A DUI lawyer costs $1,500 to $10,000 per case in 2026
A DUI lawyer costs $1,500 to $10,000 per case in 2026. LegalMatch says a first DUI with no extra charges runs $1,500 to $3,000. Complex cases cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more. AI Lawyer lists hourly rates of $200 to $500. Your state, the lawyer, and whether the case goes to trial all move the price. Fines and classes are extra.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| LegalMatch | LegalMatch says a first DUI with no extra charges costs $1,500 to $3,000, and complex cases cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more. |
| My Rights Law Group | My Rights Law Group lists a first California misdemeanor DUI at $2,500 to $5,000, hourly rates at $150 to $500, and a felony DUI at $10,000 to $70,000 or more. |
| AI Lawyer | AI Lawyer lists flat fees at $2,000 to $5,000, a first offense at $1,500 to $5,000, hourly rates at $200 to $500, and fines at $300 to $2,500 or more. |
| CUNY Pressbooks | CUNY Pressbooks lists a first DUI at $1,500 to $3,500, a repeat DUI at $3,000 to $8,000, a felony DUI at $6,000 to $15,000 or more, and trial fees at an added $5,000 to $20,000 or more. |
DUI lawyer prices by case type
| Case type | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First DUI, no extra charges | $1,500 to $3,000 | LegalMatch |
| First DUI misdemeanor, California | $2,500 to $5,000 | My Rights Law Group |
| First offense | $1,500 to $5,000 | AI Lawyer |
| Repeat DUI (second or third) | $3,000 to $8,000 | CUNY Pressbooks |
| Complex case | $5,000 to $10,000 or more | LegalMatch |
| Felony DUI | $6,000 to $15,000 or more | CUNY Pressbooks |
| Hourly rate | $200 to $500 | AI Lawyer |
| Trial, added fee | $5,000 to $20,000 or more | CUNY Pressbooks |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Type of offense | LegalMatch lists a first DUI at $1,500 to $3,000. My Rights Law Group lists a felony DUI or serious accident at $10,000 to $70,000 or more. |
| Trial or plea | CUNY Pressbooks lists trial fees as an added $5,000 to $20,000 or more. A plea deal can cost far less because there is less work to do. |
| Where you live | My Rights Law Group lists a first misdemeanor in California at $2,500 to $5,000. Big cities and busy courts can charge more than small towns. |
| Lawyer experience | AI Lawyer lists hourly rates at $200 to $500, and My Rights Law Group lists $150 to $500. A well known DUI lawyer often charges toward the top. |
| Extra work and experts | CUNY Pressbooks lists a DMV hearing at $300 to $1,000, an expert witness at $1,000 to $3,000 or more, and accident experts at $1,500 to $5,000. |
What the price includes
A flat fee usually covers meetings with you, work with the court and the prosecutor, and talks about a plea deal. Many lawyers bill the DMV hearing apart. Trial, expert witnesses, and test reviews can cost extra. Court fines, DUI classes, license fees, and an ignition interlock device are not paid to the lawyer. AI Lawyer lists fines at $300 to $2,500 or more. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Who charges this and how it is billed
DUI lawyers bill in two main ways. Some charge a flat fee for the whole case, and others bill by the hour. AI Lawyer lists flat fees at $2,000 to $5,000 and hourly rates at $200 to $500. Trial is often billed apart, and CUNY Pressbooks lists trial fees as an added $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Experts, a DMV hearing, and test reviews can be separate lines. Public defenders are a different path, and the court decides who qualifies. Always ask for a written fee agreement that says what is and is not included.
When you need this
Get a lawyer as soon as you are charged with a DUI. A lawyer can check how the stop and the test were done, and can talk with the prosecutor. A lawyer can also help with the license side. The DMV may start its own process soon after an arrest, and the time to ask for a hearing can be short. Do not wait until your court date.
How to judge your quote
- Is the fee flat or hourly, and what does it include?
- Does the price cover the DMV hearing and all court dates?
- What happens to the fee if the case goes to trial?
- Are experts, test reviews, and filing costs listed apart?
- Compare the total with the range above: $1,500 to $10,000 per case for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for a flat fee in writing. AI Lawyer lists flat fees at $2,000 to $5,000, which is easier to plan for than an hourly rate of $200 to $500.
- Ask what the flat fee leaves out. CUNY Pressbooks lists a DMV hearing at $300 to $1,000, so find out if it is in the price.
- Talk to two or three lawyers before you hire one. Quotes for a first offense run from $1,500 to $5,000, so it pays to compare.
- Ask if the firm offers a payment plan. Splitting a $3,000 fee into monthly parts can make the bill easier to manage.
- Plan for costs beyond the lawyer. AI Lawyer lists DUI classes at $200 to $1,500 or more and fines at $300 to $2,500 or more, so set money aside.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from LegalMatch, My Rights Law Group, AI Lawyer and CUNY Pressbooks. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a DUI lawyer cost for a first offense?
LegalMatch says $1,500 to $3,000 when there are no extra charges. AI Lawyer says $1,500 to $5,000. In California, My Rights Law Group says $2,500 to $5,000.
How much does a DUI lawyer charge per hour?
AI Lawyer and CUNY Pressbooks both list $200 to $500 per hour. My Rights Law Group lists $150 to $500. Many lawyers use a flat fee instead.
Does a DUI trial cost more?
Yes. CUNY Pressbooks lists trial fees as an added $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Accident reconstruction experts can add $1,500 to $5,000.
What other costs come with a DUI?
AI Lawyer lists fines of $300 to $2,500 or more, DUI classes of $200 to $1,500 or more, and license reinstatement of $25 to $500 or more. My Rights Law Group says the total in California can reach $8,000 to $25,000 or more.
How much is an ignition interlock device?
AI Lawyer lists installation at $75 to $100 and monthly upkeep at $70 to $100. Courts in some states order one after a DUI.