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Transport and Communications Agency

Alcohol interlock driving licence

An alcohol interlock driving licence may be required for one of two reasons. You have committed a drink-driving offence, or you cannot be granted a standard driving licence because of persistent alcohol misuse.

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Issuing an alcohol interlock driving licence

An alcohol interlock is a device that prevents a vehicle from starting if the alcohol concentration in the driver’s breath exceeds the permitted limit. The permitted limit is 0.2‰.

An alcohol interlock driving licence may be granted in the following situations:

  • You are suspected or have been convicted of drink-driving involving alcohol and have not been banned from driving for any other reason (alcohol interlock-controlled driving rights). 
  • You cannot obtain a standard driving licence because of persistent alcohol misuse, but you have not been convicted of drink-driving (alcohol interlock on medical grounds).

Alcohol interlock-controlled driving rights

If you are suspected or have been convicted of alcohol-related drink-driving, you may be granted alcohol interlock-controlled driving rights. Controlled driving rights are granted by the police. To qualify, you must be permanently resident in Finland. Controlled driving rights may be granted for driving a car or tractor.

When applying for controlled driving rights, you must provide a certificate confirming that you have discussed your use of intoxicants, its effects on your health and the available treatment options with a doctor or another healthcare professional.

If the police grant you an alcohol interlock driving licence, a special condition requiring the use of an alcohol interlock (111) will be added to your driving rights.

Once the police have added the special condition, you can order a driving licence corresponding to your new driving rights through Traficom’s My e-Services or at an service point.

Alcohol interlock on medical grounds

Persistent alcohol misuse may prevent you from obtaining or renewing a driving licence.

You may be granted driving rights subject to the use of an alcohol interlock on medical grounds even if you have been found to have problems with alcohol use, provided that you are not suspected or have not been convicted of drink-driving.

In this case, the alcohol interlock is used as a preventive measure. A doctor may determine that the medical fitness-to-drive requirements are met on the condition that the driver uses an alcohol interlock.

An alcohol interlock requirement on medical grounds may be imposed by the police in connection with the supervision of medical fitness to drive or by Ajovarma when you apply for a driving licence permit.

Special condition 113, requiring the use of an alcohol interlock on medical grounds, will be added to your driving rights.

Once your driving rights have been updated, you can order a new driving licence, depending on your circumstances, through Traficom’s My e-Services or at an service point.

Installing an alcohol interlock and submitting the vehicle for a modification inspection

An alcohol interlock can be installed in

  • a tractor  
  • a passenger car 
  • a van 
  • a lorry 
  • a bus. 

If necessary, an alcohol interlock can be installed in several different vehicles.

You can rent or purchase a new or used alcohol interlock. You can ask alcohol interlock installation companies about available devices.

The vehicle must undergo a modification inspection after the alcohol interlock has been installed or removed. Information about the alcohol interlock will be entered in the vehicle register.

As the user, you are responsible for ensuring that the alcohol interlock is properly installed and calibrated and that it is serviced regularly.

Make sure that the model you use meets the requirements for alcohol interlocks.

Further information about driving rights with an alcohol interlock

If the police have imposed alcohol interlock-controlled driving rights on you because of drink-driving, special condition 111 will be added to your driving licence.

If the requirement to use an alcohol interlock is based on medical grounds, special condition 113 will be added to your driving licence.

In both cases, special condition 69 will also be added to your driving licence. It indicates that the vehicle must be fitted with an alcohol interlock. The code is used in all EU Member States.

Controlled driving rights will be revoked if the person subject to the control commits

  • aggravated endangerment of traffic safety 
  • drink-driving  
  • aggravated drink-driving 
  • an offence involving the transport of dangerous goods. 

Controlled driving rights will also be revoked at the request of the person subject to the control.

If the controlled driving rights are revoked, the driving ban that was previously imposed conditionally for the duration of the controlled driving rights will enter into force.

The police decide whether to revoke the driving rights and impose a driving ban.

You can have the alcohol interlock removed from your vehicle. The vehicle must then undergo a modification inspection.

Return your alcohol interlock driving licence to the police. At the same time, the police will return your previous driving licence to you. In certain cases, you must order a new driving licence through Traficom’s e-Services or from Traficom’s service provider.

You can also leave the alcohol interlock installed in the vehicle. Its settings can then be changed for voluntary use, meaning that breath tests will not be required while driving. If you retain the special condition requiring the use of an alcohol interlock on your driving licence, you will continue to be permitted to drive only vehicles fitted with an alcohol interlock.

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