Alabama Ignition Interlock Restricted License

What an Ignition Interlock Restricted License Is

After a DUI conviction in Alabama, the Ignition Interlock Restricted License is often the only way to legally drive during your suspension period. It's a special Class D credential that lets you operate a vehicle equipped with an approved ignition interlock device (IID) — a breathalyzer wired into your car's ignition that prevents the engine from starting if it detects a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.02%.

This is separate from and should not be confused with the hardship license program. The hardship program explicitly disqualifies anyone with any DUI adjudication or conviction on their record. The interlock restricted license exists specifically for DUI cases.

Mandatory Interlock Timelines by Offense

The length of your interlock requirement depends on the offense level and circumstances:

First offense, BAC below 0.15 — the 90-day administrative suspension can be stayed if you voluntarily install an IID for 90 days and provide proof of installation to ALEA. This is the shortest path back to legal driving after a first DUI.

First offense, BAC 0.15 or higher — mandatory IID installation for one year under the statutory interlock program.

Chemical test refusal — mandatory IID installation under Alabama's interlock program; the applicable term depends on the offense and statutory conditions.

Child under 14 in vehicle — mandatory IID installation is one of the statutory interlock triggers.

Accident causing injury — mandatory IID installation is one of the statutory interlock triggers.

Second DUI within 10 years — mandatory two-year IID installation.

Third DUI within 10 years — mandatory three-year IID.

Fourth DUI within 10 years — mandatory four-year IID.

These timelines are statutory minimums under Alabama Code § 32-5A-191. Courts and pretrial diversion programs can mandate longer periods.

How to Get the Restricted License

The process involves coordinating between the court, a private interlock provider, and ALEA:

1. Resolve your DUI case in court. The court issues an order specifying your interlock requirement and duration.

2. Choose an approved interlock provider. Alabama's Department of Forensic Sciences maintains a list of approved IID manufacturers. The provider installs the device in your vehicle and calibrates it to block ignition at 0.02% BAC.

3. Get proof of installation. The provider electronically transmits a certificate of installation to ALEA. Keep a physical copy for your own records.

4. Pay the restricted license fee. Visit an ALEA Reinstatement Office and pay the $150 interlock restricted license fee. This is on top of the $275 alcohol- or drug-related reinstatement fee; a $25 additional drug-related fee applies when the offense is drug-related. An alcohol-related case with these two fees starts at $425 in ALEA fees.

5. Pick up your physical license. ALEA issues the restricted license card at the same visit after verifying the IID installation and processing your fees.

What the Interlock Costs Beyond ALEA Fees

The private interlock provider charges separately from ALEA:

• Installation: approximately $75–$150, depending on the provider and vehicle
• Monthly lease and calibration: approximately $75 per month
• Removal: typically included in the lease or a modest flat fee

Over a one-year mandatory period, you're looking at roughly $975–$1,050 in device costs alone, plus at least $425 in ALEA fees (with an additional $25 drug-related fee when applicable).

Violations That Extend Your Interlock Period

An interlock violation automatically extends your restricted license period by six months. Violations include:

• Four or more failed start attempts registering above 0.02% BAC in a single month
• Tampering with, circumventing, or attempting to remove the device
• Missing a scheduled 30-day calibration appointment
• Having someone else blow into the device for you (the device logs patterns)

The extension is automatic — ALEA doesn't schedule a hearing. The provider's data logs are transmitted to ALEA monthly, and any violation triggers the six-month reset without notice.

After the Interlock Period Ends

Once you've completed the full interlock term without violations, the court of conviction must confirm successful completion to ALEA before the device can be removed. You then return to an ALEA office to obtain a standard (unrestricted) license, assuming no other holds exist on your record.

If you have other holds — unpaid fines, insurance lapses, child support — those must be cleared independently before ALEA will issue an unrestricted license. The Alabama Driver's License Reinstatement Guide covers the full reinstatement process including how to layer DUI-related requirements with other outstanding holds.

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