The Cost Of An Ignition Interlock Device In Illinois

 Posted on November 15, 2019 in DUI

You’ve probably heard that a DUI can be expensive, which is why we always recommend that you contest the charges, even if you think the odds may be stacked against. However, many people aren’t fully aware of how a DUI can hit you in the pocketbook. A few months ago on the blog, we explained how your insurance rates can skyrocket if you’re convicted of a DUI. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at another significant cost associated with a DUI – the cost of an ignition interlock device.

How Much Does An Ignition Interlock Device Cost?

If you’re unfamiliar with an ignition interlock device, and most people are, you may assume that you just pay to have the device installed on your vehicle and you return it when your required time period is over. That’s an overly simplified version, and it ignores a few costs associated with the device. Here’s a breakdown of what the average person in Illinois will pay to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for a year.

• Installation – Before we even jump into the cost of the device, there is a fee to have it installed in your vehicle. Because it needs to hook up to your engine, it’s not a five minute install. The average cost of ignition interlock device installation in Illinois is $80, but costs can reach triple digits depending on where the work is performed and your vehicle type.
• Rental Fees – You don’t buy the ignition interlock device outright, you rent it from the manufacturer or vendor. The average cost of monthly rental fees are about $85, and those will add up quickly. Over a 12-month period, rental fees will run more than $1,000.
• Monthly Monitoring Fees – The rental fee isn’t the only recurring charge you’ll face in regards to your ignition interlock device. Because your results are saved and analyzed by a third party to ensure compliance with your court order, you also have to pay for these monitoring costs. These monitoring fees range in price, but they average out to about $30 a month, or $360 a year.
• Removal Costs – Finally, when you’ve reached the end of your year with the ignition interlock device, there’s one last fee to pay – the removal fee. Again, the device isn’t just something you can unplug in a couple of minutes, so it’s going to take some time to remove it can ensure your car’s engine is working properly once the device is detached. This typically averages out to about $100 here in Illinois.

So when you add it all up, the average person in Illinois who has an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle for a year will pay roughly $1,560. This is another hidden cost of a DUI, so while you might think that the fine from the court isn’t all that bad, you’ll be paying on the backend in the form of big insurance increases and monthly ignition interlock costs.

There are significant costs associated with a DUI that many people don’t know about, so don’t just plead guilty and hope for a lenient sentence, because the bills will keep coming. Pay a little up front for a lawyer and save yourself thousands of dollars by beating the charge or getting it reduced. To learn more about how we’ve done this in the clients for the past and will work to do the same for you, contact Appelman Law today at (630) 717-7801.