If you are convicted of a DWI, or if you lose your license pursuant to Minnesota’s Implied Consent law, your driver’s license will be revoked. In order to drive during the revocation, you can either apply for a limited license (commonly called a work permit, but available only in very limited circumstances), or you can enroll in the Ignition Interlock program. One of the main differences between these two options is that a limited license restricts where you can drive and when, while Ignition Interlock allows for unrestricted driving, but requires you to blow into a device that verifies you have not consumed alcohol each time you drive.
To get on Ignition Interlock, you will have to complete a number of steps. Most of these steps can be completed at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver’s License Exam Station. In the metro area, there are several stations to choose from:
NORTH METRO (Monday through Friday) Highway 8 & West County Road I (Arden Hills) |
651.201.7900 |
SOUTH METRO (Monday through Friday) 2070 Cliff Road (Eagan) |
651.201.7900 |
WEST METRO (Monday through Friday) 2455 Fernbrook Lane (Plymouth) |
651.201.7900 |
ST. PAUL (Monday through Friday) 445 Minnesota Street |
651.297.3298 |
There are also several secondary testing facilities:
ANOKA 530 West Main Street |
651.201.7900 |
CHASKA 418 Pine Street S |
952.361.1900 |
HASTINGS (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) 217 Ramsey Street |
651.201.7900 |
At the Station, you will have to complete the following steps:
- Pass the DWI knowledge test
- This test covers Chapters 7 and 8 of the MN Driver’s Manual.
- The test can be taken at any of the locations listed above (along with several other locations around the state).
- Pay the $680 reinstatement fee
- Payment can be made at any of the locations noted above.
- Payment must be made in full, however they will accept partial payments if you are represented by a public defender.
- Apply for a new Class D driver’s license
- The cost is around $27.
- Application and payment can be made at any of the locations noted above.
- Sign and Date the Ignition Interlock Participation Agreement
- Submit an Insurance Certificate
- This is commonly referred to as a “SR-22” insurance form.
- First, your insurance company has to send the certificate in to DPS. Second, DPS has to enter it into its systems. (This step is typically what causes a delay with this whole process.)
- If required, sign and notarize the Special Review Awareness form
All of these forms can be downloaded and printed from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s website — www.mndriveinfo.org.
Once you have all of the Interlock application materials completed (DWI knowledge test, reinstatement fee, application for new license, signed Interlock participation agreement, and insurance certificate), you can submit this to DPS several ways:
Mail or Drop-off: | Driver and Vehicle Services Ignition Interlock Unit 445 Minnesota St. Suite 177 St. Paul, MN 55101 |
Fax: | (651) 797-1299 | Email: | dvs.ii@state.mn.us |
If you submit your information via one of these three options, it will take some time to receive an authorization letter from DPS allowing you to drive with Ignition Interlock. There is a fourth option: submitting the documents in person. If you take all of your materials to in person to the North Metro testing station, the South Metro testing station, the West Metro testing station, or the St. Paul testing station, you can meet with a driver evaluator. If you’ve satisfied all of the above steps, a driver evaluator can get you an authorization letter the same day.
Once you have the letter, you will need to contact one of the several Ignition Interlock companies approved by DPS to get the interlock device installed. There is a list of approved companies on the DPS website.
It is important to note that this entire process can be started even before your license is revoked. As long as a revocation is pending, you can go take the test, pay the reinstatement fee, apply for a new license, etc. You can also get the Ignition Interlock device installed prior to getting the authorization letter from DPS; there is no requirement that your license be revoked in order to install Interlock. However, the device is not free, and you will be assessed charges for each day that you have the device installed, whether or not you are legal to drive.