Arizona Ignition Interlock
Getting Your Interlock Off — Ideally Early
For a standard first DUI, Arizona lets you remove the device at 6 months instead of 12 — if your record stays clean. Here is how early removal works, what it costs, and the one mistake that takes the option away.
The closer you are to the finish, the more a single slip costs. One major violation in the last month can add six.
6-Month Early Removal
Standard first offense only — half the term if you finish your required screening and stay completely violation-free.
Around $200+ to Remove
Paid to the certified provider when the device is taken out at the end of your term.
One Violation Undoes It
A major violation can cost you early removal — and every two major violations adds another six months.
Early Removal — the 6-Month Option
If you were convicted of a standard first-offense DUI, Arizona lets you petition to remove the interlock after 6 of the 12 months. To qualify, you generally must:
- Have no violations during the interlock period.
- Have completed any required alcohol or drug screening, education, or treatment ordered in your case.
- Be current on all requirements and fees.
The screening is the part people forget
Early removal is not automatic at 6 months — you have to have finished the screening and treatment piece. AES performs the screening Arizona requires and tracks your completion, so you are actually eligible when the date arrives.
Who Does Not Qualify for Early Removal
Extreme (0.15 and up), Super Extreme (0.20 and up), and aggravated or felony DUIs generally must serve the full term — 12, 18, or 24+ months — with no early-out. See requirements for your term
The Steps to Remove It
Removal is a process, not just an appointment — and the final report from your provider is what proves you finished.
Stay Violation-Free
Carry a clean record through your entire period — this is the whole game. A single major violation can reset your timeline and erase any early-removal eligibility.
Complete Your Screening or Treatment
Finish the alcohol or drug screening, education, or treatment ordered in your case, and keep proof of completion. Early removal is not automatic at six months — the screening piece has to actually be done.
Confirm Your End Date With MVD
Verify your official end date with MVD, and confirm early-removal eligibility if this was a standard first offense. The device must stay installed until MVD clears it.
Schedule Removal With the Certified Provider
Once MVD clears the end of your term, schedule the removal appointment with the certified provider that services your unit.
Pay the Fee, Get the Final Report
Pay the removal fee (around $200 or more), have the device removed, and collect the provider's documentation — the final report and removal record that confirm you completed the program. Keep these; they are your proof the requirement is satisfied.
Do not lose it in the last month
A single major violation — a missed retest in your driveway, a shop disconnect — can erase your early-removal eligibility and add six months. This is exactly why AES monitors your data logs and disputes false flags the whole way through. See interlock violations
Get Off at 6 Months — Not Extended to 18
The drivers who finish early are the ones who never let a false violation stand. The installer will not dispute a bad flag for you. AES monitors your data logs, handles the screening MVD requires for early removal, and fights false violations so your clean record — and your 6-month option — survives intact. When a reading looks wrong, call AES, not the shop.
Removal Questions
Can I get my interlock removed early in Arizona?
For a standard first-offense DUI, yes. Arizona allows removal at 6 months instead of 12 if you have completed any required alcohol screening or treatment and have no violations during the period. Extreme, Super Extreme, and aggravated offenses generally must serve the full term.
How much does interlock removal cost in Arizona?
Removal typically costs around $200 or more, paid to the certified provider when the device is taken out at the end of your term.
What disqualifies me from early interlock removal?
A violation during the period is the main disqualifier. A major violation — a missed rolling retest, a circumvention, or a blow above 0.08 — can cost you the 6-month early-removal option, and every two major violations adds another six months. Protecting a clean record is everything.
What paperwork do I get when the device comes out?
The certified provider documents the removal and issues a final report confirming the device was installed and removed and that your term was served. Keep that record — it is your proof the interlock requirement is complete when MVD updates your status.
Plan your finish across the interlock guide: the overview, how the device works, requirements and term length, what it costs, violations, and certified providers.
DUIINFO.NET is an educational resource, not a law firm. This page describes the Arizona removal process for general information and is not legal advice.