Thirty days prior to the end of the one year suspension the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will send a letter to the offender containing a Restoration Requirements Letter. The person must then complete the application included, pay the fees, and have the ignition interlock device installed on all vehicles by a PennDOT authorized Installation Service Center. A list of the Installation Service Centers in Pennsylvania is provided in the Restoration Requirements Letter.

The applicant must also submit a Self-Certification of Vehicle(s) Owned/Operated form (DL-21SC) to the vendor. The vendor will then verify this information. After installation of the ignition interlock the vendor will send the Certification to PennDOT. The Ignition Interlock License will then be issued after the end of the one year suspension period.

The licensee must be the cost of the installation and leasing of the interlock system from the authorized interlock installer. Costs vary depending on the installation center, but leasing for one year typically costs approximately $1,000. However, a licensee whose income is below 200% of the poverty level may apply for a hardship exemption.

Further, if a person does not own a car they still must complete the Certification form and submit it to a vendor who will then verify it and send the Certification on to PennDOT. This must be done before PennDOT will grant an ignition interlock license.

Remember, if a person with an Ignition Interlock License is stopped by police the car they are driving must be equipped with an ignition interlock device. If the vehicle they are driving is not equipped with an ignition interlock device they may be charged with operating a motor vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device. If convicted this charge could result in fines or imprisonment and an extension of the ignition interlock period for 12 months from the date of conviction for a first offense or a 12 month suspension followed by compliance with the ignition interlock law for second and subsequent offenses.

It is also important to note that all people attempting to operate a vehicle with an ignition interlock device attached will have to blow into the device in order to operate the vehicle. Therefore, a family car or company car equipped with the device that is used by other people will have to have those operators use the ignition interlock device. These devices generally have replaceable mouth pieces.

To obtain an unrestricted driver’s license after the 12 month ignition interlock period ends a driver must submit an application and pay the appropriate fees. Thirty days prior to the end of the ignition interlock period PennDOT will send a letter with a form DL-3731 in the mail. The person must fill out the form and pay the fee to obtain their unrestricted driver license.

For more information and to obtain specific forms contact the PennDOT or visit their website.

A list of approved Ignition Interlock Installers in Pennsylvania is provided here. See Pennsylvania Ignition Interlock Installation Law for the statute regarding installation, maintenance, and removal of breath alcohol ignition interlocks in Pennsylvania.