A vehicle-installed interlock is an alcohol interlock that measures the driver's exhaled breath and controls vehicle starting based on the result. When you sell or return a vehicle, or replace it with a new one, moving the device is not as simple as taking the handset along the way you would a portable unit. You need to check the device configuration installed in the existing vehicle, the conditions of the new vehicle, and the usage records stored so far, each on its own.
For example, the ALCOFIND AF-i1 consists of a handset that performs the breath test and a control box that handles the vehicle connection and processing. The official product information states that vehicle ACC, engine start, test results, and tampering-related events are stored and can be managed and downloaded with dedicated software. When requesting a transfer, rather than only asking whether the device can be moved, it reduces omissions to pass on the facts needed for the installation review and record retention all at once.
Prepare device information and vehicle information separately
The first item in the request is information that identifies which device you want to move. State the product name, any device identification you can confirm, and whether you have both the handset and the control box. For a product made of two components, sending only the handset details makes it hard for the installer to assess the whole configuration.
Keep vehicle information for the current vehicle and the new vehicle separate. For the current vehicle, give the vehicle identification, the fact that an interlock is installed, and the person or company that has been managing the device. For the new vehicle, give the vehicle identification, basic details such as model and model year, and any vehicle configuration that could affect installation conditions. Whether vehicle documents or photos are needed can be supplemented according to the instructions of the receiving office.
| Category | Information to include in the transfer request | Why it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Interlock device | Product name, handset and control box identification, components currently held | To make clear the configuration of the device under review |
| Current vehicle | Vehicle identification, fact of existing installation, person or company managing it | To find the installation and management items to wrap up in the existing vehicle |
| New vehicle | Vehicle identification, model, model year, and vehicle configuration, planned delivery date | For the installation review of the new vehicle and scheduling |
| Usage records | Whether recent records were downloaded, alerts currently shown, unresolved events | To sort out what to keep or handle before the vehicle is replaced |
Save usage records before leaving the vehicle
What an interlock keeps is not just breath test results. The AF-i1 stores vehicle ACC and engine start, test results, and tampering-related events, and log events can be downloaded with dedicated software. So before handing over the existing vehicle, you need to sort out, in line with your operating standards, whether the necessary records have already been downloaded and whether there is a period or scope that must be kept separately.
If there is a service or calibration reminder, or an unresolved test-related indicator, do not assume it will sort itself out once the device is installed in the new vehicle. Adding to the request the date the alert appeared, the wording on the screen, and the date the existing vehicle will go out of use helps the installer or operations manager decide on the next step. Because downloaded files can contain vehicle usage and test information, it is appropriate to set a storage location that only the people who need it, such as a designated fleet manager, can access.
Request the installation review and operational checks separately
Reviewing whether the device can be installed in the new vehicle and how vehicle operating rules or a separate program handle a vehicle change may not be the same question. Give the installer the device configuration, the details of both vehicles, and the preferred schedule. If there is a fleet manager or a separate operating body, ask them separately about operating procedures, such as the vehicle replacement date and whether records must be submitted or checked in advance.
As a hypothetical case, consider a transport fleet manager who, ahead of replacing a van next month, simply asks to "move the interlock." The first things to check are the handset and control box configuration in the existing vehicle, the basic details of the new vehicle, whether logs have been kept, and whether a service alert is shown. Based on these observations, separate the installation review request from the operating procedure check, and give notice of the required record retention together with the new vehicle's delivery schedule.
In this case, the completion criterion is not just the fact that the device is in the new vehicle. It also requires that the configuration of the device being transferred has been confirmed, the materials to keep from the existing vehicle have been sorted out, and the driver has been briefed on how to use it in the new vehicle and whom to contact if a problem occurs. Setting the criterion this way makes it hard to confuse the vehicle replacement schedule with the schedule for device-related work.
Get briefed again on use in the new vehicle
When the vehicle changes, where you check the handset, how it is mounted, and the test sequence before starting may change. Even with experience in the existing vehicle, after installation in the new vehicle it is best to be briefed again on which components were installed, what to check when starting a test, and whom to notify when an alert appears.
The official AF-i1 information gives an input voltage range from a minimum of 8.5V to a maximum of 48V. However, that figure alone cannot tell you whether a transfer installation is possible in a particular vehicle. Because the configuration of each vehicle and the existing installation need to be considered together, the right approach is to schedule the work based on the installation review rather than having the user prepare for the transfer by removing the device or changing the vehicle wiring.
Record what to check in the reply to your request
When you receive a reply to the transfer request, do not just record whether it is possible. Note which device configuration and which new vehicle the review was based on, which records to keep from the existing vehicle, and whether any additional information must be submitted before installation. Also noting who will provide usage guidance after installation and whom to contact if a problem occurs reduces gaps after the vehicle is delivered.
The information needed for a vehicle change falls into four strands: the device itself, the existing vehicle, the new vehicle, and the usage records. Passing these on separately lets the installer clearly identify what to review, and lets the fleet manager carry over both the existing vehicle's records and the preparation for using the new vehicle.
