Washington DUI Ignition Interlock License: Full Cost Breakdown

Washington's Ignition Interlock License (IIL) application costs $100, paid to the Department of Licensing when you submit your completed application and proof of device installation. That fee is fixed. The device itself is not. Installation runs $150–$250 depending on provider and vehicle type. Monthly device lease and calibration visits cost $70–$100 per month. Most providers require a contract covering the full IIL period, which for a first DUI is typically one year minimum. Add SR-22 insurance filing—required for all DUI-related IIL approvals—at $25–$50 upfront, then premium increases of $80–$150 per month over your pre-suspension rate. First-year total: application $100, installation $200, device lease and calibration $900–$1,200, SR-22 filing $35, premium increase $960–$1,800. Bottom line: $2,195–$3,335 in direct IIL costs, plus insurance increase. Most drivers pay $3,200–$5,800 in year one when all components stack.

Washington DOL maintains a list of approved ignition interlock device providers. You must use an approved provider or your IIL application will be rejected. Pricing is not standardized—each provider sets its own rates. Diesel engines and manual transmissions typically cost $50–$100 more to install because the device calibration requires different sensor placement. Vehicles with push-button start may require an additional bypass module, adding another $75–$150 to the installation quote. Monthly calibration visits are mandatory—typically every 30 or 60 days depending on your IIL order—and each visit costs $15–$25 on top of the monthly lease fee. Providers require payment upfront or structured as a monthly contract with early termination fees if you remove the device before your IIL period ends. Washington does not regulate device pricing, so shop quotes from at least three approved providers before committing. Installation wait times can stretch to two weeks during peak periods, and your IIL eligibility does not begin until the device is installed and the provider certificate is filed with DOL.

Washington requires SR-22 insurance filing for all DUI-related license actions, including Ignition Interlock License applications. The filing itself costs $25–$50 as a one-time fee, but the premium increase that comes with it is the larger expense. SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy. It is a certification your carrier files with Washington DOL confirming you carry at least the state minimum liability limits: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. Most carriers charge $80–$150 more per month for policies that require SR-22 filing, reflecting the higher risk profile associated with DUI convictions. That increase lasts for the full three-year SR-22 filing period Washington mandates after a DUI. If you do not own a vehicle, you need non-owner SR-22 insurance to satisfy the filing requirement. Non-owner policies cost $40–$80 per month and provide liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you do not own—critical if you are using a family member's car during your IIL period. The IIL device must still be installed in the vehicle you drive, even if you do not own it.

Washington ties IIL duration to your DUI offense number and BAC level at arrest. First-offense DUI convictions with BAC under 0.15 typically require one year of IIL use. BAC 0.15 or higher, or a refusal to submit to testing, often triggers two years. Second and subsequent DUI offenses can push IIL duration to five or ten years depending on priors and aggravating factors. The device lease contract matches your IIL order duration. You cannot remove the device early without violating your IIL terms, which triggers immediate license revocation and restart of the suspension period. Monthly calibration visits continue for the full duration—12 to 24 visits for a one-year IIL, 24 to 48 for two years. Each visit is a separate charge. SR-22 filing lasts three years from the date of DUI conviction, not from the date you obtain your IIL. That means even after your IIL period ends and the device is removed, you still carry the SR-22 filing and the associated premium increase until the three-year clock expires. Most drivers pay elevated premiums for one to two years beyond their IIL device removal.

Washington processes IIL applications through the Department of Licensing, not through the court system. You do not need a judge's approval. The administrative path makes approval faster but also stricter—DOL checks for compliance with every prerequisite before issuing the IIL. You must submit: a completed IIL application form, proof of ignition interlock device installation from a DOL-approved provider, an SR-22 insurance certificate on file with DOL, and the $100 application fee. If you have multiple suspensions active at the same time—such as an administrative suspension from the arrest plus a court-ordered suspension from the conviction—you must resolve the administrative suspension first or your IIL application will be denied. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days if all documents are complete. Incomplete applications or missing SR-22 filings delay approval by weeks. DOL does not call you to request missing documents—they deny the application and you reapply. Most first-offense DUI drivers can apply for an IIL immediately upon suspension without waiting for a hard suspension period to elapse, but refusal cases may face different timing depending on the administrative hearing outcome.

Washington's IIL has no route restrictions and no time-of-day restrictions. You can drive anywhere, anytime—but only in a vehicle equipped with a DOL-approved ignition interlock device. That means you cannot drive a company vehicle, a rental car, or a borrowed vehicle unless that specific vehicle has your IIL-linked device installed. Employers rarely install devices in fleet vehicles, and rental agencies do not allow device installation. If your job requires driving a company truck or van, your IIL does not authorize that use. Violating the device requirement—driving any vehicle without the installed device—is a separate gross misdemeanor criminal charge under RCW 46.20.740, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. It also triggers automatic IIL revocation and restart of your full suspension period. Washington DOL does not issue warnings or allow one-time violations. The device logs every ignition event and every failed breath test. Those logs are reviewed during calibration visits and reported to DOL.

If your vehicle was impounded, sold, or totaled after your DUI arrest, you still need SR-22 insurance to obtain an IIL. Non-owner SR-22 policies provide the required liability coverage and filing without requiring you to own a registered vehicle. Non-owner policies cost $40–$80 per month—less than standard auto policies because they do not cover a specific vehicle. They provide liability coverage when you drive a car you do not own, such as a family member's vehicle or a friend's car. The ignition interlock device must still be installed in any vehicle you drive, even under a non-owner policy. If you later purchase or register a vehicle during your IIL period, you must convert your non-owner policy to a standard policy and update the SR-22 filing with DOL within 30 days. Failing to update the filing can result in IIL suspension. Carriers that write non-owner SR-22 policies in Washington include Progressive, GEICO, Dairyland, and The General.