Ignition interlock in New Mexico
In New Mexico, any DWI conviction, even a first one, means you need an ignition interlock on each vehicle you drive. Before you can legally get back on the road, state law asks for two things: the device itself and an ignition interlock license.
- Companies installing
- 8
- Required for
- anyone convicted of DWI, even a first offense
- Vehicles covered
- all the vehicles you drive
- Providers statewide
- 8 companies across 84 cities and towns
- Cost assistance
- as much as $50 toward installation, $30 per month and up to $50 for removal, if you qualify
- Agency in charge
- NMDOT Traffic Safety Division
8 interlock companies in New Mexico
| 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 |
 ALCOLOCK | From $60 | $70 to $150 | From $790 | 2.3 of 5 |
 Low Cost Interlock | From $78.76 | $100 to $250, plus $40 set-up | From $1,085.12 | 2.9 of 5 |
 Dräger (RoadGuard Interlock) | Call for a quoteFirst month free | 1.7 of 5 | ||
 Alcohol Detection Systems (ADS) | Call for a quote | 2.4 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.
Who needs an interlock in New Mexico?
Anyone with a DWI conviction falls under this rule, and it makes no difference whether it's your first time or a later one. The IIHS counts New Mexico among the states that attach an interlock requirement to every single conviction.
So what is an ignition interlock license? It's a special driver's license that only lets you drive vehicles fitted with the device. You need the license and you need the device. Having just one of them doesn't put you back behind the wheel.
Approved companies and where they install
You can't pick just anyone to install the device. The NMDOT Traffic Safety Division approves and certifies each provider working in the state. The Motor Vehicle Division says 8 manufacturers supply devices in New Mexico, and between them they cover 84 cities and towns.
Prices and reviews vary quite a bit from one company to the next. On Trustpilot, Smart Start and LifeSafer each hold 4.6 out of 5. Intoxalock scores 4.4, and its monthly lease starts at $54.99. Dräger, ADS, ALCOLOCK and Low Cost Interlock all score lower in reviews. Neither Dräger nor ADS shares its pricing publicly.
When you call us, we send your request to an approved company that covers your part of New Mexico, and that company sets up a time to install your device.
How the interlock license process works
- Pick one of the approved interlock providers and get the device fitted to the vehicle you'll be driving.
- Get insurance proof for that vehicle. You don't need to own the policy, but your name must appear on it for the vehicle with the device.
- Get your Affidavit of Ignition Interlock notarized ahead of time. An affidavit is a written statement you sign, and having it notarized means an official notary watches while you sign, then stamps the page. The Motor Vehicle Division wants this done in advance.
- Schedule a time with the Motor Vehicle Division to receive your ignition interlock license. This isn't something you can walk in and get.
There's one more thing to know. If you're 25 or older, this is your first New Mexico driver's license, and a DWI conviction is somewhere in your past, you'll also need proof that you finished a DWI prevention and education course.
What the device costs
The costs of installing, servicing and removing the device fall on you. On top of those, everyone convicted of DWI pays a yearly fee into the state's Indigent Fund, for however long the device stays installed. The MVD decides how much that fee is.
Nationwide, MADD says the usual range runs from $70 to $150 for installation and $60 to $80 per month. Add that up over 12 months and you're looking at roughly $790 to $1,110 in all.
Help if you can't afford it
Drivers who can't cover the full cost can turn to the Indigent Fund. Indigency means the state decides you earn too little to handle these costs. If the fund grants it and money is available, the Traffic Safety Division puts money toward a single vehicle per driver, within these caps:
| Covered item | Fund's maximum |
|---|---|
| Putting it in | $50 |
| Every month it's actively used | $30 |
| Taking it out | $50 |
That monthly $30 only covers active use of the device that's been checked and confirmed. Everything else comes out of your own pocket. And since the fund applies to a single vehicle, any second vehicle you drive is entirely your own cost.
Getting booked
The sooner the device is fitted, the sooner you can get your license appointment on the books and be driving legally again. Give us a call and we'll pass your request along to a New Mexico installer who can get that visit scheduled.