Ignition interlock in California

The Statewide Ignition Interlock Device Pilot Program is run by the California DMV. Alcohol DUI offenses committed between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2032 fall under it. For a first DUI where nobody was hurt, the law doesn't mandate the device, though a judge can order one for up to 6 months.

Even without a court order, the choice is still yours. As a first offender, you can go with an interlock restriction lasting up to 6 months, or take a 1-year restriction limited to driving to your job and to your DUI program. With the interlock, there are no limits on when or where you drive, provided the car you're in has the device.

How high your blood alcohol was plays a role as well. As NCSL notes, judges lean more toward ordering the device for first offenders at 0.15 or above. A second or subsequent DUI, or any DUI where someone got hurt, comes with a fixed term that can't be avoided.

What you're after is an interlock-restricted license, meaning you're limited to cars with the device installed. Here's the DMV's list of what you'll need:

1. Get the interlock put in your car.
2. Submit the Verification of Installation form, DL 920, filled out by your installer.
3. Show proof of enrollment in a DUI program.
4. Arrange an SR-22 filing, the insurance proof your insurer submits to the state.

You may qualify for a restricted license before your court case finishes. That path carries a $125 fee and works only if you're 21 or up and didn't refuse the breath or blood test. Every day the device isn't in your car may be a day you can't drive, so booking your install is the quickest move you can make.

In California, Intoxalock lists a monthly rate of $99 to $116. That figure comes from one provider, and every company prices its own way. Based on national averages from MADD, 6 months with a device runs roughly $430 to $630 all told.

When the device is required, the DMV adds a $103 fee on top of the standard charges for reissuing your license and adding the restriction.

The state uses a sliding scale, so your income decides what portion of the device cost you cover. The scale builds on the federal poverty level, the government's annual income mark that shifts with how many people live in your home.

The interlock company verifies what you earn. As proof, you can hand over last year's federal tax return, three months of income statements, or paperwork from EDD showing your unemployment benefits. Mention the reduced rate when you call so your documents can be reviewed when the device goes in.

Calibration is required at least every 60 days. It's a quick service stop where the installer inspects the device and pulls its records. Skip it and the DMV issues a Notice of Non-Compliance (form DL 921), which can lead to your license being suspended or revoked.

Get caught driving a car without an interlock while restricted and you're facing a citation, a conviction, and a suspended or revoked license. Should you fail to finish your DUI program, the DMV typically suspends your license for the remainder of the original term and until completion proof is on file.

Yes, it will be. The rules were due to expire on January 1, 2026, but AB 366 pushes that date to January 1, 2033. The Governor signed the bill on October 13, 2025.

Install locations across California are available from eight interlock companies. When you call, your request gets routed to a company or installer covering your area so they can schedule you.