Colorado ignition interlock & DUI requirements

What Colorado law requires

Colorado's ignition interlock, SR-22, and reinstatement rules are set by the statute and agency rules cited below. The values in the tables on this page are taken from those sources and are not interpretations of how they apply to any particular case.

Primary source: C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5

Ignition interlock requirement

Threshold: BAC of 0.15 or more (persistent drunk driver designation). Under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(1)(a)(I) and (3), a person whose license was revoked for excess BAC when the BAC was 0.15 or more, or who is otherwise designated a persistent drunk driver (which, per the DMV, includes refusing a chemical test), must hold an interlock-restricted license for at least two years after reinstatement. For a first DUI/DUI per se or excess-BAC (0.08–0.149) revocation of nine months, an interlock is not mandatory: under § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(A) a first-time offender aged 21 or older may voluntarily apply for early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license at any time (DMV: on the first day the revocation goes active for violations on or after January 1, 2023), and the restriction then runs for the remainder of the nine-month restraint, with removal possible after four consecutive compliant monthly reports (§ 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(B)). Persistent drunk drivers are excluded from early removal.

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Colorado licensing agency's approved-device list. Listing order is alphabetical and is not a ranking or endorsement. Installation locations are on each vendor's own locator.

Official approved-vendor list: Colorado agency vendor list

SR-22 requirement

An SR-22 is a certificate an insurer files with the state to confirm that a driver carries the liability coverage the state requires. Some states use an FR-44 or a different form for alcohol-related offenses; where Colorado does, the sources below say so.

SR-22. C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(b)(II) requires proof of financial responsibility before early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license, maintained for the longer of three years or the restriction period; C.R.S. § 42-7-408(1)(b)-(c) sets the general period at three years but, for a one-time DUI/DWAI/excess-BAC offender with no accident, only for as long as the driving privilege is under restraint, up to a maximum of three years. The DMV reinstatement FAQ states: first-offense BAC 0.08+ — SR-22 for 9 months (3 years if an accident or high BAC was involved); multiple offenses — SR-22 for 3 years; refusal — 1 to 3 years. sr22Years is recorded as the 3-year standard; a first low-BAC offense without an accident is shorter (9 months per DMV).

Program costs

Fees set by the state are cited to the fee schedule. Vendor charges vary by vendor and are shown as published ranges with the month they were checked.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock required after a first DUI in Colorado?

Under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(1)(a)(I), an interlock-restricted license is mandatory for at least one year (two years under subsection (3) for persistent drunk drivers) when the BAC was 0.15 or more. For a first offense below 0.15 with a nine-month revocation, the interlock is not mandatory; under § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(A) a driver 21 or older may apply for early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license instead of serving the full revocation.

How long does the interlock stay on a Colorado vehicle?

The Colorado DMV states that for arrests on or after January 1, 2023, a first per se or DUI conviction with BAC below 0.149 carries a 9-month interlock requirement running with the revocation, a BAC above 0.15 carries a 2-year requirement, and a second or later per se offense requires 2 years. Under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(B), a first-time offender may have the restriction removed after four consecutive monthly reports with no failed starts or tampering.

What are the Colorado reinstatement fees after a DUI?

The Colorado DMV reinstatement FAQ lists a $95 reinstatement fee plus a $25 DUI restoration fee for alcohol-related revocations, with an Application for Reinstatement (DR 2870), an SR-22, an interlock lease/installation agreement, and an affidavit of enrollment in Level 2 alcohol and drug education and treatment. For refusals the DMV states the fees total $120.

Does Colorado require an SR-22 after a DUI, and for how long?

Yes. C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(b)(II) requires proof of financial responsibility before early interlock reinstatement, maintained for the longer of three years or the restriction period, and C.R.S. § 42-7-408(1)(c)(I) limits a one-time DUI offender with no accident to the restraint period, up to three years. The DMV states SR-22 for 9 months after a first BAC 0.08+ revocation (3 years if an accident or high BAC was involved) and 3 years for multiple offenses.

Is there financial help for the interlock in Colorado?

C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5(4)(a)(II)(C) directs the Department of Revenue to run a program assisting first-time offenders and persistent drunk drivers who cannot pay the full cost of an approved interlock, funded from the first time drunk driving offender account. The DMV states eligibility is checked against the Colorado tax file at installation, that a subsequent suspension ends assistance, and that total assistance on an approved appeal cannot exceed $400.

Sources

1. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 42 (incl. § 42-2-132.5 interlock-restricted licenses; § 42-7-408 proof of financial responsibility) – Office of Legislative Legal Services PDF, leg.colorado.gov
2. Colorado DMV – Ignition Interlock Program (interlock periods by offense)
3. Colorado DMV – Approved Interlock Vendors
4. Colorado DMV – Early Reinstatement (Interlock)
5. Colorado DMV – Financial Assistance for Ignition Interlock
6. Colorado DMV – Suspension and Reinstatement FAQs (fees, SR-22 periods)
7. Colorado DMV – SR-22 and Insurance Information
8. Colorado DMV – Driver License Reinstatement Center
9. Colorado DMV – The DUI Administrative Process