When Your Out-of-State DUI Hits Idaho Records
You were convicted of DUI in Washington, Oregon, Montana, or another state. You moved to Idaho, applied for an Idaho driver's license, and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) notified you that your license is suspended and you must file SR-22 proof of insurance. You assumed the out-of-state conviction stayed in the other state. It did not.
Idaho participates in the Interstate Driver's License Compact, a reciprocal agreement among 45 states that shares conviction data across state lines. Under Idaho Code § 49-307, the ITD treats qualifying out-of-state convictions—including DUI, reckless driving, and driving while suspended—as if they occurred in Idaho. That means Idaho applies its own suspension periods, SR-22 filing requirements, and restricted license rules to your out-of-state DUI, regardless of how the original state handled it.
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Get Your Free QuoteIdaho DUI Suspension Range
90–1,825 days
Idaho Code § 18-8005 sets a 90-day minimum suspension for a first-offense DUI and up to 5 years (1,825 days) for repeat offenses. The ITD applies this range to out-of-state convictions based on your total DUI history across all states, not just Idaho convictions.
Idaho Code § 18-8005
What Idaho Counts as a DUI Conviction
Idaho does not limit reciprocity to identical statute names. The ITD evaluates the underlying offense—if the out-of-state conviction involved operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, Idaho counts it as DUI regardless of what the other state called it. Montana's DUI, Washington's DUI, Oregon's DUII, California's DUI, Nevada's DUI—all trigger Idaho's DUI suspension and SR-22 rules.
Idaho also counts wet reckless convictions (reckless driving involving alcohol) from states that allow reduced plea bargains. If your original DUI charge was reduced to wet reckless and the conviction record notes alcohol involvement, Idaho typically treats it as a DUI equivalent for suspension and filing purposes. The ITD reviews the conviction details sent through the Interstate Driver's License Compact database, not just the final charge name.
Idaho counts prior out-of-state DUI convictions when calculating whether your current offense is a second or subsequent DUI. If you had a DUI in California in 2018 and a DUI in Montana in 2023, Idaho treats your next Idaho DUI as a third offense, not a first. This matters because second and subsequent DUI suspensions carry longer periods and stricter reinstatement conditions, including mandatory ignition interlock device installation under Idaho Code § 18-8008.
Idaho applies its SR-22 filing requirement and suspension period to your out-of-state DUI even if the other state did not require SR-22 or suspended your license for a shorter period.
SR-22 Filing Requirements After Out-of-State DUI
SR-22 is not insurance—it is a certificate your insurance carrier files electronically with the Idaho Transportation Department proving you carry at least Idaho's minimum liability coverage: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 property damage. Your carrier sends the SR-22 filing to the ITD immediately upon policy issuance, and the ITD updates your driving record to show proof of insurance on file. If your policy lapses or is canceled for any reason, your carrier notifies the ITD within 24 hours and your license is re-suspended until you file a new SR-22.
The 3-year SR-22 filing period runs continuously—if your policy lapses at any point during the 3 years, the clock resets from the date you re-file SR-22. Idaho does not allow hardship waivers or early termination of the SR-22 requirement for DUI cases. You must maintain continuous SR-22 coverage for the full 3-year period to avoid re-suspension and filing period extension. Typical SR-22 filing fees range from $15 to $50 depending on the carrier, paid at policy inception and at each renewal.
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How Idaho Calculates Your Suspension Period
Idaho applies suspension periods based on your total DUI count across all states, not just Idaho convictions. First-offense DUI: 90-day minimum suspension under Idaho Code § 18-8005, with the first 30 days as an absolute suspension (no driving privileges of any kind). After the initial 30-day hard suspension, you may petition the court for a restricted license if you meet Idaho's eligibility requirements, discussed below.
Second-offense DUI within 10 years: 1-year minimum suspension. Third and subsequent DUI offenses: up to 5 years suspension. These periods apply even if the prior convictions occurred out of state. The ITD calculates the 10-year lookback window from arrest date to arrest date, not conviction date to conviction date—this means a 2014 Montana DUI arrest followed by a 2024 Idaho DUI arrest counts as within the 10-year window even if the Montana conviction was not finalized until 2015.
If you moved to Idaho after your out-of-state DUI conviction but before completing the other state's suspension or SR-22 filing period, Idaho imposes its own suspension from the date you apply for an Idaho license. You do not get credit for time already served under the other state's suspension. Idaho treats the application for an Idaho license as the triggering event for its own suspension and filing requirements, independent of what the other state already imposed.
Idaho Reinstatement Fee
$25
Idaho charges a $25 base reinstatement fee when you restore your license after a DUI suspension. DUI-related suspensions may carry additional fees above the base amount depending on offense count and whether ignition interlock installation is required. Verify the exact fee total with Idaho Transportation Department Driver Services before applying for reinstatement.
Idaho Transportation Department Driver Services
Restricted License Eligibility During Suspension
Idaho allows restricted driving privileges during DUI suspensions, but you must petition the court—not the ITD—for approval. Idaho's restricted license program is court-administered under Idaho Code § 18-8005 and § 49-326. You cannot apply for a restricted license during the first 30 days of a first-offense DUI suspension; this initial 30-day period is an absolute suspension with no driving allowed.
After the 30-day hard suspension, you may petition the district court that has jurisdiction over your case. The court has broad discretion to set the terms of your restricted license: approved purposes (typically work, school, medical appointments, court-ordered treatment), specific hours and days, and geographic boundaries. Idaho courts require ignition interlock device installation on any vehicle you operate under a restricted license—this is mandatory for DUI-related restricted licenses under Idaho Code § 18-8008. The IID must remain installed for the entire restricted license period.
The court petition process requires proof of hardship (employer letter, school enrollment verification, medical appointment documentation), proof of SR-22 insurance, and payment of court filing fees. Processing time varies by county—some Idaho district courts schedule restricted license hearings within 2 weeks, others take 4-6 weeks. If your petition is denied, you may not reapply for a restricted license until you have served additional suspension time as specified by the court. Violating any condition of your restricted license—driving outside approved hours, driving without the IID installed, or operating a vehicle not equipped with your court-approved IID unit—triggers immediate revocation of the restricted license and reinstatement of the full suspension period.
Finding Coverage That Files SR-22 for Out-of-State DUI
Not all carriers write SR-22 policies in Idaho, and fewer still write policies for drivers with out-of-state DUI convictions. Standard carriers (State Farm, Allstate, USAA) typically decline applications when the driver's record shows a DUI conviction from any state within the past 3-5 years. You need a carrier that specializes in high-risk auto insurance and explicitly writes SR-22 filings in Idaho.
Non-standard carriers operating in Idaho include Geico, Progressive, Dairyland, Bristol West, The General, GAINSCO, and National General. These carriers file SR-22 electronically with the Idaho Transportation Department and write policies for drivers with DUI convictions regardless of which state the conviction occurred in. Monthly premiums for SR-22 liability coverage in Idaho after a DUI conviction typically range from $140 to $280 depending on age, county, and whether you carry collision and comprehensive coverage. Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary by driving history, vehicle, coverage selections, and location.
If you do not currently own a vehicle, you need non-owner SR-22 insurance. A non-owner policy provides liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you do not own and files SR-22 with the ITD to satisfy Idaho's proof-of-insurance requirement during your suspension and restricted license period. Geico, Progressive, Dairyland, The General, and GAINSCO all write non-owner SR-22 policies in Idaho. Monthly premiums for non-owner SR-22 coverage typically range from $45 to $95—significantly cheaper than standard owner policies because the carrier assumes you are not driving regularly.
Next Step
Compare SR-22 filings from carriers writing policies for out-of-state DUI convictions in Idaho. Enter your county and DUI details to see which carriers file electronically with the Idaho Transportation Department and what your monthly premium will look like. Idaho's 3-year SR-22 requirement starts the day you file—delaying coverage extends the clock.