Ignition interlock in Washington
A first DUI counts too: Washington requires an interlock for at least a year in every case, and right after an arrest you can get an interlock license from the Department of Licensing.
- Companies installing
- 6
- License fee for the interlock
- $100, which goes to the Department of Licensing
- State's fee each month
- $21, gathered by the company that fits your device
- Support for drivers on a low income
- as much as $80 monthly, per service
- Needed at the end
- 180 days in a row without a violation
- Agency in charge
- Washington DOL and State Patrol
In Washington you can ask for an ignition interlock license at any time, even right after an arrest. Once it's approved, the license can let you drive during an alcohol- or drug-related suspension or revocation. Devices and installers are watched by the Washington State Patrol, while the Department of Licensing takes care of your license itself.
6 interlock companies in Washington
| 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 |
 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 |
 Intoxalock | An average of about $3.17 per dayWashington price | Set by each service center | $1,211.20 to $1,291.20install at MADD's typical range | 4.4 of 5 |
 Dräger (RoadGuard Interlock) | Call for a quoteFirst month free | 1.7 of 5 | ||
Rows marked "Washington price" use a price posted for Washington; the others show 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.
The Washington price for Intoxalock comes from its Washington pricing page. MADD's national range: $70 to $150 to install, then $60 to $80 a month, or $790 to $1,110 for a year.
Washington ignition interlock law
| Offense | Interlock rule |
|---|---|
| First DUI or physical control | At least 1 year |
| Second offense | At least 5 years |
| Third or later | At least 10 years |
| Child under 16 in the car | Per child, if the test shows 0.15 or higher or you refuse: 18 more months; otherwise, 1 extra year |
Getting the license you drive on
An Ignition Interlock Driver License keeps you legally on the road during a suspension or revocation tied to alcohol or drugs. Here is the order the Department of Licensing gives for applying:
- Have an interlock installed first, since the license covers only a vehicle that carries one.
- Get SR-22 insurance, which your insurer files with the state as proof of coverage.
- Fill out the application online or on paper and pay the $100 fee.
The sooner the device goes in, the sooner your days start counting, because only days with it installed count. Give us a call and we'll pass your request to a Washington installer who can set up your appointment.
What it costs
The interlock company bills you for the install and then for every month the device stays in your car. The state adds a $21 monthly fee that the company passes along to the interlock fund. You'll also pay the $100 license fee one time when you apply.
Every company prices its own way. Intoxalock lists about $3.17 a day as its Washington average. That figure is the company's own charge here, not something the state sets.
For a first offense (one year), install plus monthly fees usually add up to about $790 to $1,110. The $21 state fee and $100 license fee come on top. A longer requirement costs more, since you pay the monthly fee for every month.
For the 1-year estimate, MADD uses national averages of $70 to $150 for install and $60 to $80 each month.
Can you get help paying for it?
Yes. Drivers with low income can get cost help from the Department of Licensing for the whole time the device is required. Once you're approved, the state pays your provider as much as $80 a month toward each service, whether that's installation, the monthly lease, removal or a move to a different car. Anything above that amount stays on you. The assistance runs a year at a time, so reapply each year to keep it.
What the device checks
A breath tester, a camera and GPS come with most devices, a 2026 state report says. The State Patrol uses the camera to make sure it's really you giving each retest, which is a breath sample the device requests mid-drive.
After a failed or missed test
Each of these counts as a violation and blocks you from finishing:
- A startup breath sample that reads .04 or higher
- Skipping a retest or not passing one
- Not showing up for a service visit
Any one of them resets your clean period to the day it happened, according to the Department of Licensing. Only days with the device in place build up your time. Take it off, tamper with it or break the rules, and the clock stops.
Getting the device removed
Once your required period ends, ask your interlock company to file a certificate of compliance with the Department of Licensing. It tells the state your last 180 days in a row were free of violations. Convictions before July 23, 2017 get a shorter clean period of 4 months instead. Any missed appointment or failed test restarts that count, so keep every service visit.
Did Washington change its interlock law?
Yes. Washington enacted ESHB 1493 in 2024 as Chapter 306 of the 2024 Laws, and its changes to the interlock law (RCW 46.20.720) took effect January 1, 2026. Your installer or the Department of Licensing can confirm how it applies to your case.