Who has to install one in Virginia
| Your situation | Interlock | How long | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| First offense under 18.2-266 clauses (i), (ii) or (iv), or under 18.2-266.1 | Required | Not stated | Va. Code 18.2-270.12 |
| First offense under 18.2-266 clauses (iii) or (v) | Court decides | Not stated | Va. Code 18.2-270.12 |
| Second or later offense under 18.2-266 | Required | Not stated | Va. Code 18.2-270.13 |
| Adult first offense, how long the order runs | 12 months | 12 months, or a 6 month minimum if the court orders it on motion with added restrictions | Va. Code 18.2-270.14 |
A judge can order an interlock in other cases too. Your court order or DMV letter is what binds you.
Where each company can install in Virginia
You'll go back to the same company's locations for service for the whole order, so check that one is close to where you live and work before you book.
Locations as each company lists them on its own locator (Smart Start, LifeSafer, RoadGuard), pulled Oct 2026. Some shops serve more than one company. Alcohol Detection Systems doesn't publish a locator we could read.
Interlock companies approved in Virginia
- In Virginia
- 32 service locations listed
- Nationwide
- On 40 of 44 state lists
- 12 months, filed fees
- $1,460–$1,510
- App rating
- 2.0 from 113 (App Store)
RoadGuard
Listed as “RoadGuard (Draeger)”- In Virginia
- 28 service locations listed
- Nationwide
- On 28 of 44 state lists
- 12 months, filed fees
- $1,273
- In Virginia
- 21 service locations listed
- Nationwide
- On 34 of 44 state lists
- 12 months, filed fees
- $1,205–$1,355
From the state's approved list (read it). Use a company on this list, or the install won't count. 12-month figures are lease, install and removal from each company's filed or published fee schedule, not Virginia prices; see how we add them up.
How much an interlock costs in Virginia
Estimated total for your order
Lease times the months you pick, plus install, removal and any enrollment fee, from each company's filed or published schedule (New York filing, Feb 2025; New York filing, 2021; New York filing, Apr 2025). Virginia prices can differ; calibration visits and lockout fees come on top.
If you can't afford it
Providers keep an indigency fund, and fees can be reduced if the court declares you indigent and the Commission approves the reduction.
Financial help in other statesThe rules in Virginia
- Program run by
- The Commission on VASAP oversees Virginia's Ignition Interlock Program, local ASAPs monitor it, courts order the device, and the DMV issues your license.5
- License you get
- You receive a restricted license with an ignition interlock condition. The DMV issues it and lists the court's restrictions on it.6
- How long it lasts
- The clock stops after a court-issued restricted license expires and starts again once the DMV issues one, so the gap does not count toward your time.4
- State fees
- The court charges a $20 fee to cover court and administrative costs. Providers can charge you up to $65 for a standard installation and $95 plus taxes for monthly calibration or monitoring, and removal carries a $0 cap.7
- Approved providers
- Virginia lists three approved manufacturers and service providers: RoadGuard, LifeSafer and Smart Start. Each has certified devices, such as the XT Interlock from RoadGuard, the FC100 from LifeSafer and the 2030 from Smart Start.8
- Help paying
- Providers keep an indigency fund, and fees can be reduced if the court declares you indigent and the Commission approves the reduction.9
- Getting it removed
- Your provider needs written or electronic authorization from the ASAP before taking the device out, and you pay no removal fee. The provider then sends a removal report to the ASAP, which tells the DMV the requirement is complete.10
- Rolling retests
- The device asks for retests while you drive, set at 0.02. A failed or missed retest sounds the horn and flashes the lights.11
- Driving for work
- You can drive an employer-owned vehicle in the course of your employment only if the court expressly permits it at your employer's request. School vehicles, commercial motor vehicles and employers you control are excluded.12
- Violations
- Counted violations include not following the program, such as missing monitoring or calibration due at least every 30 days, and tampering or circumventing the device. The court may revoke your driving privilege unless there is good cause, and circumvention is a Class 1 misdemeanor.13
Questions about interlocks in Virginia
How long do you have to have an interlock in Virginia?
The general rule is at least 12 consecutive months without alcohol-related violations, and no longer than the restriction period. For an adult first offense the term is 12 months, and the court may on motion require a minimum of 6 consecutive months if added restrictions apply. The time is tolled between a court-issued restricted license expiring and the DMV issuing one.4
How much does an ignition interlock cost in Virginia?
The court charges a $20 fee for court and administrative costs. Providers can charge you up to $65 for a standard installation, $95 plus taxes for monthly calibration or monitoring, $50 for a service call plus mileage, and $50 for a violation reset. Removal has a $0 cap. These are maximums, so your actual bill may be lower.7
Is there help paying for an interlock in Virginia?
Possibly. Providers maintain an indigency fund, and your fees can be reduced if the court declares you indigent and the Commission on VASAP approves the reduction. Because the court has to make that declaration, it makes sense to raise the question with the court before or at your hearing.9
How do you get an interlock removed in Virginia?
Your provider has to receive written or electronic authorization from your ASAP before removing the device, and you owe no removal fee. The provider sends a removal report to the ASAP, which notifies the DMV that you finished. You cannot switch manufacturers without the Commission's authorization.10
What happens if you violate your interlock requirement in Virginia?
The court may revoke your driving privilege unless there is good cause. Violations include not following the program, such as missing monitoring or calibration due at least every 30 days, and tampering with or circumventing the device. Circumvention is a Class 1 misdemeanor, so a missed appointment and tampering carry very different risks.13
Can you drive a work vehicle with an interlock in Virginia?
Only if the court expressly permits it at your employer's request, and only in the course of your employment. The exception covers employer-owned vehicles and excludes school vehicles, commercial motor vehicles and employers you control. Without that court permission, the interlock requirement applies to the vehicles you own or have registered.12
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InterlockCompare is independent and doesn't make, sell or install interlocks. Not legal advice.