Expect to spend roughly $1,100 to $1,700 out of pocket for a one-year ignition interlock in PA. That figure covers the $85 PennDOT license fee, installation, twelve months of device lease and calibration, and removal at the end. It does not include the auto insurance increase that follows a DUI, which for most drivers will end up costing more than the device itself.
The $85 PennDOT License Fee
Before a vendor will install anything, you need an Ignition Interlock Limited License from PennDOT. The application fee is $85 and is non-refundable.1Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Non-Commercial Driver Licensing Fee Chart Fact Sheet You apply by mailing a completed petition by certified mail to PennDOT’s Bureau of Driver Licensing, with proof of insurance for every vehicle listed.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for an Ignition Interlock Limited Driver’s License Driver license centers cannot process it in person.
Installation
Once PennDOT approves the restricted license, an approved vendor installs the device. The one-time installation fee generally runs $70 to $150, though vehicles with more complicated electrical systems can push it higher. The charge covers wiring the unit into your ignition, initial calibration, and instructions on how to use it.
Monthly Lease and Calibration
The monthly lease is where most of your money goes. PennDOT estimates the yearly lease cost at $900 to $1,300, which works out to about $75 to $108 a month.3Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Ignition Interlock Fact Sheet That covers the device rental, data downloads sent to PennDOT, and required calibration visits, which happen every 30 days.
Some vendors fold calibration into the monthly price. Others charge an extra $20 to $25 per visit on top. Ask before you sign, because a “cheap” monthly rate with add-on calibration can end up more expensive than an all-in quote.
Removal
At the end of your interlock period, the vendor removes the device, restores the original wiring, performs a final data download, and sends a compliance certification to PennDOT. Removal typically costs $75 to $150.
How Long You Pay
Most drivers subject to the requirement keep the device for one year from the date the restricted license is issued. First-time DUI offenders at the lowest penalty tier, with no prior offenses and no Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition in the last ten years, are exempt from the interlock requirement entirely.4Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – 3805 – Ignition Interlock
The one-year clock does not stop on its own. Your vendor must certify that in the final two consecutive months you had no failed retests, no breath samples at or above 0.08% BAC, and no missed service appointments.4Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – 3805 – Ignition Interlock Trip any of those in the last two months and the two-month window resets, which quietly adds lease payments to your total.
Extra Provider Charges
Smaller fees show up along the way. Missing a calibration appointment can lock the device out, and vendors typically charge for the unlock code. Physical damage to the unit can be expensive to replace; some providers sell a device protection plan for around $10 a month, which can be worth it for long commutes or rough roads.
PennDOT does not set vendor pricing, so installation, monthly, and removal costs vary between companies. The Pennsylvania DUI Association keeps a list of approved vendors, and calling two or three for quotes is the easiest way to bring your total down.5Pennsylvania DUI Association. Ignition Interlock Vendor List
Ways to Lower Your Total
Employer Vehicle Exemption
If your job requires you to drive a company-owned vehicle, you may not need an interlock in that vehicle. The employer must complete and notarize an Ignition Interlock Employment Exemption Affidavit (Form DL-3805) describing the vehicle, your work schedule, and where you drive for work. You have to carry the completed form whenever you drive the vehicle; driving without it is treated like driving without an interlock.6Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ignition Interlock Employment Exemption Affidavit
The exemption does not apply to school buses or vehicles designed to carry more than 15 passengers. It also does not apply if you own or partially own the business, or if the employer vehicle is available for personal use.6Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ignition Interlock Employment Exemption Affidavit
Hardship Exemption for Multi-Vehicle Households
Pennsylvania normally requires an interlock on every vehicle you own or are registered to drive, which means separate installations and monthly leases for each. The hardship exemption lets you install the device on one vehicle.7Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ignition Interlock FAQs
To qualify, your adjusted gross household income on your most recent federal tax return has to be below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines for your family size. For a single-person household in 2026, that threshold is $31,920. You can also qualify by documenting participation in a qualifying governmental assistance program.8Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. Pennsylvania Code Chapter 88 – Ignition Interlock
Skipping the Device Costs More, Not Less
Driving a vehicle that should have an interlock but doesn’t is a misdemeanor under Pennsylvania law, carrying a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail. A first conviction also adds 12 months to your interlock period from the date of conviction.9Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – 3808 – Illegally Operating a Motor Vehicle Not Equipped With Ignition Interlock A second conviction during the same restricted license period adds a 12-month license suspension on top of the interlock requirement.10Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Ignition Interlock Law Frequently Asked Questions Tampering with the device carries the same base penalties.
The Cost That Outlasts the Device
A DUI conviction in Pennsylvania roughly doubles the average cost of auto insurance, and that increase typically lasts three to five years. Pennsylvania does not require an SR-22 financial responsibility filing, which saves you the $25 filing fee some other states charge, but the premium increase alone will usually exceed what you paid for the interlock.
Budget around $1,100 to $1,700 for the device itself over a one-year period, plus whatever your insurer adds to your premium. The device cost is predictable and ends when the year is up. The insurance increase is larger and stays with you for years after that.