Maryland Ignition Interlock Requirements (2026): Costs & Approved Providers
Maryland’s Noah’s Law — effective October 1, 2016 — makes the Ignition Interlock System Program effectively mandatory for every DUI and DWI conviction or probation before judgment. If your BAC was 0.15% or higher, or you refused the test, the interlock is the only way to keep driving at all. Income-qualifying drivers pay approximately 50% of device fees. Here’s how the program works and what to expect.
| Offense terms | DUI (21-902(a), BAC 0.08+ per se) and DWI (21-902(b), lesser impairment standard) — both trigger the Program under Noah’s Law |
| All-offender? | Yes — effectively, since Noah’s Law (eff. 10/1/2016): any DUI or DWI conviction or Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) requires participation (Md. Transp. §16-404.1) |
| BAC 0.15% or test refusal | Interlock is the only way to keep any driving privileges during suspension (§16-205.1); must enroll to drive at all |
| Duration — 1st participation | 6 months (180 days) |
| Duration — 2nd participation | 1 year |
| Duration — 3rd+ participation | 3 years (courts may order longer) |
| Removal requirement | Serve full term + no violations in the final 3 consecutive months; provider submits final data download; MVA issues completion letter; driver visits MVA to drop the restriction |
| Standard violation | Each month containing a violation may add 30 days to the term |
| Serious violation | Removal from Program entirely — re-entry restarts the full term with no credit for time served (§16-404.1(p)(2)) |
| Indigent program | MVA may waive $47 participation fee (Form DC-212); authorized providers must offer ~50% off device and rental rates for qualifying participants |
| Eligibility | Current or recent (past 12 months) recipient of medical assistance, SNAP, TCA, SSI, TEMHA, or PAA; certified on Form DC-212 |
| MVA participation fee | $47 (waivable for qualifying participants) |
| SR-22 required? | No — Maryland uses FR-19/eFR-19 insurance certification, not SR-22 |
| Who administers | Maryland MVA — Ignition Interlock Program |
| Governing law | Md. Transp. §16-404.1; §21-902; §16-205.1; §27-107.1 |
Noah’s Law: what changed in 2016
Before October 1, 2016, Maryland’s interlock program was optional for most first-offense DUI/DWI drivers. Noah’s Law eliminated that option. Now, any conviction or Probation Before Judgment under Transportation Article 21-902 — covering both DUI (BAC 0.08+) and DWI (lesser impairment) — requires enrollment in the Ignition Interlock System Program. Maryland also uses both “DUI” and “DWI” as distinct offenses; both trigger the program.
If your BAC was 0.15% or higher, or you refused the chemical test, the stakes are higher: the interlock becomes the only way to maintain any driving privileges during your administrative suspension under §16-205.1. Without enrolling, you cannot drive at all during that period.
Maryland MVA-approved providers
Four major national providers are on Maryland’s approved list. Dräger and ALCOLOCK are not on the Maryland list.
| Provider | Monthly est. | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intoxalock | $60–100 | Statewide | 888-283-5899 |
| Smart Start | $70–100 | Statewide | 800-831-3299 |
| LifeSafer | $65–95 | Statewide | 800-634-3077 |
| Guardian Interlock | $65–95 | Statewide | 800-499-0994 |
Confirm current MVA approval at mva.maryland.gov before signing. Dräger/RoadGuard and ALCOLOCK are not on Maryland’s approved list. If income-eligible, submit Form DC-212 before installation to receive the ~50% discount on device rates.
What an interlock costs in Maryland
| Installation (one time) | $70–150 (~50% off with DC-212) |
| Monthly device rental + monitoring | $60–100 (~50% off with DC-212) |
| Removal | $50–75 |
| MVA participation fee | $47 (waivable with DC-212) |
Over a 6-month first-participation term, expect roughly $500–800 in device costs before MVA fees (or approximately half with the indigent program). Estimate your exact cost →
How to enroll in Maryland’s Program — 5 steps
- After your DUI/DWI conviction or PBJ, apply to Maryland MVA for enrollment in the Ignition Interlock System Program. Pay the $47 participation fee (or submit Form DC-212 to have it waived).
- MVA will issue an interlock-restricted license. If income-eligible, submit Form DC-212 before contacting a provider — the ~50% discount must be arranged before installation.
- Contact an MVA-approved provider, confirm their current approval status, and schedule installation. Bring your restricted license and MVA enrollment paperwork.
- Serve the full Program term. Keep every calibration appointment and maintain a clean record throughout, especially in the final 3 months.
- At the end of your term: your provider submits a final data download to MVA, MVA issues a completion letter, and you visit MVA to remove the restriction from your license.
Violations and the 3-month clean window
Maryland has two violation tiers with very different consequences:
- Standard violation: Each calendar month containing a violation may add 30 days to your Program term. Multiple violations in a single month still count as one month’s addition.
- Serious violation: Results in removal from the Program entirely under §16-404.1(p)(2). Re-entry requires restarting your full Program term from zero — no credit for time already served.
To qualify for removal, you must complete your full term and have no violations in the final 3 consecutive months. A violation in month 5 of a 6-month term doesn’t just add 30 days — it means you must then complete 3 more clean months before you’re eligible to leave the Program. Plan to be especially vigilant in the home stretch.