Minnesota Ignition Interlock Requirements (2026): Costs & Approved Providers
Minnesota’s IID program lets any first-offense DWI driver keep driving during their revocation — it’s the only way to drive legally during that period. For second and subsequent offenses (within 20 years for incidents on/after July 1, 2025), participation is mandatory. Three certified providers serve the state, and qualifying low-income drivers pay capped rates through the DVS reduced-fee program.
| Offense term | DWI (Driving While Impaired) — Minnesota’s term for impaired driving |
| All-offender mandate? | No — first offenders choose IID to drive; 2nd+ offenders (within 20 years, incidents on/after 7/1/2025) are mandatory participants (171.306) |
| 1st offense — standard (BAC under 0.16) | IID optional: 90 days to drive during revocation (180 days if under 21). Alternative: sit out the full revocation with no driving |
| 1st offense — BAC 0.16+ or refusal | IID is the only route to any driving during revocation: 1-year IID period |
| 2nd offense (within 20 yrs, on/after 7/1/2025) | Mandatory: 2 years IID (171.178 subd. 8) |
| 3rd offense | Mandatory: 6 years IID |
| 4th or more | Mandatory: 10 years IID |
| Criminal Vehicular Homicide (CVH) | 6 years up to lifetime for three or more CVH convictions |
| Violation — 1st occurrence | +180 days added to term |
| Violation — 2nd occurrence | +1 year added to term |
| Violation — 3rd+ occurrence | +545 days added per occurrence |
| Positive test in final 90 days | +90 days added |
| DVS reinstatement fee | $680 ($250 fee + $430 surcharge under 171.29 subd. 2) + license application fee |
| Reduced-fee program | DVS Reduced Fee Application — certified manufacturers must serve indigent participants at capped rates (e.g., $40/service including device insurance per 2026 certification) |
| Who administers | Minnesota DVS — IID Program |
| Governing law | Minn. Stat. 169A.20; 171.306; 171.178; 171.29 subd. 2 |
How Minnesota’s IID program works
Minnesota’s IID program works similarly to Iowa’s and Illinois’s: the device is how you drive during your revocation period. First offenders at a standard BAC (under 0.16%) can choose to sit out the revocation or participate — if they want to drive, the IID is the only way. At BAC 0.16% or higher, or for a test refusal, the IID is the only route to driving at all during revocation.
Second and subsequent offenders (for incidents on/after July 1, 2025 within 20 years) do not get a choice — participation is mandatory, and the minimum IID terms escalate significantly: 2 years for a second offense, 6 years for a third, and 10 years for a fourth or beyond.
Minnesota DVS-certified providers
Only three of the six major national brands are certified in Minnesota. Guardian, Dräger/RoadGuard, and ALCOLOCK are not certified in Minnesota.
| 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 DVS certification at dps.mn.gov before signing. Guardian, Dräger/RoadGuard, and ALCOLOCK are not certified in Minnesota. If you qualify for the reduced-fee program, bring your current assistance program acceptance letter before installation.
What an interlock costs in Minnesota
| Installation (one time) | $70–150 |
| Monthly lease + monitoring | $60–100 |
| Service/calibration (per visit) | ~$40 capped for reduced-fee participants (including device insurance) |
| Removal | $50–75 |
| DVS reinstatement fee | $680 ($250 + $430 surcharge) |
| Plate early reinstatement (if impounded) | $100 + plate/registration fees |
Over a 90-day standard first-offense IID period, expect roughly $450–700 in device costs. Over a 2-year mandatory second-offense term, roughly $1,700–2,700. Estimate your exact cost →
How to enroll — 5 steps
- After your DWI revocation, apply to DVS to enroll in the IID Program. If you’re a 2nd+ offender (within 20 years, incident on/after 7/1/2025), participation is mandatory — apply promptly.
- If you qualify for the reduced-fee program, gather your current acceptance letter from a qualifying assistance program (SNAP, MA, SSI, WIC, etc.) and present it to DVS and your provider before installation.
- Contact one of the three DVS-certified providers, confirm their certification, and schedule installation. Bring your DVS enrollment paperwork and vehicle.
- Pay the $680 DVS reinstatement fee when prompted. Serve the full IID term — keep every calibration appointment and never drive after drinking.
- At the end of your term, DVS issues a full reinstatement letter authorizing removal. Use an authorized service center, then apply to DVS for a license without the IID restriction.
Violations — escalating additions
Minnesota uses a tiered violation-extension schedule. Qualifying violations include tampering, driving a non-equipped vehicle, missed calibration, 3 missed rolling retests in 7 days, and canceled-driver violations (missing 30 monthly tests):
- 1st violation occurrence: +180 days
- 2nd violation occurrence: +1 year
- 3rd+ violation occurrence: +545 days each
- Positive test in final 90 days: +90 days added
The escalating penalties make later violations disproportionately costly — a third violation on a 2-year term adds nearly another 2 years. Keep a clean record throughout the full term.