DUI Lawyer Cost: Flat Fees by Stage and the Full Price of a DUI
Updated · By the Law Figures editors
General information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change, so check the sources below or ask a lawyer licensed in your state before you act. Legal disclaimer
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DUI attorney prices are usually flat fees that grow with each stage of the case: one fee to handle it through a plea, more for a license hearing or motions, and a larger fee if it goes to trial. Lawyers can't take a DUI case for a percentage, because contingent fees aren't allowed for defending a criminal case. The lawyer is often less than half of what a DUI costs once fines, an ignition interlock and higher insurance are counted.
| Stage | How it's usually billed | What pushes the price up |
|---|---|---|
| First consultation | Often free | Nothing; ask what the quote covers |
| Arraignment through a plea or dismissal | Flat fee | A prior offense, a high test result, a crash |
| License hearing at the motor vehicle agency | Added flat fee | Separate deadline, often days after the arrest |
| Motions, such as challenging the stop or the test | Added flat fee or hourly | Expert review of breath or blood testing |
| Trial | A separate, larger flat fee | Jury trial, experts, length |
| Appeal | Separate agreement | Transcripts and briefing |
These are common billing patterns, not rules, and prices vary by county and by lawyer. Under ABA Model Rule 1.5(d)(2), adopted in each state's version, a lawyer may not charge a contingent fee for representing a defendant in a criminal case.
Add up the full cost
Put in the lawyer's quote and the other costs your state imposes. The defaults are an example, not a typical case.
DUI cost calculator
- Lawyer
- $3,00035.8%
- Interlock
- $480
- Insurance increase
- $3,000
- Estimated total
- $8,380
Every number here depends on your state, your record and the outcome of the case. License reinstatement fees, towing and lost work time can add more.
The example adds a $3,000 lawyer's fee, $1,500 in fines and court costs, $400 for classes, six months of an interlock at $80 and $1,000 a year more for insurance over three years: $8,380 in all. The lawyer is about 36% of it. Ask your insurer for a real quote; for many drivers the insurance increase is the largest line.
Two cases from one arrest
A DUI arrest usually starts two separate matters:
- The criminal case in court, which decides guilt and the sentence.
- The license case at the motor vehicle agency, usually based on refusing or failing a chemical test. It has its own short deadline to ask for a hearing.
Ask whether the quote covers both. Many lawyers charge separately for the license hearing.
If you can't afford a lawyer
If you face a sentence of actual jail time, you have a right to a lawyer, and the court will appoint one if you can't pay (Argersinger v. Hamlin, 1972; Scott v. Illinois, 1979). Ask about a public defender at your first court date. Courts decide eligibility based on income.
Commercial drivers
A DUI can end a commercial driving career even when it happens in your own car. Federal rules disqualify a commercial license holder for one year after a first DUI conviction, three years if the driver was hauling hazardous materials, and for life after a second (49 CFR § 383.51). We checked the table on November 7, 2026. Tell the lawyer up front if you hold a CDL.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What does your flat fee cover, and what costs extra?
- Do you handle the license hearing, and is it included?
- What happens to the fee if the case goes to trial?
- Who will appear in court for me?
- Do you know this court and its usual outcomes for first offenses? See also DWI vs DUI for what the charge is called and graded where you live.