Updated May 2026
What Is Ignition Interlock Insurance Insurance?
Ignition interlock insurance is not a separate coverage type. It's liability insurance—bodily injury and property damage coverage—purchased from a carrier willing to file SR-22 or FR-44 proof-of-insurance certificates for drivers with DUI convictions who must install an IID. The device prevents your car from starting if it detects alcohol on your breath. The insurance proves you're carrying state-minimum coverage while the device is installed. Georgia requires SR-22 for 3 years post-DUI, typically concurrent with IID installation periods of 12 months for first-offense cases. North Carolina and Ohio follow similar paths with state-specific duration rules.
- You're convicted of DUI in Georgia. The court orders 12 months of IID installation. DDS requires SR-22 filing for 3 years. You purchase liability coverage meeting Georgia's 25/50/25 minimums—$25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage. Your carrier files SR-22 electronically with DDS. Monthly premium: $220–$280 compared to $110 pre-conviction. IID costs $85/month separately. Total monthly stack: $305–$365.
- You receive a second DUI conviction in North Carolina. The court schedules an LDP hearing within 60 days and orders 3 years of IID. DMV requires 3 years of SR-22. You apply for an LDP to drive to work and mandatory treatment. Your carrier issues a policy with 30/60/25 minimum liability and files SR-22. Premium increases from $135/month to $310/month. IID monitoring adds $95/month. Application fee for the LDP: $100. Total first-year cost: $5,940 in premiums plus $1,140 in IID fees.
- Ohio orders Limited Driving Privileges at sentencing for your first DUI. The court restricts you to work, treatment, and medical appointments with IID required for 6 months minimum. BMV requires SR-22 for 3 years. You purchase 25/50/25 liability coverage. Monthly premium: $245 after an 89% increase from your $130 pre-DUI rate. IID: $75/month. SR-22 filing fee: $35. The SR-22 continues for 2.5 years after your IID period ends—dropping coverage early suspends your license immediately.
How Much Does Ignition Interlock Insurance Insurance Cost?
Liability coverage with SR-22 filing for IID-required drivers costs $220–$340/month ($2,640–$4,080/year), an 89–120% increase over standard rates. Non-owner SR-22 policies for drivers without a vehicle cost $85–$150/month.
- DUI conviction count—second offenses increase premiums 140–180% compared to 89–120% for first offenses
- IID installation period ordered by court—longer device requirements signal higher risk to carriers and correlate with 15–25% higher premiums
- State minimum liability limits—Georgia's 25/50/25 costs less than purchasing higher 100/300/100 limits, though agents often push unnecessary coverage increases
- SR-22 vs FR-44 filing—Virginia and Florida FR-44 filers pay 10–18% more than SR-22 filers because FR-44 requires double the liability limits
- Carrier willingness to file—only 60% of major carriers file SR-22 for DUI drivers, and non-standard carriers charge 20–35% more than standard market rates
- Lapse history—a single SR-22 lapse extends your filing period and increases premiums another 18–30% at reinstatement
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Who Needs Ignition Interlock Insurance Insurance?
You need ignition interlock insurance if you've been convicted of DUI in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Utah, Alaska, or DC and the court or DMV has ordered IID installation as a condition of limited driving privileges or license reinstatement. It's also required if you're applying for a Limited Driving Permit in Georgia or North Carolina and the DDS or DMV mandates SR-22 proof-of-insurance filing. Without the policy and active SR-22, your LDP application is denied or your restricted license is suspended.
If you have a DUI conviction and want to drive legally during suspension, you must purchase liability insurance from an SR-22-filing carrier and maintain it without lapse for the full 3-year period in Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio. The decision is binary: carry the coverage and file SR-22, or don't drive. Dropping coverage before the filing period ends resets your entire SR-22 clock and triggers immediate suspension.