Smart Start vs LifeSafer (2026): Published Prices, Side by Side
Both install court-approved car breathalyzers nationwide and both can usually book you within days. The difference is what each one publishes in writing, and what that adds up to over your term.
LifeSafer publishes a lower band on both lines — $70 to $150 to install against Smart Start’s $150 floor, and $50 to $120 a month against $89.99 and up. It also guarantees same-day installation or refunds the fee.
Smart Start costs more at the bottom of the range but tells you the exact figure for your state before you call, and doesn’t tie you to a term. If certainty matters more than the last $20 a month, that’s worth something.
Both quote by state, vehicle and service center. The spread between two quotes for the same car is often wider than the spread between the brands, so make both calls.
Side by side
Published rates only. Where a company doesn’t publish a figure, this table says so rather than filling the gap.
| Compare | Smart Start | LifeSafer |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | $690–$810 | $370–$870 |
| 12 months | $1,230–$1,470 | $670–$1,590 |
| 24 months | $2,310–$2,790 | $1,270–$3,030 |
| Monthly lease | From $89.99, by state | $50–$120 |
| Installation | From $150 | $70–$150 |
| Calibration | From $25 per visit | About $25 per visit |
| Removal | Not published | Said to be included in its quoted pricing |
| Other fees | Not published | Not published |
| Contract | No long-term contract | Not published |
| Coverage | Statewide networks; the one brand on every state list we could read | Nationwide; absent from a few state lists |
| Paying | Monthly, via client portal | Online, phone or check |
| Free quote | Call | Call |
Totals are installation plus monthly lease across the term, at published rates. They exclude calibration visits, removal, state fees and violation charges, and none of them is a quote. Run your own numbers →
What the numbers don’t show
The published floor isn’t your price
Both quote per vehicle and per service center. A 2012 sedan with standard wiring installs at the bottom of the range; a hybrid, a diesel truck or anything with an aftermarket alarm takes longer to wire and costs more. Ask each for the all-in monthly, the install fee for your vehicle, and the removal fee — that last one is the number people forget to ask about and argue over later.
Where you’ll drive every month or two
Calibration visits fall every 30 to 90 days depending on your state, for the whole term. Ten extra miles each way, a dozen times over, outweighs a few dollars of monthly difference. Ask each company for the nearest service center to your ZIP and how far out it’s booking.
Fees that appear later
Lockout resets, vehicle transfers, missed appointments and late device returns are where surprise bills come from, and not every provider publishes them. Get the removal process and the final month’s billing in writing before installation.
The devices themselves
Both use fuel-cell sensors, both require a startup test and rolling retests while driving, and both report failed tests and missed calibrations to your monitoring authority. Day to day there is little practical difference. Price and distance are the decision.
Which one to call
Call Smart Start if…
- You want a state-specific rate published in advance
- You want no long-term contract
- You’re in a state where few brands are approved
Call LifeSafer if…
- You want the lower published price
- You need installation today
- You’d rather have calibration and removal quoted together
Common questions
Is Smart Start or LifeSafer cheaper?
How much will the whole term cost?
Can I switch providers partway through my term?
Do the devices work differently?
How fast can I get installed?
- Smart Start state cost pages (installation from $150; lease from $89.99 in Texas, $99.99 in Pennsylvania, $109.99 in Washington; service from $25): www.smartstartinc.com
- LifeSafer published pricing (installation $70–$150, lease $50–$120, calibration about $25 every 30–90 days, same-day appointment or installation refunded): www.lifesafer.com