West Virginia DUI & Ignition Interlock (2026): Test and Lock Program, Costs & How to Enroll
West Virginia does not publish a public vendor list — DMV mails an authorized provider list after you apply. Unlike most states, WV DMV does not maintain a publicly searchable list of approved IID vendors. After you complete your Test and Lock Program application and pay the $100 fee, DMV mails you a list of authorized providers. Do not contact providers or install a device before receiving this list — only authorized providers satisfy the program requirement. The providers on this page (Intoxalock, Smart Start, LifeSafer) self-report serving West Virginia, but their current authorization status cannot be independently verified without DMV confirmation.
West Virginia’s ignition interlock program — called the Motor Vehicle Alcohol and Drug Test and Lock Program — is structured differently from most states. For a first DUI offense, an IID is the statutory alternative to serving the full revocation period, not an automatic mandate. For repeat offenders with a prior within 10 years, participation is mandatory. The program is administered by the WV DMV Commissioner. Here’s how each scenario works.
West Virginia Test and Lock Program at a glance
| Offense term | DUI (Driving Under the Influence) — W. Va. Code 17C-5-2 |
| Program name | Motor Vehicle Alcohol and Drug Test and Lock Program (17C-5A-3a) |
| All-offender? | No strict mandate for first offense — IID is the statutory alternative to serving the full revocation. For repeat offenders with a prior DUI within 10 years, participation is mandatory (17C-5A-3a). |
| 1st offense, BAC 0.08–0.15% | 6-month revocation OR: 15-day revocation + 125 days IID on the Test and Lock Program (17C-5A-3a) |
| 1st offense, BAC 0.15%+ | Longer revocation OR: 45-day revocation + 270 days IID (17C-5A-3a) |
| 1st offense, test refusal | Longer revocation OR: 45-day revocation + 1 year IID (17C-5A-3a) |
| Child passenger (under 16, unemancipated) | 1-year revocation OR: 2-month revocation + 10 months IID (17C-5-2(k); 17C-5A-3a) |
| Repeat offense (prior within 10 years) | Mandatory participation — minimum 1-year revocation + 2 years IID (17C-5A-3a) |
| 3rd+ offense | Lifetime revocation “or for a period conditioned on participation in the test and lock program” (17C-5-2(m)). Specific 3rd-offense IID term not separately stated in statute — the 2-year repeat minimum appears to apply; confirm with DMV or your attorney. |
| Safety & Treatment Program | Must enroll in and complete the WV Safety & Treatment Program as a condition of reinstatement. Level I enrollment: $400. State Indigent Program covers S&T fees for qualifying drivers (federal poverty guidelines). |
| Indigency waiver — IID | Installation and removal fees waived for persons determined indigent by the Division (17C-5A-3a(a)(5); C.S.R. 91-5-16). Does not cover monthly device lease. |
| DMV application fee | $100 non-refundable application fee (C.S.R. 91-5-16). Pay before DMV mails the authorized vendor list. |
| Monthly device fee | Set by the WV DMV Commissioner — the specific amount is not published in public-facing materials. Confirm with your DMV-authorized vendor after receiving the provider list. |
| Violations — minor | Frequent high BAC readings, failure to complete Safety & Treatment Program — may extend term up to 2 months or a period equal to the original term |
| Violations — major | Tampering, driving a non-equipped vehicle, new alcohol offense — disqualifies from program and requires restart from the beginning |
| Reinstatement | Requires completion of Safety & Treatment Program, expiration of the full mandatory device period, and payment of all DMV and service-provider fees (C.S.R. 91-5-16) |
| SR-22 required? | Commonly reported, but not confirmed on any WV DMV page or in W. Va. Code Ch. 17D as of August 2026. Confirm SR-22 requirements with WV DMV or your attorney — see WV insurance page. |
| Official resource | WV DMV — Safety & Treatment Program FAQ |
| Governing law | W. Va. Code 17C-5-2; 17C-5A-3a; 17C-5A-1a; C.S.R. 91-5-16 |
Two paths: IID program vs. serving the full revocation
West Virginia’s first-offense framework is a genuine choice — not an automatic mandate:
- Serve the full revocation: Wait out the statutory revocation period (6 months for standard first offense, longer for BAC 0.15%+ or refusal) without driving. No IID required. Reinstating after may still require the Safety & Treatment Program.
- Enroll in the Test and Lock Program: Pay $100, receive the vendor list, install an IID, and serve a shorter hard revocation (15 or 45 days depending on BAC) followed by the IID term. You can drive during the IID period. Must also complete Safety & Treatment.
For most working drivers, the IID program is worth it — trading 6 months of no driving for 15 days hard suspension plus ~4 months with the device is a significant practical benefit. For repeat offenders within 10 years, there is no choice — participation is mandatory.
IID term by scenario
| Scenario | Hard revocation | IID term |
|---|---|---|
| 1st offense, BAC 0.08–0.15% | 15 days | 125 days (~4 months) |
| 1st offense, BAC 0.15%+ | 45 days | 270 days (~9 months) |
| 1st offense, test refusal | 45 days | 1 year |
| Child passenger (under 16) | 2 months | 10 months |
| Repeat offense (prior within 10 years) — mandatory | 1 year minimum | 2 years minimum |
Major violations disqualify you and require restarting from the beginning. West Virginia distinguishes minor violations (frequent high BAC readings, failing to complete Safety & Treatment — extensions of up to 2 months or a period equal to the original term) from major violations (tampering, driving a non-equipped vehicle, new alcohol offense). A major violation disqualifies you from the program entirely and requires a restart from the beginning — including the hard revocation period. Avoid driving any vehicle without the IID installed under any circumstances.
Providers — important notice
WV DMV does not publish a public vendor list. Confirm authorized providers with DMV — not this page. The WV DMV application states that after you apply and pay the $100 fee, DMV mails you a list of authorized providers. There is no publicly searchable approved-vendor database. The providers below self-report serving West Virginia but their current authorization in the Test and Lock Program cannot be independently verified. Do not install a device from any provider before receiving DMV’s authorized vendor list — an unauthorized provider will not satisfy the program requirement.
Providers that self-report serving West Virginia (verify authorization with WV DMV after approval):
- Intoxalock — 888-283-5899 — intoxalock.com
- Smart Start — 800-831-3299 — smartstartinc.com
- LifeSafer — 800-634-3077 — lifesafer.com
Confirm all providers against the DMV-mailed authorized vendor list before signing. Monthly device rates are set by the WV DMV Commissioner and not published publicly — confirm costs with your authorized vendor.
What the program costs in West Virginia
| WV DMV application fee (non-refundable) | $100 |
| Installation fee | Market rate (waived if found indigent by Division) |
| Monthly device lease | Set by Commissioner — not published; confirm with authorized vendor |
| Removal fee | Market rate (waived if found indigent by Division) |
| Safety & Treatment Program — Level I | $400 (State Indigent Program available for qualifying drivers) |
Total program cost depends on the Commissioner-set monthly rate (not publicly available) and your specific IID term. Indigent waiver covers installation and removal only — not monthly lease fees. Estimate your exact cost →
How to enroll — 5 steps
- Decide whether to enroll in the Test and Lock Program or serve the full revocation. For first offenses, weigh the IID term against the full revocation period. For repeat offenders within 10 years, enrollment is mandatory.
- Apply through WV DMV. Pay the $100 non-refundable application fee. If you believe you qualify for the indigency waiver (installation/removal fees), raise this with DMV during the application process.
- Wait for DMV to mail you the authorized vendor list. Do not contact or install from any provider before receiving this list.
- Contact an authorized provider from DMV’s mailed list, confirm the Commissioner-set monthly rate, and schedule installation. Serve the hard revocation period (15 or 45 days depending on scenario) before driving with the IID.
- Enroll in and complete the WV Safety & Treatment Program. Maintain clean compliance — a major violation (tampering, driving without IID, new alcohol offense) disqualifies you and requires a full restart. After the mandatory IID period, pay all remaining fees and apply for full reinstatement.
SR-22 is commonly required after a West Virginia DUI — but not confirmed from official WV DMV sources. Many commercial sources cite SR-22 as required; however, as of August 2026 we have not located this requirement on any WV DMV page or in W. Va. Code Ch. 17D. Confirm your insurance filing obligations with WV DMV or your attorney. See West Virginia DUI insurance page →
West Virginia DUI interlock FAQ
Is an ignition interlock mandatory for a first DUI in West Virginia?
Not automatically — it’s the statutory alternative to serving the full revocation period. A first-offense DUI driver can choose to serve the full 6-month revocation (or longer for BAC 0.15%+ or refusal) without an IID, or enroll in the Test and Lock Program for a shorter hard revocation plus an IID period. For repeat offenders with a prior DUI within 10 years, participation is mandatory.
How do I find out which providers are authorized in West Virginia?
WV DMV does not publish a public vendor list. After you complete your Test and Lock Program application and pay the $100 fee, DMV mails you the current list of authorized providers. Do not install from any provider before receiving this list — only authorized providers satisfy the program requirement. The providers listed on this page self-report serving WV, but current authorization must be confirmed from the DMV-mailed list.
What is the difference between a minor and major violation in WV?
Minor violations (frequent high BAC readings, failure to complete Safety & Treatment) may extend your term up to 2 months or by a period equal to the original term. Major violations (tampering with the device, driving a non-equipped vehicle, or committing a new alcohol offense) disqualify you from the program and require a full restart — including the hard revocation period. Avoid any behavior that could constitute a major violation.
What is the Safety & Treatment Program and why is it required?
West Virginia’s Safety & Treatment Program is a separate condition of reinstatement from the IID requirement. Level I enrollment costs $400. You must complete the program before your license can be fully reinstated, regardless of how well you comply with the IID. A State Indigent Program covers S&T fees for drivers meeting federal poverty guidelines. Enroll early — failure to complete S&T is treated as a minor violation.
Does West Virginia require SR-22 after a DUI?
SR-22 is commonly cited in commercial sources for WV DUI cases. However, as of August 2026 we have not confirmed this requirement from any official WV DMV page or in W. Va. Code Ch. 17D. Confirm your insurance filing obligation with WV DMV or your attorney before assuming SR-22 is or isn’t required. See our WV DUI insurance page.
Sources:
WV DMV — Safety & Treatment Program FAQ;
W. Va. Code 17C-5-2; 17C-5A-3a; C.S.R. 91-5-16.
Last verified August 2026.
Advertising disclosure: We may be compensated when you contact a provider through our numbers or links. Provider WV authorization is unverified — use only DMV-mailed vendor list. Content is informational only — not legal advice.