Repeat offender drivers

Mandatory alcolocks: costs, penalties and operational details

How alcolocks work, penalties for repeat offenders and installation costs under the new Highway Code

by Rome Editorial Staff

24 February 2026

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L’alcolock è un sistema che impedisce l’avvio del veicolo se il guidatore non supera un test dell’alito. Il motore si accenderà solo se il livello di alcol risulterà pari a zero

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Versione italiana

Key points

The device
Installable on passenger and goods vehicles
Federcarrozzieri: "It costs around 2,000 euro"

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The alcolock, the device that prevents the engine from starting if the blood alcohol level is above zero, becomes compulsory for repeat offenders (blood alcohol level > 0.8 g/l) for a period of 2 to 3 years. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has in fact published on the "www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it" website the list of authorised installers and vehicle models compatible with each type of alcolock.

Almost 15 months after the entry into force of the new Highway Code on 14 December 2024, this important piece of information is now operational. To access the relevant section, the following steps must be taken: from the homepage of the portal, select 'vehicles', then 'motor vehicles'. The first entry is 'ALCOLOCK - INSTALLERS AND VEHICLE MODELS'.

The device

The alcolock is a system that prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver fails a breath test. The engine will only start if the alcohol level is zero. The main objective is to discourage drink driving and increase road safety. The new Highway Code makes the installation of alcolocks compulsory for drivers who have already been penalised for driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.8 g/l, making it a key measure for repeat offenders, who will only be allowed to drive vehicles with such a device installed.

Installable on passenger and goods vehicles

Alcolocks can be installed on different categories of vehicles for both passenger and goods transport and will have to comply with the standards of EU legislation. There are specific obligations for manufacturers, who will have to provide detailed instructions for installation, use and maintenance. Authorised installers will play a crucial role, having to apply a special seal to prevent any attempt at tampering. In case of roadside checks, the driver will have to show the original installation declaration and the valid calibration certificate of the device. The installation of the alcolock will not require an update of the single vehicle registration document.

Those who are obliged to install alcolocks and fail to comply with the rules must pay a fine ranging from EUR 158 to EUR 638 and have their licence suspended again, for a period of one to six months. Penalties are doubled if one tampers with, alters (e.g. by having another person blow) or removes the device altogether. If a person with an alcolock is caught driving under the influence again, on the other hand, the penalties are increased by a third.

Federcarrozzieri: 'It costs about 2,000 euro'

The measure, notes Federcarrozzieri, has several critical aspects. Starting with the cost of the device: around 2,000 euro. Another critical aspect is the fact that, as is well known, Italy's car fleet is very old, to the point that the average age of cars is 13 years: on many particularly old cars it will be technically impossible to install alcolocks. Moreover, not all body shops, even if they meet the legal requirements, will be able to fit alcolocks on their cars, but only those indicated by the manufacturer of the device and included in the MIT list: a limitation that - continues Federcarrozzieri - on the one hand violates competition regulations and on the other, by reducing the number of authorised operators, will lead to a distortion of the market with a consequent increase in costs for motorists.

"Let's remember that the estimated cost of installing alcolocks in cars is about 2 thousand euros per car, to which must be added the costs of periodic calibration required by the decree, maintenance, and the cost of disposable mouthpieces. - says president Davide Galli - Then there is the paradox of those families who only have one car: if the alcolock is installed, all the other members of the household will also have to have a blood alcohol level of zero to be able to start the car".