Texas ignition interlock & DWI (DUI) requirements
Texas requires an ignition interlock after a first DUI only at a BAC of 0.15 or higher; below that threshold it is not automatic, though other circumstances set by the statute can still require one.
In Texas 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 Texas, cited to the statute and Texas Department of Public Safety.
- IID on first offense
- High-BAC only
- Minimum IID period (first)
- 50% of supervision, or suspension term
- SR-22 filing
- Required · 2 years
The short answers
Do I need an interlock?
- First offense
- Required only above a high-BAC threshold
- Threshold
- BAC 0.15
- Minimum period
- 50% of supervision, or suspension term
What the source says (4)
- First offense
“(b) The court may require as a condition of community supervision that a defendant placed on community supervision after conviction of an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code, have an ignition interlock device installed”
- Minimum period
“order the device to remain installed on that vehicle for a period the length of which is not less than 50 percent of the supervision period.”
- Threshold
“(1) it is shown on the trial of the offense that an analysis of a specimen of the defendant's blood, breath, or urine showed an alcohol concentration level of 0.15 or more at the time the analysis was performed;”
- First offense
“(c) The court shall require as a condition of community supervision that a defendant described by Subsection (b) have an ignition interlock device installed”
What it costs here
- State reinstatement fee
- $100
- Restricted-license fee
- $10 (1 year) or $20 (2 years)
- Reduced-cost rule
- Available — see exemptions below
- Interlock lease, national range
- $50–$150 per month
What the source says (3)
- State reinstatement fee
“Serve a Driver license suspension for a period not to exceed two years and pay a $100 Reinstatement fee , in addition to paying any other outstanding fees;”
- Restricted-license fee
“A certified copy of the petition and a certified copy of the court order granting the occupational license. The judge has the authority to grant an occupational order. If you are participating in a special drug court program, the petition is not required.”
- Reduced-cost rule
“the judge may enter in the record a finding that the defendant is indigent and reduce the costs to the defendant by ordering a waiver of the installation charge for the ignition interlock device and a 50 percent reduction of the monthly device monitoring fee.”
How to drive legally now
- Restricted license
- Available after a first offense · Occupational Driver License
- Waiting period
- No waiting period
- Hearing-request deadline
- 15 days from the notice
- Driving after a DWI in Texas: the restricted license
- How to get a license back in Texas
- Date the hearing deadline with the timeline calculator
What the source says (3)
- Restricted license
“An occupational driver license, also called an essential need license, is a special type of restricted license issued to you when your driver license has been suspended, revoked or denied for certain offenses, other than a medical reason or delinquent child support.”
- Waiting period
“Deletes existing text of Section 521.251 (Effective Date of Occupational License).”
- Hearing-request deadline
“You have 15 days from the date the notice is served to request a hearing to contest your driver license suspension and/or disqualification. If a hearing is not requested, the suspension goes into effect on the 40th day after you were served notice.”
Approved interlock providers
Vendors listed here appear on the Texas 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
What Texas law requires
Texas'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: Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246
Ignition interlock requirement
| Item | Texas rule |
|---|---|
| IID on first offense | Required only above a high-BAC threshold |
| Minimum IID period, first offense | When ordered as a community-supervision condition: not less than 50 percent of the supervision period (art. 42A.408(f)); when ordered with an occupational license: the duration of the period of suspension (§ 521.246(d)) |
| Minimum IID period, repeat offense | Mandatory for repeat offenders; not less than 50 percent of the community-supervision period (art. 42A.408(c)(3), (f)), or the duration of the license suspension for an occupational license (§ 521.246(d)) |
Threshold: alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(b), for a DWI defendant placed on community supervision the court 'may' require an ignition interlock as a condition; under art. 42A.408(c) the court 'shall' require it if the trial showed an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more, if the defendant is punished as a repeat offender under Penal Code § 49.09(a) or (b), or if the defendant has a prior conviction within 10 years (art. 42A.408(d)). Separately, under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(a)(2), a judge granting an occupational license to a person whose license was suspended after a DWI conviction shall restrict the person to an interlock-equipped vehicle, subject to waiver under § 521.246(b-1); art. 42A.408(e)-(e-1) also mandate the device for defendants under 21 and for deferred adjudication.
What the source says (5)
- IID on first offense
“(b) The court may require as a condition of community supervision that a defendant placed on community supervision after conviction of an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code, have an ignition interlock device installed”
- Minimum IID period, first offense
“order the device to remain installed on that vehicle for a period the length of which is not less than 50 percent of the supervision period.”
- Minimum IID period, repeat offense
“(3) the court determines under Subsection (d) that the defendant has one or more previous convictions under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code.”
- Ignition interlock statute
“Sec. 521.246. IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE REQUIREMENT.”
- IID on first offense
“(2) the person's license has been suspended, revoked, or canceled after a conviction for an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code. [...] (b-1) The court may waive the ignition interlock device requirement under Subsection (a)”
Removal: Court-controlled, term-based; no violation-free window stated. 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 Texas does, the sources below say so.
| SR-22 filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Filing period | 2 years |
SR-22. Texas DPS states that after an adult DWI conviction a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) from an authorized insurance company is required and must be maintained for two years from the date of conviction.
Filing period and required coverage, as the agency states them
- 2 years — SR-22 must be maintained for two years from the date of conviction (Texas DPS) (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (2)
- SR-22 filing required after a DUI
“Obtain a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) from an authorized insurance company (an SR-22 must be maintained for two years from the date of conviction.)”
- Filing period
“an SR-22 must be maintained for two years from the date of conviction”
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 |
| Restricted interlock license fee(Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2465(a); DPS FAQ) | $10 | 2026-08 |
| Indigent defendants on deferred adjudication:judge may waive the installation charge and reduce the monthly monitoring fee by 50 percent(Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(e-1)) | installation waived; 50% monthly fee reduction | 2026-08 |
| Occupational-license supervision by a personal bond office:administrative fee(Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2462(a-3)) | $25–$60 per month | 2026-08 |
Payment terms
- payment schedule — Inability to pay: court may impose a reasonable payment schedule not exceeding twice the period of the court's order (Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(c); art. 42A.408(f)) (as of 2026-08)
What the source says (6)
- License reinstatement fee
“Serve a Driver license suspension for a period not to exceed two years and pay a $100 Reinstatement fee , in addition to paying any other outstanding fees;”
- Restricted interlock license fee (Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2465(a); DPS FAQ)
“On application by the person and payment of a fee of $10, the department shall issue a special restricted license that conspicuously indicates that the person is authorized to operate only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device.”
- Restricted interlock license fee (Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2465(a); DPS FAQ)
“To obtain an interlock license, you may pay the $10 interlock license fee online on the License Eligibility page”
- Indigent defendants on deferred adjudication: judge may waive the installation charge and reduce the monthly monitoring fee by 50 percent (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(e-1))
“reduce the costs to the defendant by ordering a waiver of the installation charge for the ignition interlock device and a 50 percent reduction of the monthly device monitoring fee”
- Occupational-license supervision by a personal bond office: administrative fee (Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2462(a-3))
“the office may collect from the person a reasonable administrative fee of not less than $25 and not more than $60 per month.”
- Inability to pay: court may impose a reasonable payment schedule not exceeding twice the period of the court's order (Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(c); art. 42A.408(f))
“If the court determines that the person is unable to pay for the device, the court may impose a reasonable payment schedule for a term not to exceed twice the period of the court's order.”
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 Texas's interlock program page or statute states them.
| Question | Texas rule |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | Not addressed on the official pages read Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246, Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408, the DPS Ignition Interlock Devices (restricted interlock license) page, DPS Driver License FAQ Section 18 (Interlock), and the DPS Regulatory Services Division Ignition Interlock pages (overview, laws and regulations, vendor FAQ) do not mention motorcycles. |
| Employer-owned vehicle | Exempt with conditions Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(e): a person subject to the occupational-license interlock restriction may operate a vehicle without a device if (1) the person is required to operate a motor vehicle in the course and scope of employment, (2) the vehicle is owned by the employer, (3) the employer is not owned or controlled by the restricted person, (4) the employer is notified of the driving-privilege restriction, and (5) proof of that notification is with the vehicle. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(h) states the same exemption for a defendant on community supervision (employer notified, proof of notification with the vehicle, not available if the business entity that owns the vehicle is owned or controlled by the defendant). What the source says“(e) A person to whom this section applies may operate a motor vehicle without the installation of an approved ignition interlock device if: (1) the person is required to operate a motor vehicle in the course and scope of the person's employment; (2) the vehicle is owned by the person's employer;” |
| Unable to provide a breath sample | Available Under the Department of Public Safety's ignition interlock rules (37 Tex. Admin. Code ch. 10, Rule 10.16, Low Breath Volume Medical Exemption), the minimum breath sample size of a device may be reduced to 1.2 liters for a device user with diminished lung capacity; diminished capacity may be established through documentation from the appropriate judicial authority advising of the necessity for the lower breath volume, and the vendor keeps that documentation with its calibration and maintenance records. The rule lowers the breath volume the device requires rather than removing the device requirement, and neither Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246 nor Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408 contains a separate medical waiver. What the source says“The minimum breath sampling size of an IID may be reduced to 1.2 liters for a device user with diminished lung capacity. Diminished capacity may be established through documentation from the appropriate judicial authority, advising of the necessity for the lower breath volume requirement.” |
| Reduced-cost / indigent program | Available Statutory indigency reduction, no program name. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(e-1): for a defendant granted deferred adjudication community supervision for DWI (Penal Code § 49.04) or BWI (§ 49.06) who provides evidence under Tex. Transp. Code § 709.001 sufficient to establish indigence, the judge may enter a finding of indigence and reduce costs by ordering a waiver of the installation charge and a 50 percent reduction of the monthly device monitoring fee; the reduction does not apply to fees assessed when the device detects alcohol. Separately, where the defendant is unable to pay, § 521.246(c) and art. 42A.408(e-1)/(f) let the court impose a reasonable payment schedule for a term not exceeding twice the period of the court's order. The balance is paid by the defendant. What the source says“the judge may enter in the record a finding that the defendant is indigent and reduce the costs to the defendant by ordering a waiver of the installation charge for the ignition interlock device and a 50 percent reduction of the monthly device monitoring fee.” |
| Court waiver of the occupational-license interlock requirement | Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(b-1): the court may waive the interlock requirement of subsection (a) on finding it is not necessary for the safety of the community and that the waiver is in the best interest of justice. What the source says“The court may waive the ignition interlock device requirement under Subsection (a) if the court finds the requirement is not necessary for the safety of the community and the waiver is in the best interest of justice.” |
| Deferred-adjudication waiver after evaluation | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(e-2): a judge may waive the deferred-adjudication interlock requirement if, based on a controlled substance and alcohol evaluation, the judge determines and enters in the record that the restriction is not necessary for the safety of the community. What the source says“A judge may waive the ignition interlock requirement under Subsection (e-1) for a defendant if, based on a controlled substance and alcohol evaluation of the defendant, the judge determines and enters in the record that restricting the defendant to the use of an ignition interlock is not necessary” |
| Payment schedule for inability to pay | Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(c): the person obtains the device at their own expense unless the court finds otherwise; if unable to pay, the court may impose a reasonable payment schedule for up to twice the period of the order. What the source says“If the court determines that the person is unable to pay for the device, the court may impose a reasonable payment schedule for a term not to exceed twice the period of the court's order.” |
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 Texas?
- Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(b), a court may require an ignition interlock as a condition of community supervision after a DWI conviction; under art. 42A.408(c) it must do so if the trial showed an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more or the defendant has a prior DWI conviction. Under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246, an occupational license after a DWI suspension carries an interlock restriction unless the court waives it.
- How long must the interlock stay installed in Texas?
- Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.408(f), when ordered as a community-supervision condition the device must remain installed for not less than 50 percent of the supervision period, and evidence of installation is due within 30 days of conviction. Under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246(d), an interlock ordered with an occupational license remains installed for the duration of the suspension period unless the court finds good cause for removal.
- Does Texas require an SR-22 after a DWI, and for how long?
- Texas DPS states that a person convicted of DWI must obtain a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) from an authorized insurance company and that the SR-22 must be maintained for two years from the date of conviction. DPS also lists a $100 reinstatement fee in addition to any other outstanding fees.
- What does a Texas interlock-restricted license cost?
- Under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2465(a), on application and payment of a $10 fee DPS issues a special restricted license indicating the person may operate only a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. DPS's FAQ states the $10 interlock license fee may be paid online on the License Eligibility page or by mail, and that all reinstatement fees must be paid before an interlock license is issued.
- Who approves ignition interlock devices in Texas?
- Under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.2476, DPS sets minimum standards for interlock vendors by rule, and art. 42A.408(g) directs DPS to approve devices. DPS's Regulatory Services Division publishes an Approved Ignition Interlock Devices list (revised December 2025) and states that all court-ordered installations must be performed by Department-certified service centers.
Sources
- Tex. Transp. Code ch. 521 (incl. §§ 521.246, 521.2462, 521.2465, 521.2476) – official statute text served by the Texas Legislative Council file server behind statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 42A (art. 42A.408, Use of Ignition Interlock Device) – same official file server
- Texas DPS – Alcohol-Related Offenses (reinstatement fee, SR-22)
- Texas DPS – Ignition Interlock Devices (restricted interlock license)
- Texas DPS Regulatory Services Division – Ignition Interlock program page
- Texas DPS – Approved Ignition Interlock Devices (PDF, Rev. December 2025)
- Texas DPS – Driver License FAQ Section 18: Interlock
Record history
- — Record verified against primary sources.