Ohio ignition interlock & OVI (DUI) requirements
Ohio 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 Ohio the offense is called OVI, operating a vehicle under the influence; this page uses the statute's term. Ignition interlock device rules, approved vendors, SR-22 insurance filing, and license reinstatement in Ohio, cited to the statute and Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Ohio Department of Public Safety).
- IID on first offense
- Court's discretion
- Minimum IID period (first)
- No statutory minimum
- SR-22 filing
- Not required
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- At the court's discretion
- Minimum period
- No statutory minimum
What the source says (2)
- First offense
“(a)(i) Except as otherwise provided in this division and in division (A)(5)(a)(ii) of this section, the first fifteen days of a suspension imposed under division (G)(1)(a) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code ... On or after the sixteenth day of the suspension, the court may grant limited driving”
- Minimum period
“(iv) In all cases, a suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege for a definite period of one to three years. ... The court may grant unlimited driving privileges with an ignition interlock device relative to the suspension and”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $315
- Reduced-cost rule
- Indigent offender reduced fee and the indigent drivers…
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Reinstatement Fees ... Last Updated: 4/30/2025 Suspension Type ALS (added to record on or after 4/9/25) $315.00 OVI/Physical Control suspension (conviction date on or after 4/9/25) $315.00”
- State reinstatement fee
“(2) Subject to the limitation contained in division (F)(3) of this section, payment by the person to the registrar or an eligible deputy registrar of a license reinstatement fee of three hundred fifteen dollars”
- Reduced-cost rule
“affirming that the manufacturer agrees to charge a reduced fee, established by the department, for the installation and monitoring of a device used by a person who is deemed to be an indigent offender by the court that granted limited or unlimited driving privileges to the offender”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available in some first-offense cases · Limited Driving Privileges
- Waiting period
- 15 days
- Hearing-request deadline
- 30 days from the notice
- Driving after a OVI in Ohio: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Ohio
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (2)
- Restricted license
“On or after the sixteenth day of the suspension, the court may grant limited driving privileges, but the court may require that the offender shall not exercise the privileges unless the vehicles the offender operates are equipped with a certified ignition interlock device”
- Hearing-request deadline
“the person may appeal the suspension at the person's initial appearance on the charge resulting from the arrest or within the period ending thirty days after the person's initial appearance on that charge, in the court in which the person will appear on that charge.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Ohio 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 |
| B.E.S.T. Labs, Inclisted by the agency as “B.E.S.T Labs” | B.E.S.T. Labs, Inc website | Find a location |
| Intoxalock | Intoxalock website | Find a location |
| LifeSafer | LifeSafer website | Find a location |
| RoadGuard Interlock | RoadGuard Interlock website | Find a location |
| Smart Start | Smart Start website | Find a location |
What Ohio law requires
Ohio'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: Ohio Rev. Code § 4510.13
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Ohio rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | At the court's discretion |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | No statutory minimum; if ordered, for the remainder of the court-imposed suspension (1 to 3 years for a first offense under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(a)(iv), reducible by up to half under R.C. 4510.022 when unlimited interlock privileges are granted) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | Remainder of the period of suspension (1 to 7 years for a second offense under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(b)(iv)); mandatory for alcohol-related second offenses under R.C. 4510.13(A)(5)(e)(i) |
For a first OVI conviction (R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(a)), R.C. 4510.13(A)(5)(a)(i) provides that on or after the 16th day of the suspension 'the court may grant limited driving privileges, but the court may require' a certified ignition interlock device. Under R.C. 4510.022 a first-time offender may petition for unlimited driving privileges with a certified interlock, and if granted the court may reduce the suspension by up to half and must suspend the jail term. The interlock becomes mandatory ('shall require') for a first OVI only where the offender had a physical-control (R.C. 4511.194) conviction within ten years (§ 4510.13(A)(5)(a)(ii)). For a second OVI within ten years (§ 4511.19(G)(1)(b)), § 4510.13(A)(5)(e)(i) requires the court to order the interlock for the remainder of the suspension when the conviction is alcohol-related.
What the source says (6)
- IID on first offense
“(a)(i) Except as otherwise provided in this division and in division (A)(5)(a)(ii) of this section, the first fifteen days of a suspension imposed under division (G)(1)(a) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code ... On or after the sixteenth day of the suspension, the court may grant limited driving”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“(iv) In all cases, a suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege for a definite period of one to three years. ... The court may grant unlimited driving privileges with an ignition interlock device relative to the suspension and”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(i) If the underlying conviction is alcohol-related, the court shall issue an order that, except as provided in division (C) of section 4510.43 of the Revised Code, for the remainder of the period of suspension the offender shall not exercise the privileges unless the vehicles the offender operates”
- Ignition interlock statute
“On or after the sixteenth day of the suspension, the court may grant limited driving privileges, but the court may require that the offender shall not exercise the privileges unless the vehicles the offender operates are equipped with a certified ignition interlock device”
- IID on first offense
“On or after the forty-sixth day of the suspension, the court may grant limited driving privileges, but the court shall require that the offender shall not exercise the privileges unless the vehicles the offender operates are equipped with a certified ignition interlock device”
- firstOffenseIidNote_4510022
“(B) A first-time offender may file a petition for unlimited driving privileges with a certified ignition interlock device during the period of suspension imposed for an OVI offense”
Removal: Ohio's interlock is a condition of court-granted driving privileges during the suspension: under R.C. 4510.13(A)(5) the order applies 'for the remainder of the period of suspension'… 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 Ohio does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | No |
|---|---|
| Filing period | Not applicable |
The Ohio BMV First Offense OVI Suspension page enumerates the reinstatement requirements as: serve the suspension, pay a reinstatement fee, and 'Provide proof of insurance that covers through the length of the suspension'; an SR-22/bond filing is not among them. R.C. 4511.191(F)(1) likewise requires 'proof of financial responsibility, a policy of liability insurance in effect that meets the minimum standards' rather than an SR-22 certificate. The BMV SR-22/Bond page describes SR-22 filings and the BMV Non-Compliance (insurance) suspension page requires them for non-compliance suspensions; neither lists OVI as a trigger.
What the source says (3)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“First Offense Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI) of Alcohol and/or Drugs Suspension ... Reinstatement Requirements Serve suspension as determined by the court Pay a reinstatement fee Provide proof of insurance that covers through the length of the suspension Ohio Revised Code: 4511.19”
- SR-22 requirement
“(1) A showing that the person has proof of financial responsibility, a policy of liability insurance in effect that meets the minimum standards set forth in section 4509.51 of the Revised Code, or proof, to the satisfaction of the registrar, that the person is able to respond in damages”
- sr22Note_bmvSr22
“An SR-22/bond is a minimum-limit liability insurance policy that covers only the individual named on the policy. To file an SR-22/bond, you must contact an insurance company licensed to do business in Ohio, apply and pay for the policy.”
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 | $315 | 2026-08-29 |
| Deputy registrar service fee when the reinstatement fee is paid at a deputy registrar(R.C. 4511.191(F)(5)) | $10 | 2026-08 |
| Single reinstatement fee when ALS and OVI suspensions arise from the same incident(R.C. 4511.191(F)(3)) | Only one $315 fee | 2026-08 |
| Mandatory additional court cost when the court orders an interlock or continuous alcohol monitoring; a second discretionary $2.50 may be added(R.C. 4510.13(A)(10)) | $2.50 | 2026-08 |
| Indigent interlock funding:$125 of each OVI fine goes to the court special projects fund or the indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring fund to cover device costs for indigent offenders(R.C. 4511.19(G)(5)(e); R.C. 4511.191(I)) | $125 of fine | 2026-08 |
| First-offense OVI fine range(R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(a)(iii)) | $565 to $1,075 | 2026-08 |
| Manufacturer licensing fee and per-device certification fee paid to ODPS(Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-03, 4501-45-04) | $100 each | 2026-08 |
| Reinstatement fee for other suspensions running 89+ days (e.g., 12-point)(Ohio BMV) | $40 | 2026-08 |
What the source says (2)
- License reinstatement fee
“Reinstatement Fees ... Last Updated: 4/30/2025 Suspension Type ALS (added to record on or after 4/9/25) $315.00 OVI/Physical Control suspension (conviction date on or after 4/9/25) $315.00”
- License reinstatement fee
“(2) Subject to the limitation contained in division (F)(3) of this section, payment by the person to the registrar or an eligible deputy registrar of a license reinstatement fee of three hundred fifteen dollars”
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 Ohio's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Ohio rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read R.C. 4510.13, 4510.022, 4510.43, 4510.45 and 4510.46, Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-01 through 4501-45-06, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office Interlock Devices program page and forms page, and the Ohio BMV suspension pages do not mention motorcycles; the statutes refer to 'a motor vehicle' or 'the vehicles the offender operates'. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Exempt with conditions R.C. 4510.43(C): a person granted limited or unlimited driving privileges conditioned on an immobilizing or disabling device may operate a vehicle owned by the person's employer only if required to do so in the course and scope of employment, and may do so without the device provided the employer has been notified of the limited driving privileges and the nature of the restriction and the person carries proof of the employer's notification while operating the employer's vehicle for normal business duties. A vehicle owned by a business partly or entirely owned or controlled by the person is not an employer-owned vehicle for this purpose. What the source says“the person may operate a motor vehicle that is owned by the person's employer only if the person is required to operate that motor vehicle in the course and scope of the offender's employment. Such a person may operate that vehicle without the installation of an immobilizing or disabling device” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Not addressed on the official pages read No waiver or alternative device for a person unable to provide a breath sample is stated in R.C. 4510.13, 4510.022, 4510.43, 4510.45 or 4510.46, on the OTSO Interlock Devices pages, or on the BMV suspension pages. The only medical provision found is in the device-certification rule, Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-04, which requires certified devices to accept a reduced 1.2 L breath sample upon medical recommendation (see other). |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available — Indigent offender reduced fee (R.C. 4510.45(A)(2)) and the indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring fund (R.C. 4511.191(I)) Two mechanisms, both keyed to a determination by the court that granted the driving privileges: (1) every licensed interlock manufacturer must sign an agreement with the Department of Public Safety to charge a department-established reduced fee for installation and monitoring of a device used by a person the court deems an indigent offender (R.C. 4510.45(A)(2)); the amount of the reduced fee is not stated on the pages. (2) County, county juvenile and municipal indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring funds, distributed by the Department of Public Safety, may be used only to pay the cost of a certified ignition interlock or alcohol monitoring device for an offender ordered to use it by a county, juvenile or municipal court judge who determines the offender lacks the means to pay (R.C. 4511.191(I)(1)); $125 of each OVI fine is credited to the court's special projects fund or, if none, to this fund (R.C. 4511.19(G)(5)(e)). No application form or income threshold is stated in the statutes or on the OTSO pages. What the source says“affirming that the manufacturer agrees to charge a reduced fee, established by the department, for the installation and monitoring of a device used by a person who is deemed to be an indigent offender by the court that granted limited or unlimited driving privileges to the offender” |
| Employer notification and proof conditions (R.C. 4510.43(C)) | The employer must be notified of the privileges and restriction, and the person must carry proof of that notification while driving the employer's vehicle for normal business duties. What the source says“provided that the employer has been notified that the person has limited driving privileges and of the nature of the restriction and further provided that the person has proof of the employer's notification in the person's possession while operating the employer's vehicle for normal business duties.” |
| Business owned or controlled by the offender is not an 'employer' (R.C. 4510.43(C)) | The employer-vehicle allowance does not extend to a vehicle owned by a business the person partly or entirely owns or controls. What the source says“A motor vehicle owned by a business that is partly or entirely owned or controlled by a person with limited driving privileges is not a motor vehicle owned by an employer, for purposes of this division.” |
| Indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring fund - permitted use (R.C. 4511.191(I)(1)) | The county, juvenile and municipal funds pay device costs only for offenders ordered to use a device by a judge who determines they cannot pay. What the source says“shall be used only to pay the cost of an immobilizing or disabling device, including a certified ignition interlock device, or an alcohol monitoring device used by an offender or juvenile offender who is ordered to use the device by a county, juvenile, or municipal court judge” |
| Indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring fund - means test wording (R.C. 4511.191(I)(1)) | The judge's determination that the offender does not have the means to pay is the qualifying finding. What the source says“who is determined by the county, juvenile, or municipal court judge not to have the means to pay for the person's use of the device.” |
| Fund financing from OVI fines (R.C. 4511.19(G)(5)(e)) | $125 of the OVI fine goes to the court's special projects fund for interlock and alcohol-monitoring devices, or to the indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring fund if the court has no such fund. What the source says“the one hundred twenty-five dollars shall be deposited into the indigent drivers interlock and alcohol monitoring fund under division (I) of section 4511.191 of the Revised Code.” |
| Reduced breath volume upon medical recommendation (Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-04) | Certified devices must accept a 1.5 L breath sample and permit 1.2 L upon medical recommendation; this is a device accommodation, not a waiver of the interlock condition. What the source says“That the device allow a minimum of 1.5 L of breath for an acceptable breath sample and permit 1.2 L upon medical recommendation;” |
Compare: motorcycles by state · employer, medical and reduced-cost exemptions by state
Frequently asked questions
- Is an ignition interlock mandatory after a first OVI conviction in Ohio?
- Not automatically. Under R.C. 4510.13(A)(5)(a)(i), after the first 15 days of a first-offense OVI suspension the court may grant limited driving privileges and 'may require' that the offender drive only vehicles equipped with a certified ignition interlock device. A first-time offender may also petition under R.C. 4510.022 for unlimited driving privileges conditioned on an interlock.
- What does Ohio's R.C. 4510.022 unlimited-privileges option do for a first-time offender?
- R.C. 4510.022(C) lets a court grant a first-time OVI offender unlimited driving privileges with a certified ignition interlock device wherever it could grant limited privileges. If it does, the court may reduce the suspension by up to half the period imposed (§ 4510.022(C)(2)(b)) and shall suspend any jail term for the offense (§ 4510.022(C)(2)(c)); the BMV issues a restricted license once the installation certificate is presented (§ 4510.022(D)).
- When is an interlock mandatory in Ohio?
- R.C. 4510.13(A)(5)(e)(i) provides that for a second OVI within ten years (R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(b)), if the conviction is alcohol-related the court 'shall issue an order' that for the remainder of the suspension the offender may not drive unless the vehicle has a certified interlock. The same 'shall' language applies to third and later offenses and to first offenses where the person had a physical-control conviction within ten years (§ 4510.13(A)(5)(a)(ii)).
- What is the Ohio reinstatement fee after an OVI conviction or ALS?
- R.C. 4511.191(F)(2) sets a license reinstatement fee of $315, and § 4511.191(F)(3) provides that ALS and OVI suspensions arising from a single incident require only one fee. The Ohio BMV fee table (last updated 4/30/2025) lists $315.00 for an ALS added on or after 4/9/25 and for an OVI/physical control suspension with a conviction date on or after 4/9/25. A $10 deputy registrar service fee applies if paid at a deputy registrar (§ 4511.191(F)(5)).
- Who certifies ignition interlock devices in Ohio?
- Under R.C. 4510.43(A)(1), the director of public safety certifies immobilizing and disabling devices and 'shall publish and make available to the courts, without charge, a list of licensed manufacturers of ignition interlock devices and approved devices.' Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-03 and 4501-45-04 set the licensing and certification requirements, and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office maintains the approved manufacturers directory.
Sources
- Ohio Rev. Code § 4510.13 - Limited driving privileges; ignition interlock conditions (Ohio Laws)
- Ohio Rev. Code § 4510.022 - Petition for unlimited driving privileges with certified ignition interlock device
- Ohio Rev. Code § 4510.43 - Director of public safety certification of immobilization and disabling devices
- Ohio Rev. Code § 4510.45 - Licensing of ignition interlock manufacturers
- Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.19 - Operating vehicle under the influence (OVI); penalties
- Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.191 - Implied consent; reinstatement fee; indigent interlock fund
- Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-03 - Licensing requirements for manufacturers of ignition interlock devices
- Ohio Adm. Code 4501-45-04 - Certification requirements for ignition interlock devices
- Ohio BMV - Alcohol & Drug Suspensions (First Offense OVI Suspension, ALS)
- Ohio BMV - Documents & Fees (Reinstatement Fees table)
- Ohio BMV - Reinstatement Fees & Amnesty (SR-22/Bond section)
- Ohio BMV - Non-Compliance (insurance) Suspension
- Ohio Traffic Safety Office - Interlock Devices program page
- Ohio Traffic Safety Office - Approved Manufacturers directory (JavaScript-rendered; directory rows not retrievable)
- ODPS form OTS 0029 - Ignition Interlock Manufacturer Application for Device Certification
- Ohio Traffic Safety Office - Approved Service Centers and Manufacturers (manufacturer directory; table data embedded in page source)
Record history
- — dmvVendorListUrl_otso: Interlock Devices Approved Service Centers and Manufacturers Interlock Device Forms Interlock Devices This program covers the licensing of ignition interlock manufacturers and devices. → This program covers the licensing of ignition interlock manufacturers and devices. A contractor is responsible for the inspection of the installation centers and is federally funded.
- — Record verified against primary sources.