Frequently Asked Questions

An ignition interlock device (IID) is a small, discreet breathalyzer that is professionally installed in your vehicle — typically near the steering column or dashboard — that interrupts the vehicle ignition system. Before you can start your car, you'll need to blow into the device to provide a breath sample. If your breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) is at or above the preset limit — usually 0.02 in Minnesota — the vehicle will not start. The device is designed to prevent impaired driving while still allowing you to drive freely when sober. It does not affect your vehicle's performance, and most passengers won't even notice it's there. Call Now: 952-224-7050

In Minnesota, an ignition interlock device is typically required after a DWI-related offense as part of your driver's license reinstatement process. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the courts determine whether you need one based on the specifics of your case — including the number of offenses, your blood alcohol level at the time of arrest, whether your license was revoked or canceled, and several other factors. You can check your current license status through the Minnesota DVS website, or call us at 952-224-7050 and we'll help you figure out exactly what's required for your situation. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Getting started is simple. Call us at 952-224-7050 or fill out the form on our Get Started page. One of our team members will walk you through your specific requirements, explain the process step by step, answer any questions you have, and schedule your installation at a time and location that works for you. We can help you handle all the paperwork and coordination with the state, so you don't have to worry about navigating the process alone. Most clients are fully set up and driving within a few days of their first call. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Basic installation typically takes about one to two hours. During the appointment, our certified technician will install the device in your vehicle, make sure everything is working properly, and then walk you through a hands-on training session. You'll learn how to provide breath samples, what the device tones and lights mean, how rolling retests work, and what to do if you encounter any issues. We make sure you feel completely comfortable before you leave. If you have multiple vehicles, each one will need its own device installed. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Using the device is straightforward. When you're ready to start your car, you'll blow into the mouthpiece with a steady breath for a few seconds. The device will analyze your breath sample and, if your alcohol level is below the limit, your vehicle will start normally. The entire process generally takes less than 30 seconds. You'll hear a tone and see a light indicator that tells you the result. Our team provides thorough training during installation so you'll feel confident using the device from day one. If you ever have questions or need a refresher, our 24/7 support line is always available. Call Now: 952-224-7050

No, the device draws very minimal power and will not drain your car battery under normal driving conditions. The unit is designed to be energy-efficient and only uses a small amount of power when actively in use. However, if your vehicle sits unused for an extended period (several weeks or more), we recommend starting your car periodically to keep the battery charged — this is good practice for any vehicle, regardless of whether an interlock device is installed. If you do experience any battery-related concerns, our support team can help troubleshoot. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Yes — and this is one of the things that sets Smart Start MN apart. Our removable equipment is specifically designed for Minnesota's harsh winters. The head unit of the device is removable and can be brought with you. This allows you to keep the head unit warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which will ensure that the device is always ready for taking a test. If you have a vehicle you only drive seasonally, or if you need to store a vehicle during the winter months, we can arrange for temporary removal and reinstallation. This flexibility is especially helpful for clients with motorcycles, convertibles, or recreational vehicles. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and we'll work out the best plan for you. Call Now: 952-224-7050

A rolling retest is a random breath test that the device requests while you are driving. You will be asked to provide a rolling retest within 4 to 8 minutes after you start the vehicle, and then on a random schedule every 15–45 minutes. You'll have up to ten minutes to safely pull over or provide the sample — the removable head unit is designed to be easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. Rolling retests are a standard part of interlock programs across the country and are required by Minnesota law. They are designed to ensure that the person who started the vehicle is the same person driving, and that no alcohol has been consumed after the initial test. Call Now: 952-224-7050

If you miss a rolling retest, the device will log the event as a missed test. It's important to know that the device will never shut off your engine or disable your vehicle while you're driving — that would be a safety hazard. However, your horn may honk or your lights may flash until you provide a sample or turn off the vehicle. Missed tests will be recorded in your device's data log and reported to Driver and Vehicle Services. While it is a violation of the Ignition Interlock Program's rules to skip or miss a test, you will not be sanctioned for a single missed test. However, you will be sanctioned for missing or skipping 3 tests in any 7-day period. We recommend that you never leave your vehicle running unattended. If you accidentally miss a test, don't panic — just provide a sample as soon as it's safe to do so, and call us if you have concerns. Call Now: 952-224-7050

If your breath sample registers at or above the preset alcohol limit (.02), the device will prevent your car from starting. You'll need to wait through a temporary lockout period — usually about 5 minutes — before you can try again. This is completely normal and happens more often than people think, sometimes due to residual mouth alcohol from mouthwash, certain foods, or medications. If you believe a positive reading is not related to consumed alcohol, rinse your mouth with water, air your vehicle out, wait a few minutes until the temporary lock has expired, and try again. If you continue to have trouble, call our 24/7 support line at 800-880-3394 and they will help you figure out what's going on and get you back on the road. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Yes, the device records all breath test results — both passes and fails — along with timestamps and other data. This information is transmitted in real time and provided to Driver and Vehicle Services. A single failed test followed by a passing test within 10 minutes is usually not cause for alarm, as it may be attributed to mouth alcohol or other non-drinking factors, and would not be reported to Driver and Vehicle Services as a violation. However, patterns of failed tests or other violations could result in consequences such as program extension or additional requirements. Our team is here to help you understand how to stay compliant and avoid unnecessary violations. Call Now: 952-224-7050

A violation occurs when you have broken the Program's rules. Examples include (but are not limited to): a positive alcohol test in the last 90 days of the Program; skipping rolling retests (3 times in any 7-day period); tampering or attempting to circumvent the use of the interlock device; and any amount of alcohol at any time if you have an "Any use of alcohol or drugs invalidates this license" restriction. This does NOT include a positive alcohol test for a revoked driver who has not reached the final 90 days in the Program. Violations have graduated levels of penalties: an alcohol violation in the final 90 days extends the driver out until they have completed 90 days alcohol-free; a positive alcohol test for someone with a "no use" restriction will be extended for an additional year; other violations result in extensions of 180 days (1st violation), 365 days (2nd violation), and 545 days (3rd and all subsequent violations). Call Now: 952-224-7050

A lockout occurs when the device prevents your car from starting. This can happen for several reasons: a failed breath test, a missed calibration appointment, a device tampering alert, reaching the end of a service period without getting your device calibrated, or otherwise failing to comply with the rules of the Ignition Interlock Program. Some lockouts can be resolved by addressing issues on your client portal, while others may require an unlock code from our team. If your device is in lockout mode, call us immediately at 952-224-7050 — we're available 24/7 and can usually get you an unlock code within minutes. There is generally no additional fee for lockout assistance. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Smart Start MN cannot remove or fix a violation, and neither can Smart Start, Inc. Only Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) has the authority to remove a violation. What we can do is review your account to see if there is a legitimate issue with how the violation was recorded. If you wish to formally challenge a violation, you'll need to request an Administrative Review through DVS. Call us at 952-224-7050 and we'll walk you through your options and what information you may need to gather. Call Now: 952-224-7050

A lockout occurs when the device "permanently" prevents the vehicle from being started. This could happen if you have skipped a payment, a calibration, or a required service; or it could be the result of a violation that requires the service center to calibrate and inspect the interlock unit. All lockouts are preceded by a countdown that is visible on the handset at start up, and when the handset is otherwise not asking to provide a test sample. This countdown may vary, depending on the violation type, anywhere from 5 days to 10 days. Any countdown on the device will result in a lockout at the end of that countdown. A lockout code offers a temporary solution to the "permanent" lockout. The lockout code unlocks the vehicle for 5 hours. During this period, the ignition interlock behaves exactly as it normally would — requiring tests to start the vehicle, asking for rolling retests, and recording and transmitting testing data to the State. At the end of that 5-hour code, the vehicle will again go into a lockout state and would require another lockout code to operate the vehicle. Call Now: 952-224-7050

In order to receive a lockout code, you will need to be with your vehicle. Call Smart Start MN at 952-224-7050 and follow the phone tree prompts to reach the Smart Start HelpDesk, who can assist with obtaining the lockout code. You will need to provide some information from your device, and then HelpDesk will generate a code for you. Once you have entered the code (HelpDesk will assist you in doing that), your vehicle will be unlocked to drive for 5 hours. During this 5-hour unlock period, we highly recommend that you clear up whatever issues have resulted in your vehicle being in lockout. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Generally, no. Most Smart Start MN price plans do not charge for lockout codes. However, there are several unusual circumstances in which lockout codes might not be free. Feel free to ask about this during your setup with a Smart Start agent. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Yes. Anyone can drive a vehicle equipped with the ignition interlock device — it is not just the Program Participant/customer who is allowed to drive the vehicle. There are, however, some things to be aware of: The customer is always responsible for any testing that occurs on the device. If a person other than the customer is using the vehicle, the customer is responsible for any of the testing and/or violations that occur. For example, if there is a positive alcohol test, the customer could be sanctioned for that test, just as if it had been the customer. Whoever is driving the vehicle must be the person providing the tests — a Program Participant cannot sit in the passenger seat providing tests while someone else drives. That would be a tamper/circumvention violation reported to the State. Similarly, if the vehicle is being driven, all requested tests must be provided. Even if the driver is not in the Ignition Interlock Program, they are still required to provide all tests, and the failure to do so may result in violations that could significantly extend the customer's time in the Program. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Yes — to the extent that a driver inexperienced in using an ignition interlock will not know how to properly provide a test sample or how the device requires breath to be delivered. A driver who is not in the Ignition Interlock Program does not need to be trained by a Smart Start service center, but the Program Participant who is allowing their vehicle to be used by someone else should ensure that the other driver is properly trained and understands what is required of them to use the vehicle. As noted above, the Program Participant is ultimately responsible for any violations on the ignition interlock device. Call Now: 952-224-7050

The ignition interlock needs to be physically serviced and calibrated every 60 days. The device also needs to be paid for at least every 30 days. The failure to properly complete those services will result in a Skipped Calibration violation being reported to the State. That violation report will result in an extension of your time in the Program, so it is very important to both pay and calibrate on time. Call Now: 952-224-7050

During a calibration, the Smart Start system ensures that all data has previously been downloaded over-the-air, the system checks for any necessary software/firmware updates that need to be completed, and the ignition interlock unit is calibrated against a gas that has a known amount of alcohol suspended in it, to ensure that the device is properly reporting test results. At the conclusion of that process, the service center will check you out of the service, take any payment that might be due, and you are then on your way. Call Now: 952-224-7050

No, calibration is built into our industry-leading flat-fee pricing. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Flat Fee Pricing is an industry-first method of providing transparency to pricing that differs from all other providers. At Smart Start MN, we believe that it is important for you to understand what you are paying for each and every month. That is why we introduced our Flat Fee Pricing model in 2007. As we investigated the industry, we learned that the price people pay generally is unrelated to what they were told the monthly lease for the ignition interlock would be each month. While other companies were selling potential customers on the lease cost, they were failing to explain all of the other potential costs that an individual might experience. Some costs — such as a maintenance fee or an insurance fee — were charged every single month in addition to the quoted lease fee; other charges were dependent on factors that may have been in the lease but were never explained to the customers of other manufacturers. The extra fees might include a late fee (up to $35.00) if you did not show up within 15 minutes of your scheduled appointment, a missed appointment fee (up to $40.00) if you missed your appointment altogether (despite the fact that Driver and Vehicle Services mandates a 7-day grace period), an off-appointment fee (up to $40.00) if you needed to service your interlock on a date in which you did not have an appointment, or a lockout fee (up to $87.50) if your device entered into a lockout condition or required early service. At Smart Start MN, we don't believe in misleading you about the cost of ignition interlock. Instead, we tell you up front what your actual monthly cost will be — and that is it. No hidden fees. No extra required fees. No bait and switch on your pricing. Just one monthly fee that includes everything you need to move through the Ignition Interlock Program. Call us today to find out more about how our Flat Fee Pricing can give you peace of mind. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Your time in the Ignition Interlock Program is going to be related to several factors: how many total DWIs you have had in your life, when those DWIs occurred, and whether you have had any violations of the Program guidelines during your time that the interlock has been installed. Recent changes to the Ignition Interlock Program requirements have substantially modified the time periods that someone might need to be in the Program. These changes have made calculating your time in the Program increasingly difficult. Call us today to let one of our experienced agents walk through your history with you so that they can provide you with the best information about what a program for you would look like. Call Now: 952-224-7050

As a starting point, Smart Start MN does not make any decisions about your Ignition Interlock Program length — only Driver and Vehicle Services is empowered to decide how long your time in the Ignition Interlock Program will be. Some time shortly before your last 90 days in the Program, Driver and Vehicle Services will send you a letter explaining how your Program will end. It will provide the Final Day in the Program and explain that Program data for the last 90 days (including the Final Day) will need to be collected, and that once that date has passed, Driver and Vehicle Services will need several days to review your data. A letter will then be sent advising that the Program has been completed and explaining the final steps that must be taken. Once Driver and Vehicle Services has determined that you have adequately completed the Interlock Program, the Ignition Interlock restriction will be removed from your driver's license requirements and you will be eligible to apply for a new, unrestricted driver's license. We highly recommend that you complete this step before removing the interlock. At that point, you can simply schedule a removal with your regular service center, and once the removal is complete, your time in the Ignition Interlock Program will be over. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Absolutely — helping you stay compliant is one of our top priorities. We actively monitor your account and send reminders for upcoming calibration appointments so you never miss one. Our 24/7 support team is always available to answer questions, troubleshoot device issues, provide unlock codes, and offer guidance on how to avoid common violations. We also provide educational resources and training videos. We understand that going through an interlock program can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone — our team has helped thousands of Minnesotans successfully complete their programs, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Call Now: 952-224-7050

Once Driver and Vehicle Services has confirmed that you have completed the Ignition Interlock Program and removed the interlock restriction from your driver's license, you can schedule a removal appointment at your regular service center. Our technician will carefully remove the device and all associated wiring from your vehicle, restoring everything to its original condition. Removal is included in your flat-fee pricing, so there is no additional charge. We recommend confirming with DVS that all your requirements have been met before scheduling removal to ensure a smooth transition back to an unrestricted license. Call us at 952-224-7050 and we'll help you coordinate the final step. Call Now: 952-224-7050