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New Jersey: SR-22 and DUI license rules
SR-22 not mentioned by the state Agency: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) · checked Oct 25, 2026
New Jersey’s MVC suspension and restoration pages do not describe an SR-22 filing. After a DWI, New Jersey law centers on ignition interlocks: for most first offenses you lose the right to drive until an interlock is installed in the vehicle you drive most.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026
Key rules
| SR-22 / FR-44 used? | Not published. The NJ MVC suspension and restoration page does not mention an SR-22 or FR-44 filing after a DUI.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| How long you must keep it on file | Not published.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| Minimum liability limits | Standard policies issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2026: $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 property damage. (The Basic Policy is not covered by this increase.)Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| License suspension, 1st DUI | First offense, 0.08 to under 0.15 BAC (or under the influence of alcohol): you lose the right to drive until you install an ignition interlock. 0.15 BAC or higher: 3 months of license forfeiture after the interlock is installed. Drug-related DWI: 7 months to 1 year.Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| License suspension, 1st chemical test refusal | First refusal: you lose the right to drive until you install an ignition interlock in the vehicle you drive most. Second refusal: 1 to 2 years after the interlock is installed. Third or later: 8 years after the interlock is installed.Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| Reinstatement fee | $100 license restoration fee, plus a DUI surcharge of $1,000 a year for 3 years (first or second offense).Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| Ignition interlock | Required. First offense: 3 months (0.08 to under 0.10 BAC), 7 months to 1 year (0.10 to under 0.15), or during the forfeiture plus 12 to 15 months (0.15 or higher). First refusal: during the forfeiture plus 9 to 15 months. Second or later offense: during the forfeiture plus 2 to 4 years.Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| Hardship / restricted license | Not published.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
How to reinstate (official steps)
- Complete the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) program the court orders.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026
- Install the court-ordered ignition interlock from an MVC-licensed installer.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026
- Pay the $100 restoration fee and any DUI surcharges owed to the MVC.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026
- Wait for the MVC’s written Notice of Restoration before driving.Source: nj.gov, checked Oct 25, 2026
Notes
- The MVC’s own DUI penalty table still lists older license-loss periods (for example 7 months to 1 year for a first offense at 0.10+). The penalties above come from the current statute text, which was rewritten in 2019, 2023 and 2025. Ask the MVC or the court to confirm what applies to your case.Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us, checked Oct 25, 2026
- A person arrested for a first-offense DWI may install an interlock voluntarily before conviction and, if eligible, avoid the fine or earn credit against the forfeiture period.Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us, checked Oct 25, 2026
Official links
- NJ MVC: Suspensions and restorations
- NJ Legislature: P.L.2025, c.41 (current DWI penalties, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50)
- NJ Legislature: P.L.2023, c.191 (interlock and refusal rules)
- NJ DOBI Bulletin 25-06: auto insurance minimum limits (PDF)
Not legal advice. Not an insurer. This page summarizes New Jersey’s own published rules for a typical first offense. Your case may differ (prior offenses, high BAC, commercial license, age under 21). Confirm with New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) or the court before you act. We don’t sell insurance or quote prices. Spot an error? Email toffee@mail.grokbot.com.