The day the ignition interlock comes out is the day most drivers have been counting down to. But the device does not come out just because a date on the calendar has passed. In most programs, you have to earn your way out with a clean record, and a few mistakes near the end can add months. Here is how removal works in Canada and what to do to make sure yours happens on time.
The short answer
You get the interlock removed by finishing your assigned term, keeping a clean record (especially in the last three to six months), booking the removal with your approved provider, and then applying for a licence without the interlock condition. Programs differ by province, so check the rules where you live on our Canada interlock page.
Step by step: getting your interlock removed
- Finish your term. Your referral letter or court order sets how long you need the device. The clock usually starts only once the device is installed and you have your restricted licence.
- Keep the last months clean. National interlock guidelines call for at least six months with no positive alcohol readings and no violations before a driver is released.
- Drive regularly. A parked car does not prove anything. Programs check that the vehicle was actually used.
- Wait for approval where required. Some programs review your final report before the device can come out.
- Book the removal with your provider. They download your final data and send it to the licensing agency.
- Get your licence without the interlock condition. Visit your licensing office or registry agent to have the restriction taken off.
How removal works in each province
Alberta
Book the removal with Smart Start on or after the last day of your term. Smart Start sends your final readings to the province, and you then get your unrestricted licence at a registry agent. Removal is free for regular vehicles. You must drive at least 100 km a month during the program. National interlock guidelines also list Alberta as requiring the final three months to be free of warnings and fails.
If you have a DUI in Alberta and need legal help, start here: albertaduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a Alberta treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in Alberta there.
British Columbia
RoadSafetyBC reviews your program reports during your term. If there are no violations and your final violation-free report is accepted, you can have the device removed by Smart Start, then apply at an ICBC Driver Licensing office for a licence without the interlock restriction. Violations can extend your term, start a new one, or lead to cancellation of your licence.
If you have a DUI in British Columbia and need legal help, start here: britishcolumbiaduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a British Columbia treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in British Columbia there.
Yukon
Your program report must show no violations or infractions for the last six months, and the Driver Control Board must approve removal before the device comes out of your vehicle. Recent violations can lead the board to set a new end date.
If you have a DUI in Yukon and need legal help, start here: yukonduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a Yukon treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in Yukon there.
Quebec
In Quebec, the device can only be removed at a supplier service outlet. The SAAQ lists a $55 fee to remove the device and close your file. Contact the SAAQ to confirm when your interlock condition ends.
If you have a DUI in Quebec and need legal help, start here: quebecduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a Quebec treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in Quebec there.
Ontario, Saskatchewan and other provinces
Most other provinces follow the same pattern: no violations in the final months, then removal and a new licence. In Saskatchewan, SGI can extend your interlock period after a program violation. Confirm the exact rules with your licensing agency before you book.
If you have a DUI in Ontario and need legal help, start here: ontarioduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a Ontario treatment guide there and a guide to getting a deal on DUI car insurance in Ontario.
If you have a DUI in Saskatchewan and need legal help, start here: saskatchewanduiattorneys.com. You’ll also find a Saskatchewan treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in Saskatchewan there.
If you have a DUI in Manitoba and need legal help, start here: manitobaduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a Manitoba treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in Manitoba there.
If you have a DUI in Nova Scotia and need legal help, start here: novascotiaduilawyers.com. You’ll also find a Nova Scotia treatment guide and a guide to DUI car insurance in Nova Scotia there.
Mistakes that delay removal
- Drinking the night before and blowing a fail in the morning.
- Missing a service or calibration appointment.
- Letting someone else drive your vehicle without knowing how the device works.
- Tampering with the device or driving a vehicle without one.
- Not driving enough to build a usable record.
- Booking the removal before your term or approval is confirmed. If the device comes out early, you cannot legally drive.
The three things that get you through this
Getting the interlock out on time is easier when the bigger picture is taken care of.
1. A good DUI lawyer
A good impaired driving lawyer can affect how long you need an interlock in the first place, and can help if your term is extended. In Canada, find a local lawyer on our sister sites for Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Yukon. In the United States, DrunkDrivingAttorneys.com helps you find a DUI attorney, and DriversLicenseRestorers.com helps you get your driver’s licence back after a revocation.
2. Treatment
National guidelines say participants should complete any treatment they were directed to before release, and repeated failed tests can mean more treatment and a longer term. Getting help with alcohol early is the best way to keep your record clean. Each of our Canadian sites has a free page listing addiction treatment centres in that province.
Find free treatment information for your province:
- Addiction treatment in Ontario
- Addiction treatment in British Columbia
- Addiction treatment in Alberta
- Addiction treatment in Saskatchewan
- Addiction treatment in Manitoba
- Addiction treatment in Quebec
- Addiction treatment in Nova Scotia
- Addiction treatment in Yukon
3. Car insurance you can actually afford
Insurance rates usually jump after an impaired driving conviction, and many drivers end up choosing between their insurance bill and groceries. Shop around for quotes, including from insurers that specialize in drivers with a conviction. The goal is coverage that keeps you legal on the road and still leaves enough for groceries and gas. For what the device itself costs, see our guide to ignition interlock costs in Canada.
Insurance works differently in every province. Our free guides explain the rules and how to find a deal in yours:
- DUI car insurance in Ontario
- DUI car insurance in British Columbia
- DUI car insurance in Alberta
- DUI car insurance in Saskatchewan
- DUI car insurance in Manitoba
- DUI car insurance in Quebec
- DUI car insurance in Nova Scotia
- DUI car insurance in Yukon
Frequently asked questions
Can I just take the interlock out when my term ends?
No. You book the removal with your provider, and in most provinces the program has to accept your final report first. In Yukon, the Driver Control Board must approve removal before the device comes out. If it is removed early, you cannot legally drive.
What happens if I fail a test near the end of my term?
Most programs look closely at the last few months. National guidelines call for at least six months with no positive readings and no violations before release, and several provinces extend the term when violations show up near the end.
Do I have to drive while I have the interlock?
In some provinces, yes. Alberta, for example, requires at least 100 km of driving each month for the whole term, and national guidelines say the vehicle must be driven regularly for the record to count.
Do I get my regular licence back automatically?
Usually not. After the device is removed, you apply for a licence without the interlock condition, for example at an ICBC office in British Columbia or a registry agent in Alberta.
Sources: Alberta.ca, RoadSafetyBC, Government of Yukon, SAAQ, Government of Saskatchewan and the CCMTA Canadian Guidelines for Interlock Programs. Checked November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.