Who has to install one in Wisconsin
| Your situation | Interlock | How long | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| First OWI, alcohol concentration 0.15 or higher | Required | Not stated | Wis. Stat. 343.3012 |
| Any prior conviction, suspension or revocation on your record | Required | Not stated | Wis. Stat. 343.3013 |
| Improperly refused the chemical test | Required | Not stated | Wis. Stat. 343.3014 |
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 Wisconsin
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, Intoxalock, LifeSafer, Low Cost Interlock, 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 Wisconsin
- In Wisconsin
- 129 service locations listed
- Nationwide
- On 37 of 44 state lists
- 12 months, filed fees
- $1,427–$1,552
- App rating
- 1.7 from 899 (App Store)
- In Wisconsin
- 65 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)
LifeSafer
Listed as “#1 A LifeSafer, Inc.”- In Wisconsin
- 61 service locations listed
- Nationwide
- On 34 of 44 state lists
- 12 months, filed fees
- $1,205–$1,355
Low Cost Interlock
Listed as “Low Cost”- In Wisconsin
- 45 service locations listed
- Nationwide
- On 19 of 44 state lists
- 12 months, filed fees
- $1,215–$1,365
- App rating
- 1.4 from 11 (App Store)
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 Wisconsin prices; see how we add them up.
How much an interlock costs in Wisconsin
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; National schedule, Sept 2026; New York filing, Feb 2021; New York filing, Apr 2025). Wisconsin prices can differ; calibration visits and lockout fees come on top.
If you can't afford it
If your household income is at or below 150% of the nonfarm federal poverty line, the court can limit what you owe to one-half of the cost of equipping each vehicle and one-half of the per-day cost of maintaining the device. Other fees, such as violation resets, are not reduced.
Financial help in other statesThe rules in Wisconsin
- Program run by
- The Wisconsin DOT Division of Motor Vehicles runs the program, and devices must be approved under Wis. Admin. Code Trans 313. Questions can go to baiid@dot.wi.gov.5
- How long it lasts
- The order lasts at least one year after the date DOT issues your license and can run up to the maximum revocation period for the offense, which DOT says is typically a minimum of 12 months. The restriction applies to each vehicle titled or registered to you, and motorcycles are excluded.6
- License you get
- You receive a Wisconsin driver license or a Wisconsin occupational license with an IID restriction.7
- State fees
- The court imposes a $50 ignition interlock surcharge, which you pay to the clerk of court. You also pay the reasonable cost of equipping and maintaining the device, and the statute sets no fee cap.8
- Typical yearly cost
- DOT estimates the average cost of one device at approximately $1,500 per year. Vendors' prices are updated quarterly on the DOT site.9
- Help paying
- If your household income is at or below 150% of the nonfarm federal poverty line, the court can limit what you owe to one-half of the cost of equipping each vehicle and one-half of the per-day cost of maintaining the device. Other fees, such as violation resets, are not reduced.10
- Getting it removed
- The service provider removes the device when your order ends, and DOT warns that early removal can cancel your driver license privileges. Starting September 1, 2027, a final service, data download and compliance review are required at the end of the order.11
- Violations
- Tampering with the device, removing it, or failing to install it is an IID violation with a fine of $350 to $1,100 and 5 days to 6 months in jail under Wis. Stat. 343.302. A reading at or above the 0.02 setpoint or a failed retest is also recorded as a violation, a reset within 7 days costs a fee, and from September 1, 2027 each listed event extends your order by 180 days.12
- Alcohol limit
- The device uses a 0.02 setpoint, and while you are subject to an IID order you may not drive with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.02.13
- Rolling retests
- Failing a rolling retest while you are driving records a violation and activates alert mode, which sets off the lights and horn.14
- Service visits
- The device needs calibration every 60 days, and it allows operation for up to 67 days after the last calibration.15
- Camera
- Each device includes a mounted camera.16
Questions about interlocks in Wisconsin
How long do you have to have an interlock in Wisconsin?
At least one year after the date DOT issues your license, and it can run up to the maximum revocation period for the offense. DOT says the minimum is typically 12 months. The restriction applies to each vehicle titled or registered to you, which does not include motorcycles, so the order you received is the best guide to your end date.6
How much does an ignition interlock cost in Wisconsin?
DOT estimates the average cost of one device at approximately $1,500 per year. Vendors set their own prices, and those prices are updated quarterly on the DOT site, so you can look up each company's current figures there before you choose one.9
Are there state fees on top of the device cost in Wisconsin?
Yes, the court imposes a $50 ignition interlock surcharge, which you pay to the clerk of court and which is passed on to the county treasurer. You also pay the reasonable cost of equipping and maintaining the device, and the statute sets no cap on that amount, so the vendor's price list matters.8
Is there help paying for an interlock in Wisconsin?
Yes, if your household income is at or below 150% of the nonfarm federal poverty line, and the court determines whether you qualify. In that case you pay one-half of the cost of equipping each vehicle and one-half of the per-day cost of maintaining the device. Other fees, such as violation resets, are not reduced.10
What happens if you tamper with or fail a test on a Wisconsin interlock?
Tampering with the device, removing it, or failing to install it is an IID violation with a fine of $350 to $1,100 and 5 days to 6 months in jail under Wis. Stat. 343.302. A reading at or above the 0.02 setpoint or a failed retest is also recorded as a violation. From September 1, 2027, each listed event extends your order by 180 days.12
How do you get an interlock removed in Wisconsin?
The service provider removes the device when your order ends. Leaving it in until then matters because DOT says early removal can lead to your driver license privileges being cancelled. Starting September 1, 2027, a final service, data download and compliance review are required at the end of the order.11
Related guides
InterlockCompare is independent and doesn't make, sell or install interlocks. Not legal advice.