California Ignition Interlock Requirements (2026): Costs & Approved Providers
California gives most first-time DUI drivers a choice: install an ignition interlock and keep full driving privileges for about 6 months, or take a restricted license for a full year limited to work and DUI programs. For repeat offenders and injury DUIs, the interlock is mandatory. Here’s how to navigate the decision, what it costs, and who’s approved statewide.
| Standard 1st offense | Elective — choose IID restricted license (~6 months, full driving) OR 1-year work/program restricted license (VC §23575.3(h); §13352.4) |
| Injury DUI (1st) | 12 months mandatory (VC §23153) |
| 2nd offense | 12 months mandatory |
| 3rd offense | 24 months mandatory |
| 4th+ offense | 36 months mandatory |
| Injury DUI (2nd) | 24 months mandatory |
| Injury DUI (3rd or 4th+) | 36 months mandatory |
| Child passenger (under 14) | No IID enhancement — adds jail time only (VC §23572) |
| Who administers | California DMV (courts may also order independently under VC §23575) |
| DMV fees | $103 administrative service fee + $125 DUI license reissue fee |
| Indigent assistance | Yes — statutory sliding scale based on FPL (VC §23575.3(k)) |
| Governing law | Cal. Veh. Code §23575.3; §23575; §13352.4; §23572 |
| Offense term | DUI (Driving Under the Influence) |
Elective vs. mandatory — which applies to you?
For a standard first DUI (no injury, no prior), California gives you a genuine choice between two restricted license paths:
- IID restricted license (~6 months): Install a device, get full driving privileges everywhere for about 6 months. Once the term is served with no violations, full license reinstated.
- Work/program restricted license (1 year): No device, but you can only drive to work, school, and your DUI program — nowhere else — for a full year.
For most working Californians with family or errands, the IID path is the better deal: it’s shorter, offers full driving, and gets your license fully reinstated sooner. The work restriction path only makes sense if you have genuinely minimal driving needs or can’t afford the device even with the indigency program.
The interlock is mandatory — no choice — for injury DUIs and all second or later convictions.
California DMV-approved providers
All six major national providers are approved statewide by California DMV.
| 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 |
| RoadGuard (Dräger) | $65–95 | Statewide | 833-545-0368 |
| ALCOLOCK | $60–90 | Statewide | 866-700-9300 |
Monthly estimates are market ranges. Confirm your provider’s current approval on the CA DMV IID page before signing. If you qualify for income-based assistance, ask your provider about the VC §23575.3(k) sliding scale before paying full price.
What an interlock costs in California
| Installation (one time) | $70–150 |
| Monthly lease + monitoring | $60–100 |
| Removal | $50–100 |
| DMV admin service fee | $103 |
| DUI license reissue fee | $125 |
Over a standard 6-month first-offense term, expect roughly $700–1,000 in device costs before DMV fees. For a 12-month mandatory term, roughly $1,000–1,500. Income-qualified drivers pay as little as 10% of those costs under the state’s sliding-scale program. Estimate your exact cost →
How to get installed — 5 steps
- Decide your path: IID restricted license (full driving, ~6 months) or work/program restricted license (1 year, limited). For most people, the IID path is better.
- If you choose the IID path, apply to DMV for your IID restricted license, then call an approved provider to schedule installation.
- Bring your vehicle and DMV paperwork. Installation takes 60–90 minutes. Ask your provider about income-based cost reduction if applicable.
- Submit installation proof to DMV to activate your restricted license.
- Serve the full term with no violations. Any noncompliance period is not credited toward your term (VC §23575.3(j)).
Violations that extend your term
Tampering, bypass attempts, and three or more failed tests are reported to DMV under VC §23575.3(f). Any period of noncompliance is added to the end of your term — it is not credited (VC §23575.3(j)). This means a violation in month 4 of a 6-month term doesn’t reset the clock to zero, but the noncompliance window is tacked on at the end. Keep every calibration and never miss a rolling retest prompt.