New Hampshire ignition interlock & DWI (DUI) requirements
New Hampshire 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.
In New Hampshire the offense is called DWI, driving while intoxicated; this page uses the statute's term. Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in New Hampshire, cited to the statute and New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles.
- IID on first offense
- Court's discretion
- Minimum IID period (first)
- No fixed statutory minimum
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 3 years
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- At the court's discretion
- Minimum period
- No fixed statutory minimum
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“The court may, in its discretion, require the installation of an interlock device in accordance with RSA 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction”
- Minimum period
“The court may, in its discretion, require the installation of an interlock device in accordance with RSA 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $100
- Restricted-license fee
- $50
- Reduced-cost rule
- Fee Reduction Program
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Whenever a driver's license has been suspended or revoked, ... a fee of $100 shall be paid by the licensee for the restoration of such license or commercial driver license”
- Restricted-license fee
“upon receipt of all of the following: (a) A completed form DSMV 450 Application for Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card, (rev. 06/23); (b) Certified order from a New Hampshire court, granting a petition for a limited privilege license”
- Reduced-cost rule
“if a user cannot afford to pay the full cost of the installation and service of the ignition interlock program, they may request a hearing, pursuant to Saf-C 203, to determine the user's eligibility for a credit up to 75% of the cost of the installation and service.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Limited Privilege License
- Waiting period
- 45 days
- Hearing-request deadline
- 30 days from the notice
- Driving after a DWI in New Hampshire: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in New Hampshire
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“The State of New Hampshire has no form of restricted license for persons who are suspended or revoked with the sole exception of an individual who qualifies for consideration under the provisions of Section 263:57-b Limited Driving Privilege After Revocation or Suspension.”
- Waiting period
“A license issued under this section shall not be effective until the person's driver's license has been suspended or revoked, either pursuant to criminal penalty or administrative suspension, for at least 45 days”
- Hearing-request deadline
“A request for either administrative review or hearing received by the department after 30 days from the date the notice is issued shall be denied as untimely.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the New Hampshire 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 |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlocklisted by the agency as “Roadguard, Inc.” | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Sens-O-Lock of America | Sens-O-Lock of America website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What New Hampshire law requires
New Hampshire'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: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265-A:36
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | New Hampshire rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | At the court's discretion |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | At the court's discretion, during any period of sentence reduction (no fixed statutory minimum for a standard first offense) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | Not less than 12 months nor more than 2 years, after the period of revocation or suspension |
For a first (non-aggravated) DWI under RSA 265-A:2, I, the court may suspend up to 6 months of the 9-month-minimum revocation and 'may, in its discretion, require the installation of an interlock device in accordance with RSA 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction' (RSA 265-A:18, I(a)(6)(A)). An interlock is mandatory (12 months to 2 years after the revocation) for aggravated DWI under RSA 265-A:18, I(b) or I(c) and for a second or subsequent offense under RSA 265-A:18, IV (RSA 265-A:36, I). New Hampshire does not use a BAC threshold for a standard first offense; aggravated DWI (RSA 265-A:3) is a separate offense.
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“The court may, in its discretion, require the installation of an interlock device in accordance with RSA 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“The court may, in its discretion, require the installation of an interlock device in accordance with RSA 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“shall be required by the court after the period of revocation or suspension to install an ignition interlock device as defined in RSA 259:43-a in any vehicle registered to that person or used by that person, for not less than 12 months nor more than 2 years.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“Section 265-A:36 265-A:36 Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program Established. – I. Any person whose license or permission to drive has been revoked or suspended for an aggravated DWI offense under RSA 265-A:18, I(b) or I(c), or a subsequent DWI offense under RSA 265-A:18, IV”
- IID on first offense
“(A) The person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 9 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. The court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence”
Removal: Removal is authorized by the DMV Bureau of Financial Responsibility after the ordered period has run. RSA 265-A:36, I sets the mandatory term (aggravated or subsequent DWI) at not less than 12 months nor more than 2… 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 New Hampshire does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 3 years |
SR-22 certificate. Saf-C 7503.04 makes an SR-22 on file a condition of restoration after a revocation under RSA 265-A:2 or RSA 265-A:3. Saf-C 7504.12(a) terminates the filing requirement after 3 years from the final conviction or administrative action; Saf-C 7504.12(c) requires a person convicted of DWI second or subsequent offense to file proof for 3 years from the date of eligibility for restoration.
What the source says (3)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Saf-C 7503.04 Restoration: Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. ... shall have such license or privilege restored upon meeting the following requirements: ... (i) Proof of financial responsibility in the form of an SR-22 certificate is on file;”
- Filing period
“(a) The requirement to file proof of financial responsibility shall be terminated by a hearings examiner or the financial responsibility administrator after 3 years from the date of accident involvement, final conviction, or administrative action requiring such proof.”
- SR-22 requirement
“(c) A person convicted of driving while intoxicated second offense or subsequent offense shall file proof of financial responsibility for 3 years from the date of eligibility for restoration.”
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 | 2026-08-29 |
| Interlock installation and monitoring costs (RSA 265-A:36, I) | Paid by the offender; no state-set price cap found | 2026-08 |
| Fee Reduction Program (RSA 265-A:36, VI(e); NH DMV Ignition Interlock Program page):hearing under Saf-C 203 to determine eligibility for a credit toward installation and service costs | Credit of up to 75% of the cost of installation and service | 2026-08 |
What the source says (1)
- License reinstatement fee
“Whenever a driver's license has been suspended or revoked, ... a fee of $100 shall be paid by the licensee for the restoration of such license or commercial driver license”
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 New Hampshire's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | New Hampshire rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read RSA 265-A:36 requires the device 'in any vehicle registered to that person or used by that person' and does not mention motorcycles; RSA 265-A:36, I-b lets the court order a restraining device that disables a vehicle where technology does not permit installing an interlock on a particular vehicle type. The NH DMV Ignition Interlock Program page and Saf-C 6500 do not address motorcycles. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Not addressed on the official pages read Neither RSA 265-A:36, RSA 265-A:36-a, the NH DMV Ignition Interlock Program page nor Saf-C 6500 provides an employer-vehicle exception; the statute applies the requirement to any vehicle registered to or used by the person, and Saf-C 6509 lists operating a vehicle not equipped with an enhanced technology device as a violation. |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Available The NH DMV states that certain medical conditions can require a low-pressure device and directs users to the Ignition Interlock Program Coordinator to discuss the low-pressure option. Under Saf-C 6505 the commissioner authorizes providers to lower the breath-volume requirement from 1.5 L to as low as 1.2 L on documentation from the user's licensed medical care provider; Saf-C 6504.01(e) requires the user to give the division medical documentation of the inability to provide a 1.5 L sample. No full waiver of the device is stated. What the source says“Certain medical conditions can cause you to need a low-pressure device. If this is a concern, please contact the NH DMV Ignition Interlock Program Coordinator to discuss the low-pressure option.” |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Fee Reduction Program (financial hardship credit) Under RSA 265-A:36, VI(e), each provider keeps a reserve account (2 percent of its prior-year interlock revenue) used to assist offenders the court or department finds unable to pay the full cost; such offenders pay at least 25 percent of the installation and service cost. The NH DMV Fee Reduction Program lets a user who cannot afford the full cost request a hearing under Saf-C 203 with the Department of Safety Bureau of Hearings to determine eligibility for a credit of up to 75 percent of the installation and service cost; Saf-C 6506.02 requires an Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities (DSSP 358) within 10 days of the request, and the user pays the remaining balance. What the source says“if a user cannot afford to pay the full cost of the installation and service of the ignition interlock program, they may request a hearing, pursuant to Saf-C 203, to determine the user's eligibility for a credit up to 75% of the cost of the installation and service.” |
| Statutory basis of the hardship credit | RSA 265-A:36, VI(e) requires each provider to maintain a reserve account and sets the offender's minimum share at 25 percent. What the source says“Offenders determined by the court or the department to be unable to pay the full cost of an interlock program shall, at a minimum, pay 25 percent of the cost for the installation and service.” |
| Hardship credit hearing procedure (Saf-C 6506.02) | The user submits a financial affidavit (DSSP 358) within 10 days of requesting the hearing; if found eligible, the user pays the remaining balance. What the source says“In the event that the bureau of hearings determines the user to be eligible for a financial hardship credit, the user shall be responsible for paying the remaining balance of the cost of installation and service.” |
| Low-pressure breath volume (Saf-C 6505) | Providers may lower the breath-volume requirement to 1.2 L on documentation from the user's licensed medical care provider. What the source says“authorize interlock service providers to adjust the breath volume requirement to as low as 1.2 L upon receipt of documentation from a users licensed medical care provider verifying the existence of an applicable medical condition that prevents the user from submitting a 1.5 L sample.” |
| Vehicle types without interlock technology | Where technology does not permit installing or safely operating an interlock on a particular vehicle type, the court may order a restraining device that disables the vehicle. What the source says“To the extent that technology does not exist to permit the installation or safe operation of any particular vehicle type when equipped with an interlock, the court may order that a restraining device which disables the vehicle be placed on any such vehicle” |
| Out-of-state interlock restriction transfers | An interlock restriction on an out-of-state license transfers to the NH license; removal requires a letter of successful completion from the other state's program. What the source says“If you are transferring your driver's license from another state and you have an Ignition Interlock Device restriction, please be advised that this restriction will transfer to your New Hampshire driver's license.” |
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 New Hampshire?
- Not automatically. Under RSA 265-A:18, I(a)(6)(A), a first offender's license is revoked for at least 9 months; the court may suspend up to 6 months of that period and may, in its discretion, require an interlock device under RSA 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction. Aggravated DWI convictions under RSA 265-A:18, I(b) or I(c) require an interlock order.
- How long is the interlock period for repeat or aggravated DWI offenders?
- RSA 265-A:36, I provides that a person whose license was revoked for an aggravated DWI under RSA 265-A:18, I(b) or I(c), or a subsequent DWI under RSA 265-A:18, IV, must install an ignition interlock device after the period of revocation for not less than 12 months nor more than 2 years, with installation and monitoring costs paid by the offender.
- Does New Hampshire require an SR-22 to restore a license after DWI?
- Yes. Saf-C 7503.04 lists 'Proof of financial responsibility in the form of an SR-22 certificate is on file' among the requirements for restoring a license revoked under RSA 265-A:2 or RSA 265-A:3. Under Saf-C 7504.12, the filing requirement generally ends 3 years after the conviction or administrative action; second or subsequent DWI offenders file for 3 years from the date of eligibility for restoration.
- What is the license restoration fee in New Hampshire?
- RSA 263:42, V provides that whenever a driver's license has been suspended or revoked, a fee of $100 shall be paid by the licensee for the restoration of such license (a $50 fee applies only to suspensions under RSA 263:14).
- Who approves interlock devices and service providers in New Hampshire?
- RSA 265-A:36, IV makes it a violation to sell or distribute an ignition interlock device in the state without approval by the commissioner of the department of safety, and RSA 265-A:36, V directs the department of safety to adopt rules for the approval of devices and the licensing of approved interlock service providers.
Sources
- NH General Court – RSA 265-A:36 Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program Established
- NH General Court – RSA 265-A:18 Penalties for Intoxication or Under Influence of Drugs Offenses
- NH General Court – RSA 263:42 Driver's License Fees (restoration fee)
- NH General Court – Administrative Rules Chapter Saf-C 7500 (Saf-C 7503.04 restoration after DWI; Saf-C 7504.12 SR-22 duration)
- NH DMV - Ignition Interlock Program (approved vendors)
- Internet Archive capture (2026-07-07) of the NH DMV Ignition Interlock Program page
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.