Is an ignition interlock required after a first DUI conviction in Virginia?

Under Va. Code § 18.2-270.1(C), for a first adult conviction under § 18.2-266 the only restriction the court imposes on a restricted license is that the offender may not operate a vehicle without a functioning, certified ignition interlock for not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations. On the offender's motion the court may require a minimum of six months if additional restrictions are ordered.

What are the ignition interlock requirements for a second DUI in Virginia?

Under Va. Code § 18.2-270.1(B), for a second or subsequent § 18.2-266 offense, or as a condition of license restoration under § 18.2-271.1(C), the court shall require an ignition interlock on each motor vehicle owned by or registered to the offender for not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations of the interlock requirements.

Does Virginia require an SR-22 or FR-44 after a DUI?

Virginia DMV states that an FR-44 Uniform Financial Responsibility Certificate is required for convictions including driving under the influence of intoxicants or drugs, with liability limits double the SR-22 limits in Va. Code § 46.2-472. DMV's reinstatement guide (DMV 292) states the certificate must be in effect for three years from the suspension/revocation end date.

What is the Virginia DMV reinstatement fee after a DUI?

Virginia DMV's Reinstatement Fees page lists a $220 fee when the driving privilege is suspended or revoked for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; of that, $40 goes to the Alcohol Safety Action Program, $25 to the Neurotrauma Fund, $100 to the Trauma Center Fund and $55 to DMV. A $5 multiple-order fee applies to each additional active order.

What are the state-capped ignition interlock charges in Virginia?

Under 24VAC35-60-50(C), Virginia service providers may charge offenders no more than $65 for a standard installation ($130 for hybrid or push-button-start vehicles), $95 plus applicable taxes per month for calibration/monitoring, $75 for a change-of-vehicle installation, $0 for removal, $50 for violation resets and $35 for missed appointments. Under subsection E, each provider must maintain an indigency fund.

VAVerified against primary sources · August 28, 2026

Virginia ignition interlock & DUI requirements

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

IID on first offense: At the court's discretion
Minimum IID period (first): Not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-rel…
SR-22 filing: Required · 3 yr
Reinstatement fee: $220

What Virginia law requires

Virginia'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: Va. Code § 18.2-270.1

Ignition interlock requirement

Ignition interlock requirements in Virginia by offense
Item	Virginia rule
IID on first offense	At the court's discretion
Minimum IID period, first offense	Not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations (as a condition of a restricted license); on the offender's motion the court may set a minimum of six consecutive months if additional restrictions are ordered
Minimum IID period, repeat offense	Not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations, installed on each motor vehicle owned by or registered to the offender

For a first adult conviction under § 18.2-266, Va. Code § 18.2-270.1(C) provides that the only restriction the court shall impose on a restricted license is the ignition interlock requirement (not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations). The interlock is therefore mandatory to drive on a restricted license during the license revocation, but is not otherwise a condition of restoring an unrestricted license after a first offense; under § 18.2-271.1(C) restoration is conditioned on an interlock only for an offense other than a first offense. For second or subsequent offenses (or a § 18.2-51.4 conviction) the court must require an interlock on each vehicle owned or registered to the offender (§ 18.2-270.1(B)).

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Virginia 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: Virginia agency vendor list

Approved interlock vendors in Virginia
Vendor	Website	Location finder
LifeSafer	LifeSafer website	Find a location
RoadGuard	RoadGuard website	Find a location
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 Virginia does, the sources below say so.

SR-22 requirement in Virginia
SR-22 filing required after a DUI	Yes
Filing period	3 years

FR-44 (not SR-22). Virginia DMV requires an FR-44 Uniform Financial Responsibility Certificate for DUI-related convictions (§ 18.2-266, § 18.2-51.4, § 18.2-272), with liability limits double the SR-22 minimums in § 46.2-472. DMV's reinstatement guide (DMV 292) states the certificate must be in effect for three years from the suspension/revocation end date, and while holding restricted driving privileges.

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 Virginia
Item	Amount	As of
License reinstatement fee	$220	2026-08-28
DMV license reinstatement fee for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DMV Reinstatement Fees page; $40 to ASAP, $25 Neurotrauma Fund, $100 Trauma Center Fund, $55 DMV)	$220	2026-08
Multiple-order fee for each additional active suspension/revocation order (DMV)	$5 per additional order	2026-08
Court/administrative fee for the ignition interlock system, paid to the clerk of court (Va. Code § 18.2-270.1(B))	$20	2026-08
VASAP (alcohol safety action program) entry fee set by the court (Va. Code § 18.2-271.1(B)); may be reduced or waived on a finding of indigency	$250–$300	2026-08
Maximum offender charge for a standard ignition interlock installation (24VAC35-60-50(C)(1))	$65 (hybrid/push-button start: $130)	2026-08
Maximum monthly ignition interlock calibration/monitoring charge, inclusive of the $20 monthly administrative fee providers remit to the Commission (24VAC35-60-50(C)(5), (B)(4))	$95 plus applicable taxes per month	2026-08
Ignition interlock removal charge (24VAC35-60-50(C)(4)); change-of-vehicle installation (C)(3); violation reset (C)(9); missed appointment (C)(10)	$0 removal; $75 change of vehicle; $50 violation reset; $35 missed appointment	2026-08
Indigency: every service provider must maintain an indigency fund for offenders declared indigent by the court and approved by the Commission (24VAC35-60-50(E))	fee reduction for approved indigent offenders	2026-08

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock required after a first DUI conviction in Virginia?: Under Va. Code § 18.2-270.1(C), for a first adult conviction under § 18.2-266 the only restriction the court imposes on a restricted license is that the offender may not operate a vehicle without a functioning, certified ignition interlock for not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations. On the offender's motion the court may require a minimum of six months if additional restrictions are ordered.
What are the ignition interlock requirements for a second DUI in Virginia?: Under Va. Code § 18.2-270.1(B), for a second or subsequent § 18.2-266 offense, or as a condition of license restoration under § 18.2-271.1(C), the court shall require an ignition interlock on each motor vehicle owned by or registered to the offender for not less than 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations of the interlock requirements.
Does Virginia require an SR-22 or FR-44 after a DUI?: Virginia DMV states that an FR-44 Uniform Financial Responsibility Certificate is required for convictions including driving under the influence of intoxicants or drugs, with liability limits double the SR-22 limits in Va. Code § 46.2-472. DMV's reinstatement guide (DMV 292) states the certificate must be in effect for three years from the suspension/revocation end date.
What is the Virginia DMV reinstatement fee after a DUI?: Virginia DMV's Reinstatement Fees page lists a $220 fee when the driving privilege is suspended or revoked for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; of that, $40 goes to the Alcohol Safety Action Program, $25 to the Neurotrauma Fund, $100 to the Trauma Center Fund and $55 to DMV. A $5 multiple-order fee applies to each additional active order.
What are the state-capped ignition interlock charges in Virginia?: Under 24VAC35-60-50(C), Virginia service providers may charge offenders no more than $65 for a standard installation ($130 for hybrid or push-button-start vehicles), $95 plus applicable taxes per month for calibration/monitoring, $75 for a change-of-vehicle installation, $0 for removal, $50 for violation resets and $35 for missed appointments. Under subsection E, each provider must maintain an indigency fund.