Ignition interlock in Vermont
Getting back behind the wheel with an ignition interlock in Vermont starts with a call to the DMV to apply for your restricted license. Then call us, and we'll pass your request to an installer that serves Vermont so they can set up your appointment. The device itself is a small breath tester hard-wired into your car. If it senses alcohol, the engine won't start.
- Apply for the restricted license
- call the DMV
- Alcohol limit for starting the car
- under 0.02 BAC
- Cost to renew
- $125.00
- Agency in charge
- Vermont DMV
- Companies installing
- 7
- First license expires
- on your second birthday after issuance
7 interlock companies in Vermont
| 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 |
 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.
How to get your restricted license
The license you're applying for is an Ignition Interlock Restricted Driver's License, or RDL. To apply for an RDL, call the Vermont DMV before visiting an office to check that you've met the requirements.
The program exists so you can be conditionally reinstated ahead of the date you'd normally qualify. After a first DUI in Vermont, driving during a suspension requires an interlock.
Holders of an RDL are not allowed to operate commercial vehicles.
Picking an installer in Vermont
Vermont requires every RDL or Ignition Interlock Certificate holder to use a device with a camera in the car. Tell the installer or manufacturer that Vermont requires a camera-equipped device, so they know which type you need.
Call us or send the booking form, and we'll pass your request to an interlock company that serves Vermont, so it can set up your appointment. Just mention the camera requirement.
The device on the road
BAC is short for blood alcohol level. In Vermont, a reading of 0.02 or more means the interlock keeps the car from starting.
While you're on the road, the device calls for extra breath samples at unpredictable moments. Skip one of those retests, or blow 0.02 or higher, and it gets recorded as a failure.
What it costs
MADD national averages run $70 to $150 to install, plus a monthly charge of roughly $60 to $80 while the device stays in your car. Bear in mind those are national figures, not Vermont quotes. Your installer is the one with the exact price.
Most people land between about $790 and $1,110 for a year on the device.
The $125.00 renewal fee for your RDL is its own charge, apart from anything you pay for the device.
Renewing and finishing the program
The first RDL is good until the second birthday after the issue date. From then on, it's a yearly renewal. Let the expiration pass without renewing and your license gets suspended.
Break any of the RDL terms or requirements, and your time on the interlock gets stretched out.
The RDL Unit mails you a letter shortly before your release date. It spells out when you're able to hold a license that no longer carries the interlock restriction.