Indiana ignition interlock & DUI requirements

What Indiana law requires

Indiana'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: Ind. Code § 9-30-8 (IC 9-30-8-1 et seq.)

Ignition interlock requirement

No Indiana statute located mandates an interlock for every first OWI conviction. IC 9-30-5-16(a) provides that the court 'may', in granting specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-16-3 or 9-30-16-4, require that the person operate only a vehicle equipped with a functioning certified ignition interlock device under IC 9-30-8; IC 9-30-6-8(d) lets the court recommend an interlock restriction as an alternative to the pre-conviction probable-cause suspension. The BMV states the court 'may also require the installation of an ignition interlock device'.

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Indiana 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: Indiana 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 Indiana does, the sources below say so.

Under IC 9-30-6-12(c), if a court recommends suspension of driving privileges for a conviction under IC 9-30-5 (operating while intoxicated), then during the three years following termination of the suspension the person's driving privileges remain suspended until the person provides proof of future financial responsibility in force under IC 9-25; proof is not required unless and until the person is convicted. IC 9-30-7-5(c) applies the same three-year rule after a chemical-test-refusal suspension. The BMV's Proof of Financial Responsibility page identifies the SR22 form as 'proof of future financial responsibility' and refers to 3-year or 5-year SR22 requirement periods. Separately, IC 9-30-16-3 requires an SR22 to be maintained during specialized driving privileges. sr22Years = 3 (the IC 9-30-6-12(c) period).

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 mandatory after a first OWI in Indiana?

Indiana law makes it a court option rather than an automatic requirement. Under IC 9-30-5-16(a), a court granting specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-16-3 or 9-30-16-4 may require that the person operate only a vehicle equipped with a functioning certified ignition interlock device under IC 9-30-8; under IC 9-30-6-8(d) a court may recommend an interlock restriction instead of the probable-cause suspension.

How long does an Indiana court-ordered interlock stay installed?

IC 9-30-8-1 provides that when a court orders a certified ignition interlock device, the court shall set the time the installation must remain in effect, and the term may not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment the court could have imposed. The person pays the installation cost unless the sentencing court determines the person is indigent.

Who certifies ignition interlock devices in Indiana?

IC 9-30-8-3 directs the director of the State Department of Toxicology to adopt standards and specifications and provides that after July 1, 2015 all ignition interlock devices used in Indiana must be certified under those rules. The State Department of Toxicology publishes the list of certified device models, listed by certification date without endorsement or preference.

At what breath alcohol level does an Indiana interlock block the vehicle?

IC 9-30-8-2 states that an ignition interlock device shall be set to render a motor vehicle inoperable if it detects an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least 0.02 gram of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath.

Is an SR22 required with Indiana specialized driving privileges?

IC 9-30-16-3 requires a person granted specialized driving privileges to maintain proof of future financial responsibility insurance during the privileges, and the BMV Driver's Manual states that such a person shall maintain an effective SR22 on file with the BMV for the duration of specialized driving privileges.

Sources

1. Indiana Code Title 9 (2025) – IC 9-30-8 Ignition Interlock Devices; IC 9-30-5-16; IC 9-30-6-8; IC 9-30-16; IC 9-25-6-15 (Indiana General Assembly, static title file)
2. Indiana Code Title 9 (2025) – IC 9-30-8 (Indiana General Assembly, user-facing page; JavaScript app)
3. Indiana State Department of Toxicology – Certified Device Models
4. Indiana BMV – Common Traffic Violations (Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated)
5. Indiana BMV – Reinstating Your Driving Privileges
6. Indiana BMV – Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR22)
7. Indiana BMV Driver's Manual, Chapter 5 – Points, Suspension, and Insurance Requirements (PDF)
8. Indiana Criminal Justice Institute – Highway Safety Interlock Rule 2017 (205 IAC 4) (PDF)
9. Indiana BMV – Suspension Guide
10. Indiana BMV – Fee Chart (PDF; contains no reinstatement fees)