DUI Lawyer Cost Calculator
Estimate DUI defense attorney costs — 1st offense misdemeanor $1,500-$5,000; 2nd $3,000-$10,000; felony DUI $5,000-$25,000+; plus IID, DMV hearing, expert witness, plea vs trial costs
How much does a DUI lawyer cost? 1st offense misdemeanor: $1,500-$5,000 flat fee. 2nd offense: $3,000-$10,000. Felony DUI (3rd+, child, injury): $5,000-$25,000. Felony serious injury/death: $25,000-$75,000+ hourly.
⚖ DUI attorney fees: 1st offense $1.5K-$5K. 2nd $3K-$10K. Felony $5K-$25K+. 90% plea, 2% trial. Add: DMV hearing $500-$2K, IID $700-$1,200/yr, alcohol ed $500-$1K.
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Estimated Total Cost
$3,500 — $6,500
Total cost includes attorney fees, court filing fees, and typical case expenses. Contingency cases shift cost to a percentage of recovery (typically 33%).
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What a conviction costs after the lawyer is paid
Legal fees are the smaller half. A record follows you into hiring, housing and insurance rates. These pages set out how long each consequence lasts, state by state.
First-Offense DUI Penalties
Fines, licence and jail exposure by state
How Long a DUI Stays on Your Record
Lookback periods and record retention
Expungement by State
Which records can be sealed, and when
Felony vs Misdemeanor
Where the line sits and why it matters
Traffic Ticket Points by State
Points, thresholds and suspension
How Long a Speeding Ticket Stays
Effect on insurance rates over time
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
DUI Defense Cost Breakdown
DUI attorney costs vary by offense tier + state + trial vs plea. First-offense misdemeanor: $1,500-$5,000 (flat fee typical). Second-offense: $3,000-$10,000. Felony DUI (3rd+, injury, child in car): $5,000-$25,000. Felony with serious injury/death: $25,000-$75,000+. Most firms charge flat fees for misdemeanors (predictable scope) and hourly ($200-$500/hr) for felonies (unpredictable complexity).
Additional costs beyond attorney fees: DMV/administrative license hearing (separate from criminal): $500-$2,000. Expert witnesses (blood analyst, field sobriety expert, accident reconstructionist): $500-$5,000. Alcohol education / DUI school: $500-$1,000. Ignition Interlock Device (IID): $70-$150 install + $54-$90/month lease + ~$25/calibration every 30-90 days = $700-$1,200/year total.
Plea vs Trial: approximately 90%+ of DUI cases resolve via plea bargain, only ~2% proceed to jury trial. Of those tried, about half result in reduced charges or dismissal. Going to trial adds $3,000-$15,000 to attorney fees. Plea bargains typically involve reduced charges (wet reckless, reckless driving) + lower penalties (less jail, shorter license suspension).
DUI Lawyer Cost FAQs
How much does a DUI lawyer cost?
1st offense misdemeanor: $1,500-$5,000 flat fee. 2nd offense: $3,000-$10,000. Felony DUI (3rd+, child, injury): $5,000-$25,000. Felony serious injury/death: $25,000-$75,000+ hourly. Higher in CA/TX/FL (stricter laws, more defenses); lower in rural states. Add $3K-$15K if you go to trial. Most cases plea (90%+). Flat fees more common for misdemeanors; hourly for felonies.
Do I need a DUI lawyer for a first offense?
Strongly recommended — even first-offense misdemeanors carry: $500-$2,000 fines, 6-12 month license suspension, 3-9 month jail exposure (typically suspended), DUI school + IID + SR-22, insurance increases 50-100%+ for 3-5 years ($5K-$15K lifetime). Attorney ($1,500-$5,000) typically saves: reduced charges (wet reckless, reckless driving), shorter suspension, no jail, fewer probation terms. ROI is usually strong. Public defender available if indigent but private attorney adds defense investigators + more time.
What is a DMV administrative hearing and do I need a lawyer for it?
Separate from criminal case. Automatic license suspension kicks in 10 days after arrest unless you request hearing. DMV hearing challenges: whether officer had probable cause, whether arrest was lawful, whether breathalyzer/blood test was properly administered. Lawyer for hearing: $500-$2,000. Critical — winning DMV hearing prevents suspension entirely. Losing hearing + winning criminal case = still suspended. Request hearing immediately.
Should I plead guilty or fight my DUI?
Depends on evidence + prior record + consequences. Plea advantages: predictable outcome, reduced charges (often wet reckless, reckless driving), faster resolution, lower total costs. Trial advantages: potential dismissal or acquittal (50% of tried cases produce favorable outcome per studies), no DUI on record. Trial disadvantages: higher attorney fees ($3K-$15K more), risk of full DUI conviction, longer case duration (6-12 months). Attorney can evaluate evidence + recommend. Most cases plea because evidence is strong but plea reduces severity.
What happens if I can't afford a DUI lawyer?
Public defender — free for indigent defendants meeting income thresholds (varies by state, often 125% federal poverty line). Quality varies by county/state. PDs handle heavy caseloads, less individualized attention. For misdemeanor DUI: PD often adequate. For felony DUI: private counsel strongly recommended due to higher stakes. Some private DUI firms offer payment plans ($500-$1K down + monthly payments).
How long does a DUI case take?
Misdemeanor first offense: 3-6 months typical. Arraignment → pretrial motions → plea (most common) OR trial. Misdemeanor with contested evidence: 6-12 months. Felony DUI: 12-24 months, depending on complexity. Felony serious injury/death: 18-36+ months with potential civil parallel cases. DMV hearing: separate track, typically resolved within 3-6 months.
Do all DUI convictions require IID in 2026?
All 50 states now require IID for at least some DUI offenders. Most states: required for first-offense convictions. Some states: only for repeat offenders or high-BAC (0.15+) cases. Cost: $70-$150 install + $54-$90/month lease + ~$25/calibration = $700-$1,200/year. Duration: 6 months to 5 years depending on state + offense. Required to regain driving privileges. NHTSA is considering federal mandate for all new vehicles by 2027-2028.
How much does a DUI cost in total (not just attorney)?
Total first-offense DUI cost: $10,000-$25,000+ lifetime. Breakdown: attorney $1,500-$5,000 + court fines $500-$2,000 + DUI school $500-$1,000 + IID $700-$1,200/year × duration + SR-22 insurance increase $5,000-$15,000 over 3-5 years + missed work + probation fees. Felony DUI with injury: $50,000-$250,000+ lifetime including civil liability. Budget is the hidden cost — insurance increases alone often exceed attorney fees.