What Does a First-Offense DUI Really Cost in 2026?

The full first-offense DUI invoice

A national average blends away the part that matters: most of the cost is insurance, not the courthouse. Here's a category-by-category breakdown for a clean, no-injury first DUI in 2026:

• Attorney: $2,500–$7,500 flat fee. Includes arraignment, pretrial motions, plea negotiation, and one DMV administrative hearing. Trial is extra — $3,500–$10,000 more.
• Fines and court costs: $800–$2,500. Washington state: $940 minimum, $5,000 maximum. California: $390 base fine grosses to $1,800 with mandatory assessments. Texas: $500–$2,000.
• DUI education / alcohol treatment: $350–$900. Most states require a 12-hour to 32-hour program. Longer programs ($1,200+) are often ordered for BAC over 0.15 or for test refusal.
• Ignition interlock device (IID): $800–$1,500 for 6–12 months. Install $75–$150, monthly lease $65–$110, monthly calibration $25. Required in 34+ states on a first offense.
• SR-22 / FR-44 filing fee: $15–$50 (the fee itself; the insurance premium increase is the real cost).
• License reinstatement fee: $150–$400 after the suspension ends.
• Auto insurance surcharge: $3,500–$7,000 over 3 years. The single biggest line item.
• Alcohol assessment / substance abuse evaluation: $100–$300 ordered in many states.
• Probation supervision fees: $25–$75/month for 12–36 months in most jurisdictions.
• Victim impact panel: $25–$75. One-session MADD-run program required in most states.

State-by-state cost snapshot

2024–2025 data from public defender associations and state bar articles:

• California: First-offense total $10,000–$18,000. IID mandatory 6 months. $390 base fine, $1,800+ after penalty assessments.
• Texas: $9,000–$15,000. Occupational license available during 90-day suspension. Attorney fees on higher end due to jury-trial right.
• Florida: $8,500–$14,000. Mandatory 50-hour community service. IID required only for BAC 0.15+ on first offense.
• New York: $9,500–$16,000. Driver Responsibility Assessment adds $250/year for 3 years.
• Illinois: $11,000–$17,000. BAIID device mandatory; Monitoring Device Driving Permit available.
• Washington: $10,000–$16,000. Aggressive prosecution; pre-filing deferred prosecution sometimes available with 5 years treatment.
• Georgia: $8,000–$14,000. 120-day suspension, limited permit possible after 30 days.

The hidden costs most calculators skip

• Towing and impound: $200–$650 to retrieve your vehicle. In California and New York cities, daily impound storage at $55–$100/day adds up fast if you can't pick it up immediately.
• Lost wages for court: 3–5 full days of missed work for arraignment, pretrial, plea, DMV hearing, and sentencing. A $30/hour worker loses $700–$1,200.
• Bail bond (if held): 10% non-refundable fee on the bail amount. $1,000 bail = $100 to the bondsman, gone forever.
• Transportation during suspension: 6–12 months of rideshare, friends' favors, public transit. $2,000–$5,000 for a car commuter.
• Background check fallout: Lost job offers, denied apartment applications, denied security clearances. Unquantifiable but real.
• Immigration consequences: A DUI can trigger deportation or visa denial for non-citizens, even with no conviction for some visa categories.

How to reduce the bill

1. Don't talk to the officer beyond ID info. Field sobriety tests are voluntary in most states. Breath test refusal triggers an automatic longer suspension but makes prosecution harder — trade-off depends on your BAC estimate.
2. Request a DMV hearing within the deadline. Most states give you 7–15 days. Miss it and you lose the license by default. Winning keeps your license while the criminal case proceeds.
3. Get the video. Your attorney should subpoena the dashcam, bodycam, and station video. Procedural issues win cases.
4. Complete DUI education before sentencing. Judges often reduce fines or jail when you've already enrolled.
5. Shop insurance at renewal, not right after conviction. Non-standard carriers quote surcharges at booking. Waiting until your DUI is 1+ year old and you have a clean recent record gets a better quote.
6. Ask about deferred prosecution or diversion. Offered in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Georgia, and some counties elsewhere. Complete 2–5 years of treatment and compliance, and the charge is dismissed.
7. Consider expungement after the waiting period. Some states (California, Washington, Massachusetts) allow sealing a first-offense DUI after 5–10 years. Costs $400–$1,500 with an attorney.

When costs spiral

If any of these apply, costs 2–10× the numbers above:

• Accident with property damage or injury
• BAC of 0.15 or higher ("high BAC" enhancement in most states)
• Child in the vehicle (child endangerment charge stacked)
• Commercial driver's license holder
• Non-citizen status
• Prior DUI within the lookback period (5–10 years typical)
• Refused breath test in an implied-consent state

For post-DUI financial recovery, see the attorney fee calculator to budget representation, the traffic ticket insurance tool for broader insurance impact math, and the bail bond calculator if you had to post bond.