North Carolina ignition interlock & DWI (DUI) requirements
North Carolina requires an ignition interlock after a first DUI only at a BAC of 0.15 or higher (1 year from the date of restoration); below that threshold it is not automatic, though other circumstances set by the statute can still require one.
In North Carolina the offense is called DWI, driving while impaired; this page uses the statute's term. Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in North Carolina, cited to the statute and North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.
- IID on first offense
- High-BAC only
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 3 years
- Reinstatement fee
- $167.75
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- Required only above a high-BAC threshold
- Threshold
- BAC 0.15
- Minimum period
- 1 year
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“This section applies to a person whose license was revoked as a result of a conviction of driving while impaired, G.S. 20-138.1, and any of the following conditions is met: (1) The person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more.”
- Minimum period
“(c) Length of Requirement. - Except as otherwise provided in subsection (g1) of this section, the requirements of subsection (b) shall remain in effect for one of the following: (1) One year from the date of restoration if the original revocation period was one year.”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $167.75
- Restricted-license fee
- $100.00
- Reduced-cost rule
- Ignition interlock cost waiver under G.S. 20-179.5…
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Name of Fee Prior to July 1, 2020 July 1, 2020-June 30, 2024 July 1, 2024-Present Description DWI reinstatement fee $130 $140.25 $167.75 Required when a DWI suspension term is complete.”
- Restricted-license fee
“Upon the issuance of a limited driving privilege by a court under this Chapter, the applicant or petitioner must pay, in addition to any other costs associated with obtaining the privilege, a processing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00).”
- Reduced-cost rule
“(1) The applicant shall not be required to pay for installation or removal of the ignition interlock system or systems. (2) The applicant shall receive a fifty percent (50%) discount on the monthly service rate charged to persons who are not granted a waiver under this section.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Limited Driving Privilege
- Waiting period
- 10 days
- Hearing-request deadline
- 10 days from the notice
- Driving after a DWI in North Carolina: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in North Carolina
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“b. At the time of the offense the person had not within the preceding seven years been convicted of an offense involving impaired driving. c. Punishment Level Three, Four, or Five was imposed for the offense of impaired driving.”
- Waiting period
“(3) The person's license has been revoked for at least 10 days if the revocation is for 30 days or 30 days if the revocation is for 45 days;”
- Hearing-request deadline
“The request may be made at the time of the person's initial appearance, or within 10 days of the effective date of the revocation to the clerk or a magistrate designated by the clerk, and may specifically request that the hearing be conducted by a district court judge.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| Monitech, LLClisted by the agency as “Monitech Inc.” | Monitech, LLC website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What North Carolina law requires
North Carolina'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.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17.8
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | North Carolina rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | Required only above a high-BAC threshold |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | 1 year from the date of restoration (where the original revocation period was one year) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | 3 years from restoration if the original revocation was four years; 7 years if the original revocation was permanent |
Under G.S. 20-17.8(a)(1), the interlock restriction on restoration applies to a first DWI (G.S. 20-138.1) conviction only when the person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more (also if a prior impaired-driving offense within seven years, or sentencing under G.S. 20-179(f3)). Separately, under G.S. 20-179.3(g5) a judge shall include an interlock requirement in any limited driving privilege order where the alcohol concentration was 0.15 or more.
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“This section applies to a person whose license was revoked as a result of a conviction of driving while impaired, G.S. 20-138.1, and any of the following conditions is met: (1) The person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more.”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“(c) Length of Requirement. - Except as otherwise provided in subsection (g1) of this section, the requirements of subsection (b) shall remain in effect for one of the following: (1) One year from the date of restoration if the original revocation period was one year.”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(2) Three years from the date of restoration if the original revocation period was four years. (3) Seven years from the date of restoration if the original revocation was a permanent revocation.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“§ 20-17.8. Restoration of a license after certain driving while impaired convictions; ignition interlock.”
- IID on first offense
“(g5) Ignition Interlock Required. - If a person's drivers license is revoked for a conviction of G.S. 20-138.1, and the person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more ... a judge shall include all of the following in a limited driving privilege order:”
Removal: G.S. 20-17.8(c) fixes the interlock requirement at one year from the date of restoration if the original revocation was one year, three years if it was four years, and seven years if it was permanent… 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 North Carolina does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 3 years |
North Carolina does not use the SR-22 form; the required filing is 'proof of financial responsibility' — in NCDMV practice the DL-123 certificate from a North Carolina-licensed insurer (or an insurance binder/policy). Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-19(k), before the Division restores a license suspended or revoked under any provision of Article 2 of Chapter 20 (the Uniform Driver's License Act, which includes the mandatory DWI revocation in G.S. 20-17), the person must submit proof that they have notified their insurer of the restoration and are financially responsible, in the form of an insurer's certificate or a binder/policy; that financial responsibility must be kept in effect for not less than three years after the date the license is restored, and failure to maintain it is grounds for a 30-day suspension of the restored license. NCDMV's License Suspension & Restoration page states that some suspensions require proof of insurance at the time of reinstatement, and its Proving Liability Insurance page lists the DL-123 as the acceptable form. Article 9A (G.S. 20-279.1 et seq.) separately requires proof of financial responsibility after unsatisfied judgments and accident-security suspensions.
What the source says (6)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“(k) Before the Division restores a driver's license that has been suspended or revoked under G.S. 20-138.5(d), or under any provision of this Article, other than G.S. 20-24.1,”
- Filing period
“The financial responsibility required by this subsection shall be kept in effect for not less than three years after the date that the license is restored.”
- SR-22 requirement
“DL-123 insurance form (provided by a North Carolina insurance company)”
- sr22Note_dmv
“In addition to the requirements for getting a driver license, some suspensions require proof of insurance at the time of reinstatement.”
- sr22Note_article2
“Article 2. Uniform Driver's License Act. ... § 20-17. Mandatory revocation of license by Division. ... § 20-19. Period of suspension or revocation; conditions of restoration.”
- sr22Note_article9A
“§ 20-279.13. Suspension for nonpayment of judgment; exceptions. (a) The Commissioner, upon the receipt of a certified copy of a judgment, which has remained unsatisfied for a period of 60 days, shall forthwith suspend the license”
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 | $167.75 | 2026-08-29 |
| Restoration fee (July 1, 2024-present) | $83.50 | 2026-08 |
| Service fee (unless license surrendered to court or mailed to NCDMV before effective date) | $50 | 2026-08 |
| Interlock cost waiver:persons at or below 150% of the federal poverty line or enrolled in TANF, SSI, SNAP, LIHEAP or Medicaid may apply to an authorized vendor for a waiver of a portion of interlock costs(G.S. 20-179.5) | Partial waiver available (effective June 1, 2022) | 2026-08 |
What the source says (1)
- License reinstatement fee
“Name of Fee Prior to July 1, 2020 July 1, 2020-June 30, 2024 July 1, 2024-Present Description DWI reinstatement fee $130 $140.25 $167.75 Required when a DWI suspension term is complete.”
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 North Carolina's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | North Carolina rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read G.S. 20-17.8 (post-restoration interlock restriction), G.S. 20-179.3 (limited driving privilege interlock), G.S. 20-179.5, the NCDMV License Suspension & Restoration page and the NCDMV Ignition Interlock Program Standards and Procedures (February 2011) do not mention motorcycles; the statutes speak of 'a vehicle' or 'designated motor vehicle'. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Exempt with conditions For a limited driving privilege under G.S. 20-179.3, the interlock restrictions in subsections (g3) and (g5) do not apply to a motor vehicle that is owned by the applicant's employer, is operated by the applicant solely for work-related purposes, and whose owner has filed with the court a written document authorizing the applicant to drive it for work-related purposes under the privilege. The post-restoration interlock restriction in G.S. 20-17.8(b)(1) (the person 'may operate only a vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock system') contains no employer-vehicle exception. What the source says“The restrictions set forth in subsection (g3) and (g5) of this section do not apply to a motor vehicle that meets all of the following requirements: (1) Is owned by the applicant's employer. (2) Is operated by the applicant solely for work-related purposes.” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Available G.S. 20-17.8(l) 'Medical Exception to Requirement': a person subject to the interlock solely because of an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more (subdivision (a)(1)) who has a medically diagnosed physical condition making the person incapable of personally activating the device may request an exception from the Division. The Division will not grant it unless the person is examined by two or more licensed physicians or surgeons who sign a Division-prescribed certificate; the Commissioner decides, the burden of proof is on the applicant, and a denial may be reviewed by a reviewing board on written request within 10 days. The exception does not apply to repeat-offense (a)(2) or (a)(3) cases. Separately, NCDMV's device standards require devices to accept a breath volume as low as 1.2 liters for users NCDMV has determined by pulmonary function testing to be physically incapable of normal exhalation. What the source says“A person subject to this section solely for the reason set forth in subdivision (a)(1) of this section and who has a medically diagnosed physical condition that makes the person incapable of personally activating an ignition interlock system may request an exception” |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Ignition interlock cost waiver under G.S. 20-179.5 'Affordability of ignition interlock system' (NCDMV 'Vendor Interlock Hardship' affidavit) A person ordered by a court or required by statute to install an interlock who is unable to afford it may apply to an authorized vendor for a waiver of a portion of the costs. The applicant gives the vendor a Division affidavit stating that income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty line or that the person is enrolled in TANF, SSI, SNAP, LIHEAP or Medicaid, with supporting documentation (prior-year tax return or W-2, three months of pay stubs or income statements, or three months of unemployment-benefit verification). A vendor receiving a compliant waiver must not charge for installation or removal and must give a 50% discount on the monthly service rate; the applicant pays the rest. A vendor's denial may be reviewed by the Division. NCDMV states the waiver has been available since June 1, 2022 and that the completed 'Vendor Interlock Hardship' form goes to an authorized vendor. What the source says“(1) The applicant shall not be required to pay for installation or removal of the ignition interlock system or systems. (2) The applicant shall receive a fifty percent (50%) discount on the monthly service rate charged to persons who are not granted a waiver under this section.” |
| Waiver eligibility affidavit (G.S. 20-179.5(c)) | Income at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, or enrollment in TANF, SSI, SNAP, LIHEAP or Medicaid. What the source says“that the person's income is at or below one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty line or (ii) that the person is enrolled in any of the following public assistance programs: (1) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). (2) Supplemental Security Income (SSI).” |
| NCDMV statement on the cost waiver and the 'Vendor Interlock Hardship' form | NCDMV's License Suspension & Restoration page says the waiver has been available since June 1, 2022 and that the completed form is provided to an authorized vendor. What the source says“A person who applies for a waiver of the portion of the costs of an ignition interlock system shall provide the completed Vendor Interlock Hardship to an authorized vendor.” |
| Employer's written authorization filed with the court (G.S. 20-179.3(g4)(3)) | The third condition of the limited-driving-privilege employer exception: the vehicle owner files a written authorization with the court. What the source says“Its owner has filed with the court a written document authorizing the applicant to drive the vehicle, for work-related purposes, under the authority of a limited driving privilege.” |
| Physician-examination requirement for the medical exception (G.S. 20-17.8(l)) | Two or more licensed physicians or surgeons must examine the person and sign the Division's certificate. What the source says“The Division shall not issue an exception to this section unless the person has submitted to a physical examination by two or more physicians or surgeons duly licensed to practice medicine in this State or in any other state of the United States” |
| Device accommodation for reduced lung capacity (NCDMV Ignition Interlock Program Standards and Procedures, February 2011) | Certified devices must be capable of a permanent breath-volume adjustment down to a Forced Vital Capacity of 1.2 liters for users NCDMV has medically determined, by pulmonary function testing under G.S. 20-17.8, to be physically incapable of normal exhalation. What the source says“be configured with the capability of permanently adjusting breath blow pressure or air volume to a Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) at least as low as 1.2 liters;” |
| Continuous alcohol monitoring as an NCDMV-granted alternative | The NCDMV page lists continuous alcohol monitor providers and says NCDMV may grant use of such a device in certain cases. What the source says“In certain cases, NCDMV may grant the use of a continuous alcohol monitor device.” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- When does North Carolina require an ignition interlock after a DWI?
- Under G.S. 20-17.8, when NCDMV restores a license revoked for a DWI conviction, an interlock restriction is required if the person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more, had another impaired-driving offense within the preceding seven years, or was sentenced under G.S. 20-179(f3). It also applies after habitual impaired driving convictions.
- How long does the interlock restriction last?
- G.S. 20-17.8(c) sets the period at one year from restoration if the original revocation was one year, three years if the original revocation was four years, and seven years if the original revocation was permanent. Time spent on a limited driving privilege with an interlock under G.S. 20-179.3(g5) is credited toward this period.
- Which interlock providers are listed by NCDMV?
- The NCDMV License Suspension and Restoration page lists three ignition interlock providers: Smart Start Inc., Monitech Inc., and Intoxalock. The page states that ignition interlock devices are installed at the expense of the driver.
- What fees does NCDMV charge to reinstate after a DWI suspension?
- NCDMV's Driver License Restoration page lists, for July 1, 2024 to present, a DWI reinstatement fee of $167.75 (required when a DWI suspension term is complete), a restoration fee of $83.50, and a $50 service fee unless the license was surrendered to the court or mailed to NCDMV before the effective date.
- Is there help with interlock costs for people who cannot afford them?
- Under G.S. 20-179.5(b)-(c), a person ordered by a court or required by statute to install an interlock who cannot afford it may apply to an authorized vendor for a waiver of a portion of the costs, using an NCDMV affidavit stating income at or below 150% of the federal poverty line or enrollment in TANF, SSI, SNAP, LIHEAP or Medicaid.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17.8 - Restoration of a license after certain driving while impaired convictions; ignition interlock (NC General Assembly)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-179.3 - Limited driving privilege (ignition interlock subsections (g3), (g5))
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-179.5 - Affordability of ignition interlock system
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-7 (subsection (i1) restoration fee)
- NCDMV - License Suspension & Restoration (ignition interlock devices; provider list)
- NCDMV - Driver License Restoration (reinstatement fee table)
- NCDMV - Proving Liability Insurance (DL-123)
- NCDMV - Ignition Interlock Program Standards and Procedures (Connect NCDOT, PDF, Jul. 16, 2021)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-19 - Period of suspension or revocation; conditions of restoration (subsection (k) proof of financial responsibility, 3 years) (NC General Assembly)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 20, Article 2 - Uniform Driver's License Act (PDF; confirms §§ 20-17 and 20-19 are in the same Article)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 20, Article 9A - Motor Vehicle Safety and Financial Responsibility Act of 1953 (PDF)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-279.1 - Definitions ('proof of financial responsibility')
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.