Texas DWI
DUI lawyer in Texas: 15 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 15 days from the day you got the notice to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Texas case for free and connects you with a Texas DWI lawyer.
Arrested for DWI in Texas? 15 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from the day you got the notice. If that was today, the last day is Saturday, October 24. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (DPS rule).
The two clocks: court and DPS
Your Texas DWI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the DPS. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
The license case is an ALR (administrative license revocation) case run by DPS, not the court. (DPS rule)
Ask on time and your license stays valid until the hearing. DPS usually sets the date 30 to 60 days out (DPS).
A first offense in Texas
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Fine | up to $2,000 |
| Jail | up to 180 days, with 3 mandatory days |
| License (court) | loss of license up to a year |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Texas (Texas penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Second offense fine | up to $4,000 |
| Second offense jail | 1 month to a year |
| Second offense license | loss of license up to 2 years |
| Third offense | a $10,000 fine and 2 to 10 years in prison |
An earlier case changes every number above. Tell the lawyer the date and state of each prior case (Texas repeat-offense rules).
Add-on fines and the newest change
- State fine at sentencing: a state fine of $3,000, $4,500 or $6,000 at sentencing, on top of the court fine (TxDOT).
Newest change in Texas. Since September 1, 2025, a Texas intoxication manslaughter that kills more than one person is a first-degree felony. (Texas District and County Attorneys Association)
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a lawyer costs in Texas
Lawyers in Texas set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the DPS hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
Check a lawyer's license
The lawyer who takes your case handles DWI cases in Texas and holds an active Texas 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 Texas, you have 15 days from the day you got the notice to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Texas goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Texas DWI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Texas case for free and connects you with a Texas DWI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Texas arrest and the date printed on your DPS notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.