South Carolina DUI Ignition Interlock Requirements (2026): All-Offender Since 2024, Costs & Providers
South Carolina became an all-offender ignition interlock state on May 19, 2024 — every DUI and DUAC conviction with an offense date on or after that date requires IID enrollment to obtain a license. The state uses a unique point-based violation system, offers an Ignition Interlock Device Fund for low-income drivers, and is administered by the SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS). Here’s how the program works.
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South Carolina DUI interlock requirements at a glance
| Offense terms | DUI (Driving Under the Influence, 56-5-2930); DUAC (Driving with Unlawful Alcohol Concentration — per se 0.08%+ offense under 56-5-2933). Both carry the same IID consequences. |
| All-offender? | Yes — effective May 19, 2024 (2023 Act No. 55). All DUI/DUAC convictions with an offense date on or after 5/19/2024 require IID enrollment to obtain a license. Pre-5/19/2024 first offenses under 0.15% BAC had optional IID. |
| Pre-May 2024 1st offense (BAC under 0.15%) | IID was optional under prior law — not required for license under the old statute |
| 1st offense — IID minimum term | 6 months after the suspension period (56-5-2990; SCDPPPS: “6 months after the suspension period”) |
| 2nd offense — IID minimum term | 2 years minimum |
| 3rd offense — IID minimum term | 3 years minimum (4 years if 3rd offense is within 5 years of 1st) |
| Child endangerment (56-5-2947) | IID enrollment required with device affixed for 3 months, plus DMV suspension |
| IID administrator | SC Dept. of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) — ppp.sc.gov/ignition-interlock |
| SC license types | “II” restricted license (SCDMV); $100 temporary alcohol license; $100 provisional license |
| Indigent IID Fund | 56-5-2941(F) — pays installation and standard device costs for qualifying indigent participants. Funded by up to $30/month per user remitted by certified manufacturers. |
| Indigent eligibility | Affidavit of indigency + SCDPPPS Form 1307 financial assessment. Presumed indigent if net family income is at or below HHS Poverty Guidelines. Renewed every 6 months. |
| SCDMV reinstatement fee | $100 per suspension |
| SR-22 required? | Yes — 3 years from the date of suspension (S.C. Code 56-9-620) |
| Governing law | S.C. Code 56-5-2941; 56-5-2930; 56-5-2990; 56-5-2947; 56-9-620 |
Your offense date determines which law applies. South Carolina’s all-offender IID mandate took effect May 19, 2024. If your offense date was before that date, the prior law applies — first offenses at BAC under 0.15% were not required to install an IID under the old statute. If your offense date was May 19, 2024 or later, the new law applies and IID enrollment is required for any DUI or DUAC conviction regardless of BAC. Confirm which law applies to your case with your attorney.
South Carolina’s point-based violation system
South Carolina uses a unique tiered point system for IID violations — one of the most detailed violation frameworks in the country. Points accumulate based on test results and compliance failures:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Failed startup/retest: BAC 0.02–0.039% | 0.5 points |
| Failed startup/retest: BAC 0.04–0.149% | 1 point |
| Failed startup/retest: BAC 0.15%+ | 2 points |
| Failed/missed rolling retest or missed 60-day inspection | 1 point |
| Tampering with device | 1.5 points |
Consequences by point total:
- 2–2.5 points: +2 months added to IID term
- 3–3.5 points: +4 months added + mandatory reassessment
- 4+ points: 6-month license suspension + mandatory treatment
Points do not automatically reset — avoid accumulation throughout your entire IID term. A 0.15%+ failed test alone triggers 2 points, immediately putting you in the 2-month extension range.
Ignition Interlock Device Fund — free IID for qualifying drivers
South Carolina’s IID Fund (56-5-2941(F)) is funded by manufacturers remitting up to $30/month per enrolled user. For qualifying indigent drivers, the fund pays installation costs and standard monthly device fees. To access it:
- Eligibility: Net family income at or below HHS Poverty Guidelines (presumed indigent at that level)
- How to apply: Submit an Affidavit of Indigency and complete SCDPPPS Form 1307 financial assessment
- Duration: Approved in 6-month renewable periods — must re-certify every 6 months
SCDPPPS-certified providers
Three major national providers are on SCDPPPS’s certified list. Guardian, Dräger, and ALCOLOCK are not on the SC list. ADS also appears as a certified provider on the SCDPPPS page.
| 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 |
Confirm current SCDPPPS certification at ppp.sc.gov before signing. Guardian, Dräger, and ALCOLOCK are not on the SC list. ADS also certified. Monthly estimates are market ranges. If applying for the IID Fund, apply through SCDPPPS before installation.
What an interlock costs in South Carolina
| Installation (one time) | $70–150 (IID Fund covers for qualifying indigent) |
| Monthly lease + monitoring | $60–100 (IID Fund covers standard costs for qualifying indigent) |
| Removal | $50–75 |
| SCDMV reinstatement fee | $100 per suspension |
| Temporary alcohol license | $100 |
| Provisional license | $100 |
Over a 6-month minimum first-offense term: roughly $550–850 before DMV fees. IID Fund covers installation and standard monthly costs for qualifying indigent drivers. Estimate your exact cost →
How to enroll and get installed — 5 steps
- After your DUI/DUAC conviction, enroll in the SCDPPPS Ignition Interlock Program. If you may qualify for the IID Fund (income at or below HHS Poverty Guidelines), submit your Affidavit of Indigency and Form 1307 to SCDPPPS before contacting a provider.
- Contact a SCDPPPS-certified provider, confirm current certification, and schedule installation. Bring your enrollment documentation.
- SCDMV issues your “II” restricted license. Pay the $100 temporary alcohol license and provisional license fees as applicable.
- Drive with clean compliance. Understand the point system — a single 0.15%+ failed test adds 2 points immediately. Attend all 60-day inspections. Avoid any tampering.
- After completing your full term with no unresolved violations, pass the final inspection. SCDPPPS notifies SCDMV and issues a completion letter, then the service center removes the device. Pay the $100 reinstatement fee.
All-offender since May 2024. Enroll in SCDPPPS and book installation — apply for the IID Fund if you qualify.
Book installation
South Carolina requires SR-22 insurance for 3 years — from the date of suspension. See South Carolina SR-22 costs and cheapest carriers →
South Carolina DUI interlock FAQ
When did South Carolina become all-offender for IID?
May 19, 2024, under 2023 Act No. 55. Any DUI or DUAC conviction with an offense date on or after that date requires IID enrollment to obtain a license. Prior to that date, first offenses at BAC under 0.15% were not required to install an IID. If your offense date straddles that line, confirm with your attorney which law applies.
What is DUAC in South Carolina?
DUAC (Driving with Unlawful Alcohol Concentration) is a separate per se DUI offense under S.C. Code 56-5-2933, charged when a driver’s BAC is 0.08% or higher regardless of impairment. It carries the same IID consequences as DUI under 56-5-2930. Both offenses require IID enrollment under the all-offender law effective May 19, 2024.
How does South Carolina’s point violation system work?
Points accumulate based on test results: 0.5 pts (0.02–0.039% failed test), 1 pt (0.04–0.149% or missed retest/inspection), 1.5 pts (tampering), 2 pts (0.15%+ failed test). Consequences: 2–2.5 pts = +2 months; 3–3.5 pts = +4 months + assessment; 4+ pts = 6-month suspension + treatment. A single 0.15%+ failed test reaches the 2-point threshold immediately.
How do I qualify for South Carolina’s IID Fund?
Submit an Affidavit of Indigency and complete SCDPPPS Form 1307 financial assessment. You are presumed indigent if your net family income is at or below HHS Poverty Guidelines. Approved in 6-month renewable periods — you must re-certify every 6 months to maintain fund coverage. Apply through SCDPPPS before contacting a provider.
Which providers are certified in South Carolina?
Three major national providers are on SCDPPPS’s certified list: Intoxalock, Smart Start, and LifeSafer. ADS is also certified. Guardian, Dräger, and ALCOLOCK are not on the SC list. Confirm current certification at ppp.sc.gov before signing.
Sources:
SCDPPPS — Ignition Interlock Program;
S.C. Code 56-5-2941; 56-5-2930; 56-5-2990; 56-5-2947; 56-9-620.
Last verified August 2026.
Advertising disclosure: We may be compensated when you contact a provider through our numbers or links. This doesn’t affect our rankings or information. Content is informational only — not legal advice. Verify SCDPPPS certification before installation.