Ignition interlock in Georgia
After a DUI arrest in Georgia, you have 30 calendar days from the serve date on your DS-1205 form to choose how to handle your license suspension, and an ignition interlock may be one way to keep driving. An ignition interlock limited permit may let you drive during the suspension. The device itself is a small breath tester that gets wired into your car. If your breath alcohol reads above the set limit, the car simply won't start.
- Typical 12-month total
- roughly $790 to $1,110
- Agency in charge
- Georgia DDS
- Time to respond after a DUI arrest
- 30 calendar days, starting the day your DS-1205 form was served
- Installers certified by
- DDS's Regulatory Compliance Division
- How long the interlock stays on following a second DUI within 5 years: 12 months, when the incident falls on or after July 1, 2013
4 interlock companies in Georgia
| Company | From, a month | Installation | 12 months, install included | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 LifeSafer | From $50 | $70 to $150 | From $670 | 4.6 of 5 |
 Guardian Interlock | From $50 | $70 to $170 | From $670 | 3.7 of 5 |
 Intoxalock | From $54.99 | Set by each service center | From $729.88install at MADD's typical range | 4.4 of 5 |
 Smart Start | From $59.99 | From $150 | From $869.88 | 4.6 of 5 |
Prices are each company's national starting price. The 12-month column adds a year of that price, the install price and any set-up fee, or MADD's typical $70 to $150 where no install price is posted.
MADD's national range: $70 to $150 to install, then $60 to $80 a month, or $790 to $1,110 for a year.
The 30-day window after a DUI arrest
The clock starts on the serve date shown on your DS-1205 form, and you have 30 calendar days from that date to choose how to handle the suspension. One of your choices is a limited permit built around an ignition interlock device, and it may let you keep driving through the suspension.
You can't both appeal and get the interlock limited permit, so it's worth choosing carefully. The clock is already running, so if the interlock is your route, call us today and we'll pass your request to an interlock company or installer that serves Georgia to set up your appointment.
Getting the interlock limited permit
Think of a limited permit as a license with conditions attached. Georgia's Department of Driver Services, or DDS, can't issue the interlock limited permit until a device has been fitted in your car, which means installation comes first.
Check that you qualify before you schedule anything. If you pay for a device and then learn you're not eligible for the permit, DDS won't cover the cost.
Is an interlock needed for a first DUI?
After a repeat DUI, Georgia requires an interlock. After a first DUI, whether you need one comes down to what your court order or license letter says. The state program runs on a Georgia Limited Permit, and it's mandatory for anyone whose record shows repeated alcohol-related traffic offenses.
Second DUI within 5 years
If you're convicted a second time within 5 years, you'll need two things before you can apply for the interlock permit. The first is documentation showing an approved interlock has been fitted to any vehicle you plan to drive. The second is a certificate showing you completed a DUI Risk Reduction program.
For incidents dated July 1, 2013 or later, the device stays on for 12 months. Once those months are behind you, you can apply for a permit without the interlock restriction, as long as you meet the other requirements.
If you were excused from the interlock for financial hardship after a second DUI in five years, a limited permit stays out of reach until 12 months of your suspension have gone by.
Who can install an interlock in Georgia?
The work is only done at certified provider centers. The DDS Regulatory Compliance Division certifies these centers and oversees them, covering the installation, upkeep, recalibration and removal of the devices. DDS also puts out a list of approved providers along with where they're located.
What an interlock costs in Georgia
There's a one-time fee to have the device put in, plus a monthly charge for however long you keep it. MADD puts the nationwide average somewhere between $70 and $150 for installation, plus $60 to $80 each month. For the 12 months a second DUI requires, the total comes to roughly $790 to $1,110.
Prices differ from company to company. Intoxalock starts its monthly lease at $54.99, Smart Start goes as low as $59.99, and LifeSafer charges $50 to $120 a month with installation running $70 to $150.
Using the device day to day
Every time you drive, you blow into the device before the car will start. A reading over the preset limit means the engine stays off. Certified provider centers install, maintain, recalibrate and remove the devices, so you'll go back to one during your time with the device.