The True Costs of DUI Fines and Legal Fees

Anyone convicted of a DUI will tell you that it’s one of the most expensive crimes you can commit when it comes to DUI fines and legal fees. Most people are aware that the costs associated with a DUI conviction are often astronomically high, but even those who have gone through the process don’t always do the math and total up exactly how much the conviction costs them in dollars and cents.

Understanding DUI Fines and Costs

The actual costs will vary depending on what type of punishment you receive, but some of the most common DUI punishments, as well as their price tags, are as follows:

• Substance abuse classes (typically 4-12 sessions, totaling 10-40 hours): $200 - $400 (Note that if you miss more than two classes, or if you arrive at class under the influence, you will be asked to pay the fine again and start the class over from the beginning, thus doubling your costs)
• Attorney fees: These can vary greatly, of course, but if your attorney gives you basic representation at your hearing, it may cost you $1500. If you get a seasoned attorney and go for a jury trial or if you ask to appeal the court's decision, it can soar to $5,000 or more.
• Time lost: Again, this number varies, but if you work a typical 40-hour a week job at $10 an hour, and if your hearing lasts the average amount of time (plus meetings with attorneys, time spent in jail/ performing community service, et al), you can expect to lose anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 in wages.

Heard enough? We haven’t even yet factored in the cost to get your license reinstated ($100), the increase in your car insurance rates ($1500 to $3500), the cost to get your car towed home from the scene ($75) or maybe out of impound ($250), perhaps the cost to repay any property damaged by your driving…

The point is, DUI isn’t cheap. Even if you remove all court costs, or don’t hire an attorney (and you should), the price tags associated with the consequences aren’t something anyone wants to consider. Of course, there are other consequences that don’t cost you money, such as the possible jobs lost in the future (your conviction may be enough for an employer to turn you away), the cost of future insurance (just think what will happen next time you apply for insurance with a new company and they see your record), and lots more. Plus, of course, this is all assuming that nobody was injured during your offense.

Getting Help

The final cost of a DUI is going to vary, with estimates ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 and up. It’ll depend largely on your individual case and your circumstances. With the help of an experienced and qualified criminal lawyer, you may be able to get lower fines or otherwise reduce your costs, so make sure you contact a lawyer as soon as possible after being accused of DUI.