations, and Reinstatements page lists the approved interlock vendors as Intoxalock; Smart Start, Inc.; #1 A LifeSafer of Montana–LifeSafer; Road Guard Interlock; and Draeger, Inc.

MTVerified against primary sources · August 28, 2026

Montana ignition interlock & DUI requirements

Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Montana, cited to the statute and the Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division.

IID on first offense: At the court's discretion
Minimum IID period (first): Not fixed by statute
SR-22 filing: No
Reinstatement fee: $200

What Montana law requires

Montana'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: Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010

Ignition interlock requirement

Ignition interlock requirements in Montana by offense
Item	Montana rule
IID on first offense	At the court's discretion
Minimum IID period, first offense	Not fixed by statute; if ordered, during the probationary-license period within the 6-month first-offense suspension
Minimum IID period, repeat offense	During the probationary period, if the court recommends a probationary license (1-year suspension; no probationary license until 45 days are served for a second offense or 90 days for a third or subsequent); otherwise the court must order 24/7 sobriety program participation or vehicle forfeiture

Under Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010(1), for a first DUI conviction the court 'may,' if it recommends a probationary license, require the person either to participate in the 24/7 sobriety and drug monitoring program (or a court-approved testing program) or to drive only a vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device during the probationary period. The Motor Vehicle Division's page states a driver convicted of DUI or a 0.08 BAC 'may be restricted' to an interlock-equipped vehicle. There is no BAC-based mandatory interlock for first offenders in the statute.

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Montana 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.

Official approved-vendor list: Montana agency vendor list

Approved interlock vendors in Montana
Vendor	Website	Location finder
Draeger, Inc.	Draeger, Inc. website	Find a location
Intoxalock	Intoxalock website	Find a location
LifeSafer	LifeSafer website	Find a location
Road Guard Interlock	Listed on the agency list	—
Smart Start	Smart Start website	Find a location

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 Montana does, the sources below say so.

SR-22 requirement in Montana
SR-22 filing required after a DUI	No
Filing period	Not applicable

Recorded as false under the statutory-enumeration rule (no MVD page addresses SR-22 after DUI). Mont. Code Ann. § 61-6-131 is the section of Title 61, ch. 6, part 1 that makes proof of financial responsibility (a certificate of insurance under §§ 61-6-133/-134, i.e., an SR-22-type filing) a condition of getting a license back, and it applies only (1) when the department REVOKES a license and (2) to a probationary license for a person whose license is revoked; §§ 61-6-122/-123 add suspensions for nonpayment of judgments, and § 61-6-132 states proof is required only 'when required under this part'. A misdemeanor DUI conviction produces a SUSPENSION, not a revocation: § 61-5-205(2)(a) directs the department to suspend for a conviction under § 61-8-1002, and § 61-5-208(2)(b) sets the periods (6 months first offense; 1 year second or subsequent). The MVD Suspensions, Revocations, and Reinstatements page (re-fetched 2026-08-28) contains no mention of SR-22, financial responsibility, certificate of insurance, or proof of insurance for driver-license reinstatement, and an MVD site search for 'SR-22' returns 0 results. Caveat: a felony (fourth or subsequent) DUI is a revocation under § 61-5-205(1)(b) — the MVD revocation table lists 'Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used (including 4th offense DUI/BAC violations)' — so § 61-6-131 would require a certificate of insurance before such a license is restored; § 61-6-142(1)(a) lets the department waive the proof requirement after 3 years without a qualifying conviction.

Compare SR-22 rules in every state

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.

Post-DUI program costs in Montana
Item	Amount	As of
License reinstatement fee	$200	2026-08-28
License reinstatement fee after suspension/revocation under § 61-5-205 (includes DUI convictions) or § 61-8-1016 (implied-consent refusal)	$200	2026-08
Ignition interlock device	The person must pay the reasonable cost of leasing, installing, and maintaining the device (§ 61-8-1010(2)(b)); no state fee cap found	2026-08

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock mandatory after a first DUI in Montana?: No. Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010(1) provides that for a first DUI conviction the court may, if it recommends a probationary license, require participation in the 24/7 sobriety and drug monitoring program or restrict the person to driving only a vehicle with a functioning ignition interlock during the probationary period. The Motor Vehicle Division states such a driver 'may be restricted' to an interlock-equipped vehicle.
What happens after a second DUI conviction in Montana?: Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010(2) requires the court to order 24/7 sobriety program participation or a court-approved testing program; or, if recommending a probationary license, restrict the person to an interlock-equipped vehicle during the probationary period at the person's cost; or order vehicle forfeiture. Under § 61-5-208(2)(b)(ii) the license is suspended for one year, with no probationary license until 45 days are served.
How long is the license suspension for DUI in Montana?: The Montana Motor Vehicle Division lists a 6-month suspension for a first DUI or 0.08 BAC conviction and a 1-year suspension for a second or subsequent conviction within 10 years; a first refusal of alcohol testing also brings a 6-month suspension. These periods are set in Mont. Code Ann. § 61-5-208.
What is the Montana license reinstatement fee after a DUI suspension?: Mont. Code Ann. § 61-2-107 provides that a license suspended or revoked under § 61-5-205 or § 61-8-1016 remains suspended until the driver pays the department a $200 fee, in addition to any fines or penalties; half funds county drinking and driving prevention programs. The Motor Vehicle Division accepts reinstatement fees online or by check or money order to its Records and Driver Control Bureau.
Which ignition interlock vendors are approved in Montana?: The Montana Motor Vehicle Division's Suspensions, Revocations, and Reinstatements page lists the approved interlock vendors as Intoxalock; Smart Start, Inc.; #1 A LifeSafer of Montana–LifeSafer; Road Guard Interlock; and Draeger, Inc.