Utah DUI Ignition Interlock Requirements (2026): 0.05% BAC, Interlock Restricted Driver & Costs
Utah has the lowest DUI BAC threshold in the United States — 0.05% — and every alcohol-involved DUI conviction automatically makes the driver an “interlock restricted driver.” The 18-month first-offense IID clock doesn’t start at conviction — it starts the day you prove installation AND reinstate your driving privilege. Each violation adds 60 days (effective May 2023). Here’s how Utah’s program works.
| Offense term | DUI (Driving Under the Influence) — Utah Code 41-6a-502. Utah’s per se BAC limit is 0.05% — the lowest in the US. |
| All-offender? | Yes for alcohol-involved DUI. Any conviction under 41-6a-502 for alcohol makes the driver an “interlock restricted driver.” Drug-only DUI can be exempted if the court notifies DLD. |
| IID status designation | “Interlock restricted driver” — DLD adds this restriction to your driving record upon conviction |
| 1st offense — IID term | 18 months from the day the driver proves IID installation AND reinstates the driving privilege (41-6a-518.2(2)). The clock does NOT start at conviction. |
| 2nd offense (or prior within 10 yrs / under 21 / refusal / conviction for driving without required IID) | 2 years from installation + reinstatement |
| Felony DUI | 3 years from installation + reinstatement |
| Automobile homicide (76-5-207) | 4 years from installation + reinstatement |
| Violation penalty (eff. May 3, 2023) | Each DLD notice of a breath-test violation or failure to calibrate/monitor adds 60 days per violation (41-6a-518.2) |
| Early removal | Re-suspends the license until IID is reinstalled; requires another $85 reinstatement fee; extends the restriction by the number of days the IID was removed |
| Court indigency waiver | Court may waive or reduce IID costs on a judicial finding of indigency — the provider is required to absorb the cost (41-6a-518). Requires affidavit under 78A-2-302 + court finding. |
| DLD fees | $85 reinstatement fee + $262 administrative fee for alcohol/drug-related offense (DLD); vendor costs separate |
| SR-22 required? | Possibly — see below and Utah SR-22 page. DLD’s SR-22 page ties filings to Financial Responsibility Act violations and does not explicitly list a plain DUI as a trigger. Confirm with DLD or your attorney. |
| Who certifies providers | Utah DLD — dld.utah.gov/iid |
| Governing law | Utah Code 41-6a-502; 41-6a-518; 41-6a-518.2; 41-6a-503; 41-12a-411 |
When does the 18-month clock start?
This is the most common point of confusion in Utah’s IID program. Under 41-6a-518.2(2), the 18-month restriction period begins on the day the driver:
- Proves installation of a DLD-certified IID, AND
- Reinstates the driving privilege with DLD (pays the $85 reinstatement fee + $262 administrative fee)
Both must happen on the same day for the clock to start. If you reinstall the IID without reinstating your license, the clock doesn’t start. If you reinstate your license without an IID installed, you’re violating the interlock restriction. Coordinate installation and DLD reinstatement together.
Court indigency waiver — provider absorbs the cost
Utah’s indigency provision (41-6a-518) allows a court to waive or reduce IID costs for a driver found indigent — and unlike most state programs, the provider (not a state fund) is required to absorb the cost. To access this:
- Step 1: File an affidavit of indigency under Utah Code 78A-2-302 with the court
- Step 2: Obtain a court finding of indigency
- Step 3: The court orders the provider to provide the device at reduced or no cost — the provider must comply. The court may alternatively order partial or installment payments.
This relief must be obtained through the court before installation — it is not retroactive. If cost is a barrier, raise it with your attorney before your sentencing or shortly after your conviction.
Utah DLD-certified providers
Four providers appear on Utah DLD’s certified list. Dräger (as a standalone brand) is not certified; however, RoadGuard (Dräger’s interlock brand) is listed. Guardian appears only in DLD’s service-center business list — confirm whether it operates as a standalone certified vendor before signing.
| 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 |
| ALCOLOCK | $60–90 | Statewide | 866-700-9300 |
Confirm current DLD certification at dld.utah.gov/iid before signing. RoadGuard (Dräger’s brand) is also certified in Utah; Dräger as a standalone brand is not. Guardian appears in DLD service-center records but confirm certified vendor status before signing. Monthly estimates are market ranges. Court indigency waiver requires a court finding before installation.
What an interlock costs in Utah
| Installation (one time) | $70–150 |
| Monthly lease + monitoring | $60–100 (provider absorbs for court-found indigent) |
| Removal | $50–75 |
| DLD reinstatement fee | $85 |
| DLD administrative fee (alcohol/drug offense) | $262 |
Over an 18-month first-offense term: roughly $1,400–2,100 before DLD fees (device only). Court indigency waiver can eliminate device costs entirely if granted. Estimate your exact cost →
How to get installed — 5 steps
- After your DUI conviction, if cost is a barrier, file an affidavit of indigency under 78A-2-302 and seek a court finding of indigency. This must happen before installation — the court then orders the provider to absorb costs. Raise this with your attorney promptly.
- Contact a DLD-certified provider, confirm current certification, and schedule installation. Coordinate the installation date with your DLD reinstatement.
- On the same day: have the IID installed AND reinstate your driving privilege with DLD (pay the $85 reinstatement + $262 administrative fee). The 18-month clock starts only when both occur.
- Drive with complete compliance throughout. Each reported violation adds 60 days. Early removal re-suspends your license, requires another reinstatement fee, and adds the days removed.
- After 18 months (or longer if violations occurred), the DLD restriction is lifted. Do not remove the device early under any circumstances without DLD authorization.