You can be arrested for a DUI in California if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or more. A DUI charge can cost more than you think.
A DUI conviction may be one of the most expensive misdemeanors you can incur. The average cost of a DUI in California is $10,000 to $15,000.
Drunk driving convictions can also result in long-term impacts, such as criminal records, which affect employment opportunities. Seeking help from a Los Angeles DUI lawyer can aid you in reducing these costs and consequences.
Man drinking behind the wheel of a car. Learn how much a DUI costs in California.
The Costs and Consequences of a First-Time DUI in California
A first–time DUI in California can carry severe consequences, both legally and financially, creating a significant financial burden for offenders. The costs associated with a DUI start immediately after arrest and can escalate quickly.
For a first-time offender, penalties may include license suspension, restricted license requirements, and license reinstatement fees, all of which add to the expense. Additionally, blood alcohol content (BAC) levels at the time of arrest can influence the severity of penalties, with higher BAC levels often resulting in harsher fines and longer suspensions.
Beyond legal fees, offenders face substantial fines, court costs, DUI school expenses, increased insurance rates, and potential loss of income. A criminal defense attorney is essential to fight these challenges, potentially reducing fines or avoiding a jail sentence.
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Standard Costs Involved With a California DUI Charge
In addition to the stress a DUI charge can carry, it is also an expensive crime. For a first-time offense, the total cost will likely add up to well over $10,000. That is in a situation where no one gets hurt, and no medical bills are involved. The costs for a DUI resulting in an injury can increase astronomically.
You’re probably wondering where the different charges come from to make up that price tag. Here’s a quick breakdown of the typical costs of an average DUI. Again, this is for a conviction in which no one gets hurt:
- Car insurance: Your rates can increase for three years due to a DUI in California. On average, that increase is over $3,000 annually.
- Impound fees: Towing and storage fees can add up to about $700.
- DUI programs: These classes can be court-ordered, and you will have to pay for them out of your pocket. An average course costs about $650.
- Driver’s license reinstatement: This will cost you about $100.
- Lawyer fees: These vary depending on who you hire and the duration of your case, but lawyer fees may save you some of the other costs associated with a DUI.
Additional Costs of a DUI in California
The list provided above is not all-inclusive. Several other costs can come with a DUI charge, such as:
- Bail bond costs
- Booking fees
- Court-imposed fines
- Paying to fix the damage to your car
- Towing company fees
- Paying to fix the damage to the other person’s car
- Medical expenses if another party was injured
- Your medical expenses that your insurance doesn’t cover
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in your car
- Lost wages from time missed at work while attending court appearances and possibly while recovering in the hospital
- Transportation costs while your license is suspended or revoked
All told, a DUI charge can easily cost you a small fortune. This is especially true if someone is injured due to an accident. Fortunately, many of these charges only apply if you are convicted. The sooner you speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer after your arrest, the better your position will be in making the strongest case possible.
Will My Insurance Rates Automatically Increase After a DUI?
When you are convicted of a DUI, one of the highest costs is often a hike in your insurance premiums. Fortunately, these costs are spread out over time, so they won’t hit you as one large bill you must pay immediately following a conviction. You may not even see a rate increase for several months.
Insurance companies can not legally adjust your policy in the middle of the term. Instead, they have to wait until it comes up for renewal. If you still have several months on your current policy, you won’t see a rate increase until that period has ended unless you apply for new coverage. An insurance company can then charge the increased rate.
Depending on the particulars of your situation, you might be able to avoid any increase to your insurance rates entirely. It depends on whether or not you need to file an SR-22 form. If you are required to fill out form SR-22, you will need to inform your insurance company of your DUI arrest, and your rates will rise.
California DMV, Form SR-22, and DUI Charges
This form is a special proof of insurance and is often required to reinstate your driver’s license after a suspension. After a DUI arrest, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) normally suspends your driver’s license for 30 days. This is known as a “per se” suspension and occurs before your trial. If you receive a “per se” suspension, you must fill out form SR-22.
By acting fast and requesting a hearing from the DMV within 10 days of your arrest, it might be possible to avoid a “per se” suspension. If successful, your insurance company will only find out about your DUI if it checks your DMV record.
Your insurance company has the right to check your record at any time, and it likely will when your policy is up for renewal. However, if it doesn’t, you may be able to continue avoiding an increase in your rates. A DUI charge will stay on your DMV record for 10 years, so it is possible that you could face a three-year increase at any point during this period.
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Criminal Penalties for a DUI in California
In addition to the costs and fees involved with a DUI charge, a defendant can also suffer several criminal penalties. These penalties increase in severity depending on whether the crime is prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony.
Generally, if this is your first offense, and if no one was killed or badly injured, then chances are good that the charge will be prosecuted as a misdemeanor. The most common sentence for a first-time offense is a term of probation that lasts between three and five years.
As a condition of your probation, you may:
- Be prohibited from driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system, even a legal amount
- Be prohibited from participating in any further violations of the law, except for minor traffic violations
- Face court-ordered attendance in a support group or related program
- Face roadside alcohol testing, if a police officer requests it
If you do not comply with any of these terms, you may be charged with violating your probation, which can result in jail time. However, at Simmrin Law Group, we understand that sometimes life gets in the way or you make a mistake.
Whether you completely forgot and had a drink or your transportation fell through and you missed a support group meeting, we can help you explain your situation to the court and potentially avoid a probation violation.
How Much Does a DUI Cost Over 10 Years?
The cost of a DUI in California can soar well over $15,000 over 10 years. These are the fines and penalties you face when convicted of DUI in California:
- Minimum fine of $390
- Possible court penalties of $1,245
- Booking and fingerprinting fees of $170
- Vehicle towing & impound fee of $350
- Victim Restitution Fund payment of $140
- Three months of DUI school for $575
- Driver’s license fee from the DMV of $125
- Car insurance increase (over 10 years) of $10,154
- Bail bond cost of (up to) $2,500
If You’re Facing a DUI Charge, Call Us
A DUI charge can have a severe financial impact on your life. Let our experienced criminal defense lawyers help you build the best defense possible to avoid a conviction that can mean jail time and bankruptcy.
Fill out our online contact form or give us a call to speak with one of our experienced professionals. You can schedule a free, no–obligation case evaluation. Our team will walk you through all your options and help get your life back on track.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form