Ignition interlock in Wisconsin
When a Wisconsin court orders an ignition interlock in your OWI (operating while intoxicated) case, an approved provider has to install it, and your required time doesn't begin until you hold a license again. The device itself is a breath tester that gets wired into your vehicle, and the engine won't start until it gets a clean reading from you.
- Agency in charge
- Wisconsin DMV
- Companies installing
- 5
- Usual length
- a year or more, depending on what your court decides
- Timer begins
- the moment Wisconsin hands you a regular or occupational license
- Alcohol limit for starting the car
- your breath has to read under 0.02 for the car to start
- Typical cost for a year
- somewhere between $790 and $1,110
5 interlock companies in Wisconsin
| 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 |
 Dräger (RoadGuard Interlock) | Call for a quoteFirst month free | 1.7 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.
Which drivers in Wisconsin get ordered onto one?
Check your court order or the letter that came with your license, since that's where it says whether you need one. Wisconsin judges are required to order an interlock in some OWI cases, per the Wisconsin DMV.
There are two groups that always get the order. If it's your first offense and your blood alcohol level came in at 0.15 or higher, the judge must order an interlock. The rule also covers anyone who turns down chemical testing during a traffic stop.
A medical condition or anything else about you won't get you out of a mandatory order. If your paperwork says a device is required, then it's required.
Vehicles that need a device
Every vehicle you own or register needs the interlock, unless the judge has exempted some of them. Say a vehicle is still registered in your name but you've sold it or stopped driving it. You'd need to reach out to the convicting court to have that one exempted. Until that happens, it's still on your list.
Motorcycles, mopeds and autocycles are exempt from the requirement.
Why can't you just wait it out?
The court that convicted you decides how long the restriction runs, and it's typically a year at minimum. That period doesn't start until Wisconsin gives you driving privileges again, either a standard license or an occupational one, after the conviction. You can decide not to drive at all, but the requirement won't expire on its own.
Approved interlock companies in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin DMV approves devices from four companies: Low Cost, Smart Start, #1 A LifeSafer, Inc. and Intoxalock.
You lease the device from a provider, which installs it for the restriction period set by the court. Looking at published prices, Intoxalock starts at $54.99 a month, and Smart Start starts at $59.99 a month. LifeSafer charges anywhere from $50 up to $120 monthly. Low Cost Interlock advertises a monthly rate of $78.76, along with a $40 sign-up fee, an installation charge between $100 and $250, and $129.50 to take it back off.
What will you pay across the whole restriction?
MADD puts the average cost at $70 to $150 to install, then a monthly charge of $60 to $80 while the device stays in your car. Over a 12-month restriction, that works out to roughly $790 to $1,110 altogether. A 24-month restriction runs about $1,510 to $2,070.
Your actual bill depends on which company you pick, how long your order lasts and how many of your cars are covered by it.
A cheaper option when money is tight
If your income in a year comes in under 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, a reduced price may be available to you. The court that convicted you handles eligibility, so you'll be working with that court before any discount kicks in.
The parts of the device and what they do
The setup includes a handset you blow into, a camera fixed inside the vehicle, a cellular modem that transmits your results wirelessly and a control unit tucked beneath the dashboard. Breath goes into the mouthpiece, and the car starts only if your reading comes in under 0.02.
What happens if the device comes off early
If you skip the installation, take the device off before you're supposed to or tamper with it, your driving privileges could be cancelled. The way to finish the requirement is to leave everything in place and running until your court's period runs out.
Ready to get this done? Give us a call and we'll pass your request to an interlock company that serves Wisconsin, so they can set up your appointment.