Ignition Interlock Insurance After DUI
Ignition interlock insurance is standard auto liability coverage with an endorsement or rider that confirms your vehicle is equipped with a court-ordered ignition interlock device (IID).
Get My Hardship-License SR-22 QuoteWhat Is Ignition Interlock Insurance Insurance?
Ignition interlock insurance is liability auto insurance—often paired with an SR-22 or FR-44 filing—on a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. The carrier issues an endorsement or certificate confirming the IID is active and your coverage meets state minimum liability requirements. Courts and DMVs require this proof before they'll issue a restricted or hardship license after DUI. The IID itself prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver's breath alcohol concentration exceeds a preset threshold, typically .02 or .025 BAC. The insurance endorsement proves you're insured while using it.
Who Needs Ignition Interlock Insurance Insurance?
You need ignition interlock insurance if a court or DMV has ordered IID installation as a condition of your restricted, hardship, or occupational license after DUI. This applies in all states with IID programs—most now require it for first-offense DUI if BAC was .15 or higher, and all states require it for second or subsequent offenses. If you don't own a vehicle, you'll need non-owner liability with the IID endorsement to satisfy filing requirements, even if you're not driving.
Read your court order and DMV approval letter. If either document lists IID as a requirement, you need this endorsement before you can legally drive. A six-month suspension costs zero but may cost you your job.
How Much Does Ignition Interlock Insurance Insurance Cost?
- DUI offense count—first offense typically adds 60–80 percent, second offense 90–150 percent
- IID duration—six months costs less total than two or three years of monthly fees
- Carrier acceptance—some carriers exit after DUI, forcing you to non-standard insurers with higher base rates
