Mississippi Ignition Interlock License: Requirements, Costs, and Removal

The Only Restricted License Available in Mississippi

The ignition interlock restricted license is the only way adults can legally drive during a license suspension in Mississippi. The state does not issue hardship licenses, work permits, or occupational licenses to adult drivers — this is it, and it applies solely to DUI and implied consent suspensions.

The legal authority is Mississippi Code § 63-11-31. If your suspension is for child support, failure to appear, uninsured driving, or anything other than a DUI or implied consent violation, the interlock option is not available to you.

How to Get an Interlock Restricted License

The process follows a specific administrative sequence:

1. Get a court order. You need a written court order authorizing or requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device. This comes from the court handling your DUI or implied-consent matter.

2. Choose an approved vendor and install the device. Mississippi approves four IID providers:

• Alcohol Detection Systems
• Intoxalock
• Life Safer
• Smart Start

Vendor installation, lease, and calibration charges are separate from the DPS fees and vary by provider. The device must be installed on every vehicle you operate.

3. Get the vehicle inspected at DPS. Bring the IID-equipped vehicle to a DPS driver's license station for physical verification that the device is properly installed.

4. Pay the fees. Two separate fees to DPS:

• $175 ignition interlock fee
• $56 restricted license fee (for the physical credential)

5. File an SR-22. Your insurer must file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility with DPS, proving you carry Mississippi's 25/50/25 minimum liability coverage.

The Fee Waiver Most People Don't Know About

Under § 63-11-31(5)(c), if you install the IID and obtain the interlock restricted license before the court formally enters the DUI suspension order, the standard $175 license reinstatement fee is waived. That means you pay the interlock fee and the credential fee but skip the reinstatement fee entirely. Acting quickly after the arrest can save you $175.

Compliance Rules

The interlock device requires you to blow into it before starting the vehicle. A start attempt at 0.04% BAC or higher is logged as a violation and can trigger a temporary lockout.

Beyond the startup test, the device also requires rolling retests while driving. These are random breath tests you must provide while the vehicle is in motion (the device gives you a warning and a time window).

Monthly calibration is mandatory. The vehicle must be brought to an approved service center every 30 days for calibration, data download, and inspection. Missing a calibration appointment is itself a violation.

Every violation — failed start attempt, failed retest, missed calibration — gets logged and reported to DPS. Violations can result in an extension of the restricted period.

Financial Assistance for Indigent Drivers

If a court determines you're indigent, the costs of leasing and maintaining the IID may be paid from the state's Interlock Device Fund under § 63-11-31. The fund covers:

• Up to $50 for installation
• Up to $50 for removal
• Up to $30 per month for active usage

These subsidies are subject to fund availability. Ask your attorney or the court about eligibility during sentencing.

How to Get the Device Removed

To remove the interlock and transition back to a standard unrestricted Class R license:

1. The vendor must submit a declaration to DPS certifying zero violations in the final 30 consecutive days of the restricted period — no failed start attempts at 0.04% or higher, no missed retests, no skipped calibrations.
2. If any violation is logged, the court or DPS may extend the restricted period.
3. Once the clean declaration is submitted and accepted, you'll pay the standard DUI reinstatement fee ($175, if not already waived), complete MASEP if you haven't, and DPS will issue the unrestricted credential.

The vendor handles the physical removal of the device once DPS confirms you're clear.

For the full DUI reinstatement path from arrest through interlock removal and final clearance, the Mississippi reinstatement guide covers the complete sequence.

See more Mississippi guides →