Effective July 1, and August 1, 2025, Minnesota’s DWI laws are getting tougher and more focused on rehabilitation. Under Minnesota Law, any driver seeking full license reinstatement after a DWI will now be required to complete a licensed substance use disorder treatment or rehabilitation program. This change reflects a broader policy shift: from punitive restrictions to a “treatment first” approach designed to reduce reoffending and improve public safety.
Let’s break down exactly what the new rules mean, who they apply to, how they affect the ignition interlock program, and what steps you must take to get your unrestricted license back in Minnesota.
Prior to August 2025, Minnesota drivers who lost their license due to a DWI could often regain full privileges by completing a period of ignition interlock use (usually 1-2 years). Treatment was encouraged and, sometimes court-ordered, but not always mandatory for reinstatement.
Now, under Minnesota Statutes § 171.178, completing substance use treatment is a condition of full reinstatement for many DWI offenders, including first-time and repeat offenders depending on their record and the severity of the offense.
In short: with the changes in the law in 2025, if treatment isn’t completed, the license cannot be reinstated.
The new treatment requirement applies to drivers who:
Here’s a quick summary of when treatment is mandatory:
| Offense Type | Prior DWIs | Treatment Required? |
| First DWI, no harm | None | Not required |
| First DWI + bodily harm | None | Yes |
| Any DWI | 1+ prior | Yes |
| Criminal vehicular homicide/injury | Any | Yes |
If your license was revoked due to a DWI or related offense and you fall into one of the above categories, you are not eligible for full reinstatement until:
The ignition interlock program is now more than just a temporary bridge to driving legally it’s a long-term commitment tied directly to sobriety, treatment, and public safety.
The law sets graduated ignition interlock periods based on your prior record and the outcome of your offense. All timeframes begin after treatment completion and are required before full license reinstatement.
Here are the interlock durations under the new law:
| Interlock Term | Applies If… |
| 2 years | 1 prior DWI, or bodily harm with no priors |
| 5 years | Bodily harm & 1 prior |
| 6 years | 2 priors, or great bodily harm/death with no priors |
| 8 years | Great bodily harm & 1 prior or bodily harm & 2 priors |
| 10 years | 3+ priors or bodily harm & 3+ priors or great bodily harm & 2+ priors |
| 15 years | Death + 1 prior |
| Lifetime | Death + 2 or more priors |
To reinstate your license, you must submit proof of completing a licensed substance use disorder treatment or rehabilitation program. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will set the standards and required documentation, but you can expect:
If your chemical assessment required treatment, you must complete that specific recommendation to move forward with reinstatement.
Under the updated statute, if you:
the State can:
Each offense can extend your time:
To fully reinstate your driving privileges under Minnesota’s new law, you must:
Only then can the DPS issue you a nonrestricted license. A single positive test during this time can reset or extend your timeline.
The statute is particularly tough on relapses and re-offenses:
You can reenter the program but only after meeting all conditions again, including starting over on treatment and ignition interlock.
Minnesota’s new “treatment first” model recognizes what criminal defense attorneys and public health experts have long known: DWI is often a symptom of an underlying substance use issue. Merely punishing behavior doesn’t work but requiring rehabilitation does.
By linking reinstatement of driving privileges to verified treatment completion, Minnesota is focusing on public safety and recovery at the center of its DWI laws.
Minnesota’s new reinstatement rules can be overwhelming. From ignition interlock violations to treatment documentation to understanding revocation lengths, having a DWI defense attorney can make a world of difference.
At Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office, we’ve helped hundreds of Minnesotans get back on the road legally and we’re ready to help you. If you’ve been charged with a DWI or are struggling to regain your license, contact us for to discuss your options.
Questions give us a call for a free consolation at 507-625-5000.
Yes. As of August 1, 2025, most drivers with one or more prior DWIs, or whose offense involved injury or death, must complete a licensed substance use disorder treatment or rehabilitation program before they can regain full, unrestricted driving privileges.
Treatment must be completed through a licensed provider and should align with any recommendations from your chemical use assessment. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) sets the required documentation for reinstatement.
It depends on your record and the severity of your offense. Here are some examples:
Any violation—like a BAC reading over 0.02, tampering with the device, or driving without interlock—can result in:
No. If your license is restricted under the ignition interlock program, driving any vehicle without a certified interlock is a gross misdemeanor and can trigger a new revocation and criminal charges.
Even non-driving alcohol violations (e.g., public intoxication or alcohol-related disorderly conduct) can lead to a restart of your abstinence period and interlock timeline. You’ll need to demonstrate a new period of sobriety, typically the same length as originally required.
Your interlock time does not start until after you’ve completed treatment and are actively enrolled in the ignition interlock program. Violations reset the clock.
Yes. Under Minnesota Statutes § 171.19, as amended by Chapter 29, you can petition for judicial review of license extensions, especially if based on alleged violations or improper treatment of your case. You must file within 180 days of the notice or before your revocation expires.
