Smart Start Ignition Interlock

Reviews

• SB

  Shawn B

  Apr 10, 2026
  1.0
  The only reason I rated them one is because zero is not a selection!! This is the worst company to get your interlock system from. From the technicians that are slack and don't give you much advice when you get locked out or violated, they definitely overcharge more than what other companies do, And our customer service will they really don't have one.... I have five phone numbers and the only way you can get a hold of somebody is to call collections and speak to a collector and then have them transfer you to somebody.... I've talked to several people that have Smart starts in their car also and they said the same thing, that it sucks.. they're interlock ignition systems go off at anything and everything and cost you $80 every time and then they make it almost impossible for you to fill out an incident report to get your money reimbursed.l..... It is a multi-billion dollar business that is a big scam and with all the money they're making they can afford to hire a few receptionists instead of everything being AI where you can't get a hold of nobody... I wouldn't even recommend this company to my enemy..... I've learned more from a chief hearing officer about the interlock system in their technicians have told me in the whole nine months that I've had, these guys in this company are the worst, Don't be mistaken by the four and five stars these were probably people that were paid!!! I would suggest people go to intoxalock they're a lot better a lot cheaper they have a different machine that doesn't violate you once a month.... Unless you're rich and you have time to spend at their shop I would definitely not ever get a smart start, learn from my mistake and don't do it!!!!!!
• SM

  Sam Masters

  Mar 26, 2026
  1.0
  The technician and the manager are incompetent and rude! I've had troubles and issues with my device from being over charged for my calibrations, I've never missed a calibration and always paid on time only for these incompetents to not reported to Smart Starts systems that I paid and calibrated causing me a lockout! The service manager has not only been rude constantly but has called me a liar! I went to another Smart Start service center in Durham and found out the incompetent technician at this location in Raleigh had my device calibrated with the WRONG STATE subjecting me to the wrong standards for my conditions of device use...Unbelievable!!! This device is paramount in my life (and anyone who has to have it) and error especially when it's NOT MY FAULT but the fault of the technician is incredibly incompetent and can have dire consequences on your status with your DMV the device is registered to report to. This center and it's manger SUCKS! I hope I never see him again and I now get my device serviced in Durham, which is very professional, courteous, and will work to resolve your issues and not cause them for you! I gave one star but I'd like to say ZERO STARS! Do not use this service center! I'm also going to report this manager to the proper authority for his incompetent behavior and hope he is FIRED!
• JV

  J. Vargas

  Feb 27, 2026
  5.0
  The staff or the two guys that helped me, I believe Ron was one of them. I didn’t catch the other one’s name. We’re wonderful, knowledgeable, and professional. They answered all my questions and had patience with me. Actually, they went above and beyond. I’m glad that I picked Smart Start from all the other interlock providers.
• SF

  Sara Fredlund

  Nov 20, 2025
  5.0
  Tyler is always so kind and efficient! I drive to Raleigh from apex because I’m sure it’ll be a stress free experience. Thankful for him!
• NL

  Nikki Lewis

  Nov 14, 2025
  1.0
  This entire experience has been an absolute nightmare, not because of having to have a breathalyzer in my vehicle, but because of having to deal with Smart Start. They are hands-down, the worst company I have ever had to deal with and if there were others to choose from, I certainly would have. The Raleigh Smart Start location off Alpinis has been by far the worst. I’m curious to know how a government run organization can allow their employees to not do the very basics of their job. This location is supposed to stay open until 5 PM Monday through Friday, yet they close early all the time. The phone goes unanswered constantly, and calling the one 1-800 general Customer Service number does absolutely nothing to help ever. If you actually can manage to get someone who speaks the slightest bit of English on the phone, be prepared for them to still not do anything to assist you. It’s unacceptable that even the corporate office is unable to get in touch with a specific location. My car was totaled in a wreck and required towing to the location. It a had a severe gas leak, cracked oil pan, and dropped engine block. It was an extreme safety hazard due to the gas tank being cracked. I attempted to phone the Raleigh location DOZENS of times as well as the general line, and received zero assistance, despite having informed them of the safety concern . It’s negligent to say the least. The entire system is nothing but a ploy to take money from people. The device constantly malfunctions and customers get charged absorbent fees because Smart Start can’t install their equipment properly. It also causes damage to your vehicle. I’ve already had to replace the battery in my car twice in six months. They’re constantly changing appointment times and not notifying you, failing to take into consideration that people actually have jobs. If you miss a calibration appointment due to their inability to fit you in to the timeslot they scheduled you for, they charge you a lockout fee for no fault of your own. The customer service at the Alpinis location is terrible and the employees are rude. Not to mention they take an absorbent amount of time to install the device. It should not take three hours. I highly recommend driving the longer distance to a different location if you live in the RDU area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Start Ignition Interlock