Georgia requires an ignition interlock device mainly after a second DUI within 5 years. After a 120-day suspension with no driving at all, you may drive again, but only with an interlock device installed for 12 months and an ignition interlock limited permit from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
Interlock permits also come up right after an arrest, when you can choose one instead of fighting the administrative suspension, and after a third DUI. This guide covers each situation, the permit requirements, the provider fee caps, what counts as a violation, the financial hardship exemption, and how you get the device off and your license back.
What is an ignition interlock device?
DDS describes an ignition interlock device (IID) as a breath alcohol analyzer connected to your vehicle's ignition. You blow into it before driving, and if your breath alcohol is over the preset limit, the vehicle won't start. DDS Rule 375-3-6-.03 defines it as a constant monitoring system designed to prevent driving with an alcohol concentration of more than 0.02, and it includes random retests while you drive.
DDS's Regulatory Compliance Division certifies the provider centers that install, maintain, recalibrate and remove the devices, and publishes a list of certified providers and a list of approved devices on its website. DDS says taking part in the program requires a Georgia limited permit and is mandatory for people with multiple alcohol-related traffic offenses.
Who must have an ignition interlock in Georgia, and for how long
| Situation | What happens | Time on the device |
|---|---|---|
| Second DUI in 5 years, incident on or after July 1, 2013 | At least 18-month suspension. No driving for 120 days, then an interlock permit | 12 months |
| Second DUI in 5 years, incident January 1 to June 30, 2013 | Same | 8 months |
| Second DUI in 5 years, incident before January 1, 2013 | Same | 6 months |
| Second DUI in 5 years, court granted a financial hardship exemption | No permit of any kind for 12 months | None, but a 12-month hard suspension |
| Second DUI in 5 years, not a Georgia resident | Court manual: no interlock, but an 18-month hard suspension instead | None |
| Third DUI in 5 years (habitual violator) | 5-year revocation; probationary license possible after 2 years, with an interlock restriction when the declaration rests on two or more DUIs | 6, 8 or 12 months based on the arrest date |
| After an arrest, you took the test (administrative suspension) | You may choose an interlock permit instead of a hearing | 4 months |
| After an arrest, you refused the test | You may choose an interlock permit instead of a hearing; no regular permit is available | 12 months, even if the DUI is later dismissed |
| Court-ordered condition | A judge can require the device as part of your sentence | Set by the court order |
Sources: DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10 for the second-DUI periods, the Driver's Manual for the 120-day hard suspension and third DUI, the DDS fees page for the 4- and 12-month permit terms, and the Traffic Court Reference Manual for the hardship, non-resident and habitual violator rows.
The ignition interlock permit after a second DUI
DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10(6) lists what you must give DDS to get an interlock permit after a second DUI conviction within 5 years:
- Proof of installation of an approved ignition interlock device on any vehicle you'll drive with the permit.
- A certificate of completion from a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program.
- Authorization from the court that handled your DUI, and enrollment in a drug court or in clinical treatment that meets O.C.G.A. § 40-5-63.1.
The DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual describes the same steps in more detail. It says you submit an original Risk Reduction certificate, official proof of enrollment in (or completion of) a DBHDD-approved substance abuse treatment program if your clinical evaluation requires it, or permission from the court if you're in a DUI Court program, proof of installation from a DDS-approved vendor, and a $25 permit fee. The permit under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64.1 is valid for one year, and a two-month renewal is $5.
Step by step
- Serve the 120-day hard suspension. The Driver's Manual says you have no driving privileges at all during this period, and the permit isn't available until it ends.
- Finish DUI school. The Risk Reduction Program is a 130-question assessment and a 20-hour class, $360 at every DDS-certified school, and it must be completed after the violation date. See our Georgia DUI school guide.
- Get the clinical evaluation and start any treatment. DDS requires the evaluation after two or more DUI convictions in 10 years. Evaluators and treatment providers are registered with DBHDD, which publishes a search tool. Read Second DUI in Georgia: the clinical evaluation.
- Get the court's authorization for the permit, or your DUI court's permission if your case is in that program.
- Have a DDS-certified provider install an approved device and give you the proof-of-installation form DDS prescribes.
- Apply at a DDS Customer Service Center with the documents above and $25. Centers are closed on Monday, and DDS asks you to complete its online form before visiting.
- Keep every 30-day monitoring visit for the full period. The permit lets you drive to those visits.
The interlock permit after an arrest
After a DUI arrest, DDS can suspend your license administratively, separate from your court case, based on the officer's DDS-1205 form. The Traffic Court Reference Manual says you can request an ignition interlock limited permit instead of an administrative hearing if you are 21 or older, hold a Georgia license, aren't facing an administrative suspension for a crash with injuries or deaths, and have no other active suspensions, cancellations, denials or revocations.
The request must be made within 30 days of being served with the DDS-1205. If you don't request the permit or a hearing in time, the right to a hearing is waived. If the permit is issued, you waive the hearing. CDL holders are downgraded and lose commercial privileges for the length of the suspension. A hearing request carries a non-refundable $150 filing fee and is submitted through DDS Online Services, by mail or at a Customer Service Center.
If you refused the test, this choice sticks. The court manual says that if you take the interlock permit for a refusal suspension, you must keep it for the full 12-month monitoring period even if your DUI charge is later dismissed or reduced. If you took the test, the manual says the certificate and fee you use to reinstate the administrative suspension can be applied to the conviction suspension for the same DUI. Choosing between the permit and a hearing is a legal decision. Talk to your attorney first.
Provider fees and monthly monitoring
DDS Rule 375-3-6-.04 sets the rules every certified provider center must follow. The parts that affect you directly:
- Fee caps. Fees may not exceed $75 for each installation, de-installation or security deposit, and $75 for each inspection and recalibration every 30 days.
- When fees can be charged. A provider may charge an installation fee and collect a security deposit at installation, but no installation or monitoring fee may be charged before the service is provided.
- Monitoring. The provider must inspect and recalibrate the device every 30 days, measured from the installation date.
- Repairs. The provider repairs or replaces a malfunctioning device at its own expense, but you pay for damage caused by user mistreatment. The manufacturer must provide a warranty of at least one year under Rule 375-3-6-.06.
- Paperwork. The provider gives you proof of installation on the DDS form, oral and written instructions for using the device, and must see proof that DDS or the court authorized removal before taking the device out.
- Reporting. The provider must report any sign of circumvention or tampering in writing to the court that ordered the device within 5 days of discovering it, and must give DDS or the court any records about your device on request.
What counts as a violation
DDS Rule 375-3-6-.03 defines "circumvention and tampering" as an overt, conscious attempt to bypass the device by:
- Providing a sample other than your own natural, unaltered breath.
- Failing to provide a breath sample when a random moving retest asks for one.
- Starting the vehicle without using the ignition switch, or any other way of starting it without first taking and passing a breath test.
- Physically tampering with the device to disable it or disconnect it from its power source.
Every device must carry a DDS warning label stating that a user who knowingly or through negligence allows tampering or circumvention is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both.
What revokes the interlock permit
According to the Traffic Court Reference Manual, DDS revokes an ignition interlock permit for a conviction for any law relating to the movement of vehicles, a conviction for violating the permit's restrictions (a misdemeanor), failing to attend or complete a required treatment program, or notice from the provider that the device was tampered with, you missed monitoring, or the device was removed before the term ended. After a revocation, you can't apply for reinstatement for 6 months, and an additional 6-month suspension may be imposed.
The manual also lists statutory exceptions in O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64.1 that can avoid a revocation with sufficient proof, including driving for the normal duties of your job, scheduled medical care, school, treatment support meetings, court-ordered classes, court or supervision appointments, transporting unlicensed immediate family, incarceration, a vehicle rendered inoperable, accountability court programs and monthly monitoring visits.
Is there an ignition interlock waiver for financial hardship?
Yes, but it costs you time. A sentencing court can exempt a person from the interlock requirement because of financial hardship under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111(a)(1). DDS Rule 375-3-3-.10 says a person with that exemption can't get any limited permit until they've served at least 12 months of the suspension. The court manual describes it as a 12-month hard suspension, after which the remaining time is served on a regular limited permit.
The waiver is granted by the court, not by DDS, a provider or your DUI school. If you think you may qualify, raise it with your attorney before sentencing.
How removal and full reinstatement work
When your time is up, the device doesn't come off on its own. Rule 375-3-6-.04 requires the provider to see proof that DDS or the court authorized de-installation. For a second DUI in 5 years, the court manual and Rule 375-3-3-.10 describe the sequence this way:
- Show DDS proof the device was maintained for the required period (12 months for incidents on or after July 1, 2013) without incident.
- Show proof of treatment, if your clinical evaluation required it. If you already gave DDS proof of completion when the permit was issued, you don't need to give it again. If no treatment was recommended, present a "Requirements Met" certificate instead.
- Pay $100 to remove the interlock restriction. DDS's fees page says this is in addition to any reinstatement fees.
- Hold a permit without the interlock restriction for the rest of the suspension. Rule 375-3-3-.10(8) says you become eligible for it after the interlock period if you're otherwise eligible.
- Reinstate at the end of the 18 months. The court manual lists a $210 reinstatement fee, or $200 online or by mail. DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 also requires an SR-22 kept for three years from the conviction date, at the higher limits set for a second conviction: $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, $100,000 property damage.
For the full picture, see getting your license back after a DUI and the Georgia limited driving permit.
What an ignition interlock costs in Georgia
| Cost | Amount | Paid to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignition interlock limited permit | $25 | DDS | DDS fees and terms |
| Interlock permit renewal (2 months) | $5 | DDS | DDS fees and terms |
| Removing the interlock restriction | $100, plus any reinstatement fees | DDS | DDS fees and terms |
| Installation | Up to $75 | Provider | Rule 375-3-6-.04 |
| Security deposit at installation | Up to $75 | Provider | Rule 375-3-6-.04 |
| Inspection and recalibration, every 30 days | Up to $75 each (about 12 visits over a year) | Provider | Rule 375-3-6-.04 |
| De-installation | Up to $75 | Provider | Rule 375-3-6-.04 |
| Reinstatement fee, second DUI in 5 years | $210, or $200 online or by mail | DDS | DDS court manual |
| Risk Reduction Program | $360 | The school | DDS DUI FAQs |
| Clinical evaluation and any treatment | Varies; $150 for the evaluation at Athena | Evaluator or provider | DDS DUI FAQs |
| ALS hearing request (if you choose a hearing instead) | $150, non-refundable | DDS | DDS court manual |
Any charge outside the capped items, such as lease or lockout fees, varies by provider and isn't addressed in the DDS rules we reviewed. Ask for a full written price list before you sign a contract, and keep every receipt.
Timeline: a second DUI in 5 years
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Conviction | License seized; 18-month suspension begins; no driving at all. |
| Days 1 to 120 | Hard suspension. Finish DUI school, get the clinical evaluation, start treatment if required, arrange court authorization. |
| Day 120 | Device installed by a certified provider; interlock permit issued, $25. |
| Every 30 days | Inspection and recalibration at the provider, up to $75 each. |
| About month 16 | 12 months on the device complete. Proof of compliance and treatment to DDS; $100 to remove the restriction; regular limited permit for the rest of the suspension. |
| Month 18 | Suspension ends. Reinstatement fee paid; SR-22 stays on file for 3 years from the conviction date. |
Key terms
- Ignition interlock device (IID). A breath alcohol analyzer wired to the ignition, designed to prevent driving with an alcohol concentration above 0.02.
- Ignition interlock limited permit. The $25 DDS permit under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64.1 that allows restricted driving only in a vehicle with the device.
- Hard suspension. A period with no driving privileges at all, such as the first 120 days after a second DUI in 5 years.
- Provider center. A DDS-certified facility that installs, monitors, recalibrates and removes devices.
- Circumvention and tampering. Any conscious attempt to bypass the device, as defined in Rule 375-3-6-.03; a misdemeanor.
- Clinical evaluation. A substance use evaluation by a DBHDD-registered evaluator, required to reinstate after two or more DUIs in 10 years.
- Requirements Met certificate. The document you present at reinstatement when your evaluation recommended no treatment.
- Financial hardship exemption. A court order under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-111(a)(1) excusing the device, at the cost of 12 months with no permit.
If you're in Athens-Clarke County
Interlock permits are issued at DDS Customer Service Centers. The Athens center at 1505 US Highway 29 North is open Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon, and DDS says it closed on October 3, 2026. The new Oconee center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622, serves the area from October 6, 2026, Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If your case is in the Athens-Clarke County DUI/Drug Court, which the State Court says provides intensive supervision, treatment and counseling to reduce DUI recidivism, the court's permission is one of the routes to the interlock permit described in the DDS court manual. State Court is at 325 East Washington Street, Suite 425, Athens, GA 30601, 706-613-3200.
Questions to ask
- Your attorney: Should I request an interlock permit or a hearing within the 30 days after my arrest? Am I a candidate for the financial hardship exemption, and is 12 months with no permit worth it?
- The court or your probation officer: Will the court authorize the interlock permit, and what does my sentence require beyond DDS's rules?
- The provider: What is every charge, including anything beyond the $75 caps? What happens if the device fails or I'm locked out? Where do I go for the 30-day visits?
- Your evaluator: Was treatment recommended, and will you give me the paperwork DDS needs for the permit and for reinstatement?
- DDS (678-413-8400): What does my record show, and what date does my interlock period start and end?
What to keep
Keep the proof-of-installation form, every monitoring receipt, your Risk Reduction certificate, your clinical evaluation and treatment paperwork, the court's authorization and your DDS permit receipt. DDS wants proof the device was maintained without incident for the full period, so your own records matter. DDS rules only require schools to keep student records for three years, so keep your certificate too.
How Athena handles it
Athena DUI Academy & Family Enrichment in Athens offers the DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program (RRP Cert #10432) for the state price of $360, live online or in person, and clinical evaluations for $150. Both are steps toward the interlock permit after a second DUI. Register online or call 706.215.9661 to join the next scheduled class, and see our DUI school in Athens page for details.