Cost
DUI lawyer cost: what a defense costs, and what a conviction costs
You were arrested for DUI and want to know the price before you pay anyone. A flat fee can leave out the license hearing, and that hearing request has a deadline counted in days.
Answered 24/7, a free look at your case and a straight answer on what your defense may cost.
The ranges
Each lawyer sets a fee for the case in front of them, so the real number comes on the call. The part set by law, the fines and an interlock, adds up for your state right here.
Most DUI lawyers quote a flat fee for a first offense and a higher one if the case goes to trial. Expert witnesses, such as a toxicologist, usually cost extra.
NHTSA puts a first offense at upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees (NHTSA). So a lower charge or a shorter suspension is worth real money, and that is what the lawyer works for.
What's included
On the call you hear four answers before you pay anything. Does the fee include the license hearing? Does it include a trial? Are expert costs extra? Is any of it refunded if the case is dropped early?
The license deadline for your state decides how fast the lawyer must start.
Public defender
The Supreme Court held that a misdemeanor defendant has a right to appointed counsel when imprisonment is part of the sentence (NCSL). Since many DUI charges carry jail, the court can appoint one at your first appearance.
Eligibility depends on income and is set by each court. A public defender works the criminal case; the license hearing at the driver agency is often outside that job.
What a conviction costs without one
Pleading guilty without a lawyer does not make a DUI cheap. In New Jersey a first offense brings a $250 to $400 fine and $505 in fees. On top comes a $1,000 surcharge each year for 3 years (New Jersey MVC). Insurance usually rises too.
Add up the costs set by law
The tool adds the fines your state sets and any interlock months. Use the result to judge a quote; the call gives the number for your case.
Questions people ask
How much does a DUI lawyer cost?
Fees are set by each lawyer and vary by state and case. Many quote a flat fee for a first offense and more for a trial.
Do I need a lawyer for a DUI?
A private DUI lawyer takes the license hearing as well as the court case, and the hearing deadline comes first. Call now and a professional goes through your case and the likely fee for free.
Can a public defender handle a DUI?
A public defender works the court case once the court appoints one, usually at the first appearance. The license hearing comes earlier and is usually outside that job.
How much does a DUI cost in total?
NHTSA says a first offense can cost upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees. Add your state's fine, the fee you were quoted and any interlock months to see your share of that.
Read next: Your first DUI · Interlock costs · BAC calculator
What to do now
You are weighing what a DUI lawyer costs while your license clock is already running. A first offense can cost upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees, and the license hearing request comes due first. Call now so a lawyer for your state files the hearing request before the deadline and asks for police records.
Call for my fee quote (877) 317-9931
Answered 24/7, a free look at your case and a straight answer on what your defense may cost.
Send your case details
Send your state, the charge on your citation, the date on your license notice and any fee you were quoted. With those details in hand, the lawyer can judge your deadline and your likely costs from the start of the call.