How to Apply for a Washington Ignition Interlock License After a DUI

Washington does not issue traditional occupational or hardship licenses for DUI suspensions. Under RCW 46.20.385, the state replaced route-restricted and time-restricted licenses with the Ignition Interlock License (IIL) system. The IIL allows you to drive anywhere at any time, with no restrictions on destinations or hours — provided the vehicle is equipped with a DOL-approved ignition interlock device. Most drivers expect hardship licenses to limit them to work, school, and medical appointments. Washington's IIL operates differently. You can drive to the grocery store at midnight or take a weekend road trip. The restriction is the vehicle, not the route. If the vehicle does not have an approved IID installed, you cannot drive it legally under an IIL. This distinction matters when choosing which vehicle to install the device in. If you own multiple vehicles, the IID must be installed in every vehicle you plan to drive. If you do not own a vehicle, you must install the device in a vehicle you have regular access to — a spouse's car, a parent's car, or a car you lease specifically for this purpose. Some applicants install the device in a vehicle they then sell or lose access to. When that happens, the IIL becomes useless until a new installation is completed and certified to the DOL.

Washington allows immediate IIL application for most first-offense DUI administrative suspensions. If your license was suspended under the Implied Consent law (RCW 46.20.308) for refusing a breath test or testing over the legal limit, you can apply for an IIL on day one of the suspension. There is no mandatory hard suspension period before IIL eligibility for first-offense test-failure cases. Refusal cases face longer administrative suspension periods before IIL eligibility. A first-offense refusal typically triggers a 1-year DOL suspension, and IIL eligibility may not begin immediately depending on the circumstances of the refusal. Repeat DUI offenders and drivers with prior IIL violations face mandatory hard suspension periods before they can apply. Second-offense and felony DUI cases often require 90 days to 1 year of hard suspension before IIL eligibility opens. The administrative suspension imposed by the DOL runs separately from any court-ordered suspension. If you face both, you must satisfy the eligibility requirements for both tracks. Most drivers focus on the DOL administrative suspension first because it begins immediately after arrest. The court-ordered suspension typically begins after conviction. Timing your IIL application to cover both suspension periods requires coordination with the DOL and the court.

Washington requires IIL applications to be submitted directly to the Department of Licensing. The application path is administrative, not court-based. You do not need a judge's approval to obtain an IIL — you apply to the DOL, pay the fee, and provide the required documentation. The required documents are: Completed IIL application form from the DOL website or a licensing office. Proof of ignition interlock device installation in the form of a certificate from a DOL-approved IID provider. The device must be installed before you apply. The DOL will not process an application without the installation certificate. SR-22 insurance filing submitted by your insurance carrier to the DOL. You cannot file SR-22 yourself. Your carrier files it electronically. The filing must be active and on record with the DOL before the IIL is issued. Payment of the $100 application fee. This fee is separate from the reinstatement fee, the IID installation fee, and the SR-22 filing fee. If you have other outstanding suspensions unrelated to the DUI — unpaid tickets, child support enforcement actions, failure-to-appear warrants — those suspensions will block your IIL application. The DOL will not issue an IIL if any disqualifying suspension is active on your record. You must clear those suspensions before the IIL application can proceed.

The ignition interlock device is a breath-testing unit wired into your vehicle's ignition system. Before the engine starts, you blow into the device. If your breath alcohol concentration exceeds the programmed threshold (typically .025 BAC in Washington), the vehicle will not start. The device also requires random rolling retests while you drive. If you fail a rolling retest or do not provide a sample when prompted, the device logs a violation and may trigger an alarm or warning light. Installation must be performed by a DOL-approved provider. Washington maintains a list of approved vendors on the DOL website. Installation costs typically range from $150 to $300. Monthly monitoring and calibration fees run $75 to $100 per month. The device must be calibrated every 60 days. If you miss a calibration appointment, the device may lock you out or log a violation. Violations logged by the device — failed breath tests, missed rolling retests, tampering alerts, or missed calibration appointments — are reported to the DOL. Accumulating violations can result in IIL revocation. Most drivers are not told that the violation threshold is cumulative over the entire IIL period. Three failed rolling retests spread over six months may trigger revocation even if each individual failure was isolated. If you do not own a vehicle, you have three options. Install the device in a vehicle owned by a family member who grants you regular access. Lease a vehicle specifically for the IIL period and install the device in that vehicle. Arrange to borrow or rent a vehicle on a recurring basis and install the device in that vehicle. The DOL does not care who owns the vehicle. The requirement is that you have legal access to drive it and that the device is installed and certified.

Washington requires SR-22 insurance filing for DUI-related suspensions. SR-22 is not a type of insurance policy. It is a certificate your insurance carrier files with the DOL confirming you carry at least the state minimum liability coverage: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. The SR-22 filing period for DUI cases in Washington is 3 years, measured from the date of conviction. If your policy lapses or is canceled during the 3-year filing period, your carrier notifies the DOL electronically. The DOL suspends your license immediately. Reinstatement after a filing lapse requires a new SR-22 filing, payment of the reinstatement fee, and restarting the 3-year filing clock in some cases. If you do not own a vehicle, you need a non-owner SR-22 policy. Non-owner policies provide liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you do not own. These policies cost less than standard auto policies because they do not cover collision or comprehensive damage. Monthly premiums for non-owner SR-22 policies in Washington typically range from $40 to $80 per month, depending on your age, DUI history, and the carrier. Not all carriers offer non-owner SR-22 policies. Carriers that write non-owner SR-22 in Washington include Progressive, Geico, USAA, The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West.

The total cost to obtain and maintain an IIL in Washington for a first-offense DUI case typically falls between $3,500 and $6,000 over the 3-year SR-22 filing period. This range assumes you own a vehicle and already carry liability insurance. If you do not own a vehicle and need non-owner SR-22, the cost falls closer to the lower end of the range because non-owner premiums are lower. The cost breakdown is: $100 IIL application fee, paid once to the DOL. $150 to $300 ignition interlock device installation fee, paid once to the approved provider. $75 to $100 per month for IID monitoring and calibration, paid monthly for the duration of the IIL period. Over 2 years, this adds $1,800 to $2,400. $15 to $50 SR-22 filing fee, paid once when your carrier submits the filing. $100 to $150 per month premium increase for SR-22-required insurance, compared to your pre-DUI rate. Over 3 years, this adds $3,600 to $5,400. Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary by driving history, vehicle, coverage selections, and location. $75 base reinstatement fee when your full license is reinstated after the suspension period ends. If your IIL is revoked for device violations or if you accumulate additional suspensions during the IIL period, you will pay additional application fees and reinstatement fees when reapplying.

Driving a vehicle without an installed ignition interlock device while holding an IIL is a criminal offense under RCW 46.20.740. A first violation is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. The DOL will revoke your IIL immediately when notified of the violation. Your underlying suspension period may be extended. Device violations logged by the IID — failed breath tests, missed rolling retests, or tampering alerts — are reported to the DOL. The DOL reviews violation reports and may revoke your IIL if the violations indicate noncompliance. Most drivers do not realize that the violation standard is strict. A single failed rolling retest because you used mouthwash before driving can trigger a violation report. The DOL does not distinguish between intentional alcohol consumption and trace alcohol from mouthwash, cough syrup, or fermented food. If your IIL is revoked, you must serve the remainder of the suspension period without driving privileges. Reapplying for a new IIL after revocation typically requires a longer waiting period and may require a DOL hearing. Repeat violations can result in permanent IIL ineligibility.