Florida DUI
DUI lawyer in Florida: 10 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 10 days from the date printed on your notice to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Florida case for free and connects you with a Florida DUI lawyer.
Arrested for DUI in Florida? 10 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from the date printed on your notice. If that was today, the last day is Monday, October 19. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (FLHSMV rule).
The two clocks: court and FLHSMV
Your Florida DUI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the FLHSMV. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
Florida's license review is run by FLHSMV, separate from the county court case. (FLHSMV rule)
Your paper license: a temporary permit that expires 10 days after the notice (FLHSMV).
A first offense in Florida
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Fine | $500 to $1,000; $1,000 to $2,000 if BAL was .15 or higher or a minor was in the car |
| Jail | not more than six months; not more than nine months at .15 or with a minor |
| License (court) | revocation of 180 days minimum, one year maximum, without injury |
| License (FLHSMV) | 6 months for a first offense at 0.08 or higher; 1 year for a first refusal |
| Car | vehicle impoundment of 10 days on a first conviction |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Florida (Florida penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Second offense fine | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Second offense jail | at least 10 days if within five years of a prior conviction |
An earlier case changes every number above. Tell the lawyer the date and state of each prior case (Florida repeat-offense rules).
Add-on fines, interlock and the newest change
- Interlock: up to six months of interlock for a BAL of .15 (interlock rule).
Newest change in Florida. Since October 1, 2025, refusing the breath, blood or urine test in Florida is a crime even the first time. A first refusal can bring up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, on top of the license suspension. (Trenton's Law summary)
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a lawyer costs in Florida
Lawyers in Florida set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the FLHSMV hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
Check a lawyer's license
The lawyer who takes your case handles DUI cases in Florida and holds an active Florida license. Ask for the bar number on the call and it is yours to keep.
What to do now
Losing your license can mean losing your job, your rides and your routine. In Florida, you have 10 days from the date printed on your notice to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Florida goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Florida DUI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Florida case for free and connects you with a Florida DUI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Florida arrest and the date printed on your FLHSMV notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.