Traffic & DUI Cost Calculators

It usually runs into five figures over three years. The parts we can put a number on are market prices rather than published schedules: a lawyer at roughly $1,500 to $5,000 for a case that does not go to trial, a DUI programme at a few hundred to about $1,500, an interlock at around $1,000 a year where one is required, and an insurance increase that typically costs more than everything else combined. The court fine and the reinstatement fee are set by your state and we do not publish our own figures for them.

We do not rank the states, because that would mean reading all fifty one codes and we have read a handful. One we have read in full is Oregon: a first DUI is a Class A misdemeanour in Oregon, and the maximum fine for a Class A misdemeanour there is $6,250, which is high by any measure. Whether another state is higher we genuinely do not know, and saying otherwise would be a guess with a ranking attached to it.

Yes. First-time DUI offenders without aggravating factors may qualify for a plea to wet reckless, which carries lower fines, no mandatory IID, shorter license suspension, and significantly lower insurance impact. Prosecutors are more likely to offer reductions when BAC was near the legal limit, no accident occurred, and the defendant has no prior record. An attorney is typically necessary to negotiate this outcome.

Speeding ticket fines vary by state and speed over the limit. The base fine is set by your state and by the schedule your local court applies, and we do not publish a national range for it. What matters more is what gets added on top: court costs, assessments and surcharges routinely double or triple the printed figure. California penalty assessments add about $29 for every $10 of base fine, starting with the $10 state penalty under Penal Code 1464. New York adds mandatory surcharges of $88 to $93 on top of base fines.

A DUI stays on your criminal record permanently unless expunged, which is not available in all states. On your DMV driving record, DUIs typically remain for 5 to 10 years depending on state. For insurance purposes, most insurers look back 3 to 5 years, though some use a 7-year lookback period for rating purposes. States with lifetime lookback for repeat offenses include Colorado, Illinois, and several others.

An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state to verify you carry the minimum required coverage. It is required after a DUI, license suspension, or driving without insurance. Most states require SR-22 for two to three years. If your policy lapses during the SR-22 period, your insurer notifies the state immediately and your license is suspended again. SR-22 typically increases premiums by $300 to $800 per year above post-DUI rates.

Yes, significantly. A DUI conviction typically raises auto insurance premiums by 50 to 100 percent or more for three to five years. In some cases your current insurer may cancel your policy and you will need high-risk SR-22 insurance, which carries even higher premiums. On an $1,800 annual premium, a 75 percent increase adds $4,050 over three years.

Reckless driving (also called wet reckless when alcohol is involved) is a lesser charge than DUI. It typically carries lower fines, no mandatory IID, shorter license suspension, and significantly lower insurance impact. Prosecutors sometimes offer a reckless driving plea to first-time DUI offenders with no aggravating factors. However, in states with lifetime DUI lookback periods, a wet reckless still counts as a prior offense.

In most states, yes. Installing an IID allows you to obtain a restricted or hardship license during your suspension period so you can drive to work, school, or medical appointments. Some states like California and Illinois require IID installation as a condition of any driving during the full suspension period. The device requires a clean breath sample before the engine starts and periodic rolling retests while driving.

To fight a speeding ticket: request a court date before the deadline, gather evidence (dashcam footage, GPS data, photos of signage), and appear in court. Common defenses include calibration errors in the radar or lidar device, obstructed speed limit signs, or necessity. In many states, simply requesting a hearing results in a reduction or dismissal. An attorney can often negotiate a no-point violation even without a full defense.