You received your first DUI recently at the hands of Texas law enforcement, and you want to wrap your head around the financial cost of the charge. Where should you start?
AddictionCenter.com investigates the full cost of drunk driving. Get a foundational understanding of how much you should expect the charge to affect your financial health.
At the scene
Once police place you under arrest and charge you with driving under the influence, the expenses begin. Besides towing and impounding, you must pay jail fees ranging anywhere from $10 to $50. You must also pay for the blood alcohol test that law enforcement administered, which runs from roughly $500 to $1,000. Bail may range between $150 and $2,500.
After jail
Once you get out of jail, expect to incur court fines of $150 to $1,800. Those arrested for DUI must complete court-mandated counseling, which costs $1,000 to $2,500.
Beyond your court date
The next time you renew your auto insurance, expect your coverage provider to learn of your run-in with the law. If you keep driving after your DUI, your car insurance rate increase could span from $4,500 to $10,000, depending on your provider and whether you qualify for discounts. You must pay $21 to $100 to reinstate your driver’s license. With a suspended license, you may depend on friends, family and public transportation to get to and from work and wherever else you want to go. The court may require you to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle, which runs between $500 and $1,500.