Smart Start at a Glance

Fast Facts

  • Name

    Smart Start

  • Type

    Privately-owned

  • CEO

    Matt Strausz

  • Number of Employees

    600+

  • Formal Name

    1A Smart Start, LLC

  • Start Date and Location

    December 1992 in Irving, TX

  • Corporate Office Location

    Grapevine, TX

Company Size

Smart Start operates both corporate and franchise locations in 46 states throughout the U.S. Additionally, Smart Start has an international presence in 18 countries. In total, Smart Start operates nearly 2,000 service center locations worldwide.

The international locations include:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Iceland
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Mexico
  • Costa Rica
  • Colombia
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Sweden
1,000,000,000

Safe Starts Since 1992

2000

Service Centers Worldwide

Who We Are

Smart Start is the nation’s premier provider of services and technologies that is Setting the Standard in Alcohol Monitoring Technology® with Ignition Interlocks and portable devices. The company was founded on the principles of providing a superior product with a focus on customer service. Smart Start supports the clients and state authorities through a centralized, state-of-the-art, 24/7/365, bilingual customer care center located at its corporate office in Grapevine, TX.

Since the inception, Smart Start’s Ignition Interlocks have recorded over a billion alcohol-free starts and have prevented 11 million engine starts where alcohol was present on the driver’s breath. As an alternative to incarceration and license suspension, our Ignition Interlocks are
saving lives.

Smart Start is the sole provider offering fully integrated services for breath alcohol Ignition Interlock and portable alcohol monitoring devices. These services encompass manufacturing, installation, servicing, monitoring, and reporting. Additionally, Smart Start furnishes timely interpreted reports and expert court testimony to state authorities along with customizable programs tailored to meet the specific laws and requirements of each state and county.

Over the years, Smart Start has expanded the product and service offerings to include other alcohol monitoring technologies to become a proven and innovative market leader. For example, Smart Start pioneered the integration of a camera with their Ignition Interlock, addressing the question of “who took the test.” The success of Smart Start’s camera technology has led several states to adopt it as the standard baseline requirement.

Who We Serve

We serve two groups of clients:

1, Drivers who install the Ignition Interlock on their vehicles either as part of court-ordered supervision, for license reinstatement, or for voluntary monitoring purposes.

2, The judicial system or DMV division responsible for mandating and overseeing the use of the Ignition Interlock on the vehicles of DWI/DUI offenders, along with individuals who are court-ordered to utilize a portable alcohol monitoring device.

Since its establishment, Smart Start has served over a million clients.

SSI-20/30SSI-20/20SMART Mobile
Alcohol-specific fuel cell technologyYesYesYes
Easy testing and flexible blowing optionsYesYesYes
Optional camera for positive identificationYesYesCamera required with facial detection
Optional real-time reportingYesYesYes
Optional GPS trackingYesYesYes
SmartWeb® reporting with 24/7 accessYesYesYes
Installs in any vehicleYesYesN/A
Meets state requirementsYesYesN/A
Manufactured in the U.S.YesYesYes
24/7/365 bilingual customer serviceYesYesYes