By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- Who needs one: every driver whose licence was cancelled for a drink-driving offence, at any reading and including on an infringement notice. VicRoads relicenses you only with an interlock condition, and the device must be fitted before your licence is issued.
- How long, at least: 6 months after a first offence; 12 months after a second offence under 0.15; 4 years after a second offence at 0.15 or more or any third offence. The time runs only while you hold a licence.
- While it is fitted: drive only a vehicle with an approved, supplier-maintained interlock, keep to zero alcohol, and use it at least twice every month.
- Removal: apply to VicRoads after the minimum, with at least 6 months of clean data from the supplier. A blocked start, a failed or missed retest, or tampering means a fresh clean run. Then zero alcohol for 3 years.
- Exemptions are on medical grounds only. There is no hardship or vehicle exemption.
- Driving without it carries up to $50,184 or 2 years' jail.
- For a lawyer, call 1800 577 015 at any hour: free general legal information, and a 60-minute consultation with a Victorian lawyer for a fixed $295.
In Victoria, every driver whose licence is cancelled for a drink-driving offence, at any reading, can be relicensed only with an alcohol interlock condition, for at least 6 months after a first offence and up to 4 years after a repeat offence at 0.15 or more, under section 31KA and Schedule 1B of the Road Safety Act 1986.
Checked on 22 October 2026 against the Road Safety Act 1986 (authorised version 237, as at 30 September 2026), the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019, and Victoria Legal Aid. The VicRoads pages could not be read that day, so the alcohol level at which the device stops the car starting, and VicRoads' supplier list, are not given here; ask your supplier.
Who needs an interlock
- Anyone disqualified by a court for an alcohol offence, or whose licence was cancelled on a drink-driving infringement notice, is relicensed only with an interlock condition. VicRoads imposes it without a hearing (section 31KA).
- The interlock must be fitted, with a supplier's certificate, before the licence is issued (section 23B).
- For serious motor vehicle offences involving alcohol, the court directs the interlock (section 50AAA).
How long: the minimum periods
| Offence | Minimum interlock period |
|---|---|
| First over-the-limit offence, any reading | 6 months |
| Second over-the-limit offence, under 0.15 | 12 months |
| Second offence at 0.15 or more, or any third or later offence | 4 years |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol, or refusing a test | 6 months for a first offence; 4 years otherwise |
| Alcohol and an illicit drug together | 6 months for a first offence; 12 months for a second under 0.15; 4 years otherwise |
| A serious motor vehicle offence involving alcohol | 6 months for a first offence; 4 years otherwise |
The period starts when you are first relicensed, and it does not run while you are suspended or unlicensed. An earlier offence recorded 10 or more years before your licence application is ignored when the period is worked out.
While the interlock is fitted
- Drive only a vehicle fitted with an approved interlock that a supplier maintains. The rule applies to every vehicle you drive.
- Keep to zero alcohol.
- Use the interlock at least twice in every month, or the record will not qualify for removal.
- The only times you may drive without one are a driving assessment and driving under an instructor's supervision.
- VicRoads may suspend your licence if you do not fit, maintain or keep the interlock.
Failing a test, and getting the interlock removed
- What counts against you: alcohol-blocked starts, failed or missed rolling retests, and tampering. The first month is ignored, and a failed start cleared by a clean sample within an hour does not count.
- A failure means a fresh clean run. The record must end with the latest data, so any failure restarts the clean period you need.
- If someone else caused the failure, you may apply to the Magistrates' Court (section 50AAAC).
- Removal: after the minimum period, apply to VicRoads with a supplier report showing at least 6 months of compliant data, and any second-stage behaviour change program certificate you need. VicRoads decides on the papers, gives reasons, and offers an internal review (section 50AAAB).
- After removal you must keep to zero alcohol for 3 years.
Exemptions
For current offences, the only exemption is on medical grounds, which you can apply for at any time with a specialist's report that includes your lung capacity (section 50AAAD). Neither the Road Safety Act nor the Drivers Regulations has an exemption for hardship or for the type of vehicle.
Offences
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Breaching the interlock condition, or tampering with the device (section 50AAD) | 240 penalty units ($50,184) or 2 years' imprisonment; for an improper start, the vehicle can also be immobilised for up to 12 months |
| Someone else disengaging the interlock (section 50AAK) | 25 penalty units ($5,227.50) |
| Blowing into the interlock for the driver (section 50AAK) | 10 penalty units ($2,091) |
What it costs
- The government fee is 2.5 fee units a month, about $43 in 2026-27, or 1.25 fee units (about $21.59) for concession card holders (Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019).
- Suppliers' charges are not set by law. Victoria Legal Aid's practitioner site estimates about $180 to install and about $182.75 a month, or about $90 a month with a concession card.
For the fines, the licence cancellation and the minimum disqualification, read drink driving penalties in Victoria.
Free legal help in Victoria
- Victoria Legal Aid on 1300 792 387, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, for free legal information and help.
- A duty lawyer at the Magistrates' Court on the day. The service is free, but not everyone is eligible: Victoria Legal Aid's guidelines generally give a first or second drink-driving charge advice, not representation, and an income test applies. Ring Victoria Legal Aid before your court date if you can, and arrive when the court opens.
How Go To Court Lawyers can help
Our free line, 1800 577 015, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general legal information and takes your details; Jen is not a lawyer and does not give advice about your case. A 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in Victoria is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person. The lawyer can explain how long your interlock period will be, what your record needs for removal, and whether a medical exemption or a Magistrates' Court application is open to you. Requests are taken at any hour; how soon a lawyer can see you depends on who is available. Request a $295 consultation with a Victorian lawyer.
General information only, not legal advice. Updated 22 October 2026. Checked against the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic), authorised version 237 (sections 3, 23B, 31KA, 50AA, 50AAA to 50AAAE, 50AAD, 50AAK, 52 and Schedule 1B), the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019 (regulations 31, 32, 37, 81 and 108, and Schedule 6), and Victoria Legal Aid, on 22 October 2026.