Ignition interlock in Mississippi
To keep driving after a DUI in Mississippi, get your ignition interlock installed before your suspension begins. An interlock is a small breathalyzer that gets wired into your car. You provide a breath sample, and the engine will only start when you pass.
- Estimated total for 12 months on a device
- roughly $790 to $1,110
- Companies installing
- 4
- State fees
- a $175 interlock fee, plus $56 for the restricted license
- Agency in charge
- Mississippi Department of Public Safety
For a conviction or a non-adjudication, your suspension starts 21 days after the court enters its order, and the device has to be in your car before that day. You also need a court-ordered interlock-restricted license to drive. Three weeks goes quickly, so call us today and we'll pass your request to an interlock company that serves Mississippi so they can set up your appointment.
4 interlock companies in Mississippi
| Company | From, a month | Installation | 12 months, install included | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 LifeSafer | From $50 | $70 to $150 | From $670 | 4.6 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 |
 Low Cost Interlock | From $78.76 | $100 to $250, plus $40 set-up | From $1,085.12 | 2.9 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.
Your next steps after a DUI in Mississippi
With a first DUI, an interlock-restricted license ordered by a court is the option that lets you drive during your suspension. You'll also have to finish the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program and carry proof of insurance for 3 years, per the Driver Service Bureau.
A first conviction takes away a regular Class R license for 120 days, unless a court grants you an interlock-restricted license. If a second conviction happens within 5 years, you lose the license for 1 year, again unless the court grants the restricted license.
When the rules get tougher for repeat offenders
A third DUI conviction within five years is a felony. After you're released from incarceration, the only license available to you is an interlock-restricted one, and you hold it for 3 years.
A fourth conviction or more is a felony too. That interlock-restricted license runs for 10 years.
Saying no to a breath or blood test
Say no to a chemical test and you lose a Class R license for 90 days, or a commercial driver's license (CDL) for 1 year. A court can still let you drive with an interlock-restricted license even after you've refused, so your Class R license is not suspended.
Getting the interlock-restricted license
Here is how it works. Have a working device installed on every vehicle you drive, before your suspension starts. Then have the vehicle taken to the Department of Public Safety so they can check the device before the restricted license is issued. The state fees are paid when you get the restricted license.
You'll have to show proof of installation before the license is issued. The court sets the length of time you have to keep the device in place and working.
Who installs interlocks in Mississippi
Four companies install interlocks in Mississippi. Smart Start and LifeSafer each score 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot, and Intoxalock scores 4.4.
The price of an interlock
Nationwide, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) estimates $70 to $150 for installation and $60 to $80 in monthly charges. The longer the court keeps the device on, the bigger the total gets.
The state fees are on top of that.