Ignition Interlock: The Device That Travels with the SR-22
- An SR-22 is a form your insurer files with the state — it is not a separate insurance policy.
- Expect a one-time filing fee (often $15–$50) plus a premium increase that reflects the underlying violation.
- You must keep the policy continuous for the state's full requirement period, usually 1–3 years.
An ignition interlock device is an in-car breathalyzer that prevents the engine from starting above a set blood-alcohol threshold, and most states order it alongside the SR-22 after a DUI — sometimes for first offenses, usually for repeat or high-BAC cases. It is a separate requirement with separate costs: installation ($70–$150), monthly rental ($60–$100), calibration, and removal fees, typically $1,000 to $2,500 total over a six-month to two-year period. The practical interplay with insurance: the interlock does not change the SR-22 filing itself, but driving a vehicle without the ordered device installed — or tampering with it — violates the reinstatement conditions and can restart both the interlock and the filing clock. Inform your insurer the device is installed (some carriers discount it as a safety feature); never let it lapse mid-term. State programs vary on duration, provider restrictions, and whether work vehicles are exempt — the DMV letter or interlock vendor lists your case’s specifics.