Nebraska Indigent Interlock Program: Financial Help With IID Costs

What the Indigent Interlock Program Covers

Nebraska administers a state-funded assistance program through the DMV Financial Responsibility Division that covers the major costs of ignition interlock compliance for drivers who can demonstrate financial hardship. If approved, the program pays for:

• One IID installation — typically $150 to $200 at a state-certified service center
• One IID removal — at the conclusion of your permit period
• Monthly device monitoring and lease fees — normally $54.99 to $96.99 per month — for up to one year

For a driver who would otherwise pay the installation, removal, and monthly lease or monitoring charges, this assistance eliminates the largest variable expense in the DUI compliance process.

What the Program Does Not Cover

Two costs fall outside the program regardless of your financial situation:

The $47.50 permit fee. This fee is paid to the County Treasurer when you pick up your physical IIP card. Nebraska statute explicitly excludes it from indigent assistance. You must pay this out of pocket at permit issuance; the program does not cover it.

Calibration and service appointment costs beyond the monthly lease. The monthly lease fee covers standard device monitoring, but if you need additional service visits — for lockouts, malfunctions, or missed rolling retests — the provider may charge separately. These incidental fees are your responsibility.

The program also doesn't cover any other DUI-related costs: the $500 court fine, the $278 substance abuse evaluation, SR-22 insurance filing fees, or the $125 DMV reinstatement fee. Those remain on you.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, you must submit a completed, notarized "Application for Indigent Interlock Assistance" (Form FR_Annual_Indigent_Application) along with documentation proving your participation in at least one of the following public assistance programs:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• General Assistance
• Poverty-related veteran's benefits
• Active unemployment benefits

The key point: you must be actively enrolled in one of these programs at the time of application. Simply having a low income isn't sufficient — you need current enrollment documentation from the relevant agency.

The application requires notarization, which typically costs $5 to $10 at a bank, UPS store, or notary public office. Bring your public assistance verification documents and a valid ID to the notary appointment.

How to Apply

1. Download the Application for Indigent Interlock Assistance from the Nebraska DMV website or request a copy from the Financial Responsibility Division (402-471-3985)
2. Complete all sections and have the form notarized
3. Attach current proof of enrollment in a qualifying public assistance program
4. Mail the application to the DMV Financial Responsibility Division (P.O. Box 94877, Lincoln, NE 68509)

Processing times vary, but you should submit the application as early as possible in the IIP process — ideally simultaneously with your IIP application (Form FR-IIP) to avoid delays in interlock installation.

The 10-Day Activation Deadline

If approved for indigent assistance, you must have your IIP issued within 10 days of receiving the funding approval. If you miss this deadline, the assistance is terminated and you'll need to reapply. This makes it critical to have your other IIP requirements already in progress (SR-22 filing, interlock installation appointment scheduled, IIP application submitted) before the indigent approval comes through.

Does It Affect Your IIP Timeline?

The indigent assistance application runs alongside your IIP application — it doesn't pause or extend the 10-day administrative deadline from your arrest. File the IIP waiver and the indigent application at the same time to keep both tracks moving in parallel.

If indigent approval takes longer than expected and threatens the IIP deadline, contact the DMV Financial Responsibility Division before paying for installation. Confirm what costs the approval will cover and whether any payment made before approval is eligible.

The Nebraska First-Offense DUI Guide includes a complete cost breakdown with and without indigent assistance, along with the step-by-step IIP application process.

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