Each year, about 10,000 drivers die on American roads in crashes involving alcohol. These alcohol-impaired deaths represent some 28% of all road fatalities in the United States 2019.

Along with the emotional costs, road accidents cost the nation $49 billion in medical bills and work loss, according to the CDC. Extrapolating those figures, we found that drunk drivers are at the root of an expensive $13.7 billion in medical expenses and lost wages.

How much does a DUI cost?

The cost of alcohol-impaired driving varies by state and depends on the severity of the accident. In regards to why DUI’s are so expensive, criminal defense attorney Ryan Stump, National College for DUI Defense, and the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys. Mr. Stump sited bail, court fees, increased insurance fees, court fines and restoration of driving privileges. “Once you’re charged, you typically lose your driving privileges. For example, in North Carolina, when you are charged with a DWI, you lose your driving privileges for 30-days under a civil revocation. To reinstate them, you’ll have to pay a total of at least $100 to restore them. If you don’t get your driving privileges reinstated, then you’ll incur the ongoing cost of public transportation, taxis, rideshare services such as Lyft, or be forced to rely on friends and/or family for transportation” said Stump.

To understand how DUI cost figures are calculated, let’s dive into the range of penalties you face for drunk driving.

How much are fees and fines?

You face a range of penalties if you’re caught and convicted for drunk driving that largely come down to how strict your state’s DUI laws are. All 50 states have adopted laws limiting your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%. Still, the penalties you face in South Dakota differ widely from those of California, skewing the national average.

How much does a DUI cost in each state?

The average cost of $4,100 across the US doesn’t tell the whole story. This includes states that impose much lower fees and fines than the others. Compare the minimum average costs of a DUI for each state.

• Average cost by state map
• Average cost by state table

Which state is toughest on drunk drivers?

In terms of fines, you may want to avoid drunk driving altogether in Alaska. While fines vary depending on the severity of the incident, you could be hit with a fine of $5,793 in the northernmost state.

And in states with already high car insurance rates like California, a $1,755 increase to your premiums for the next few years is especially daunting. Other factors that significantly raise the cost in certain states are court fees and lost wages from jail time. Compare the overall most expensive states for DUI offenders. Arizona DUI Sergeant Voss of the Tucson police department noted ” People need to have a plan when they go out. A designated driver needs to be a true designated driver who doesn’t drink any alcohol, not the one who drank the least.”

How much are DUI fines?

The average fee for a first DUI conviction is $315, and that number jumps to $545 for your second conviction. Those numbers include states that don’t charge a required fee.

Fees are highest in states like Alaska, Utah, Arizona, Oregon, and Iowa. Only 13 states have no required fine.

• Minimum DUI fines by state map
• Minimum DUI fines by state table

What’s an ignition interlock device?

An ignition interlock device (IID) is a breathalyzer that requires a driver to blow into a mouthpiece prior to starting the vehicle. If the IID detects that the driver’s BAC is above a predetermined threshold, the device immobilizes the vehicle.

An IID typically costs between $70 and $150 to install and roughly $60 to $80 monthly to maintain and calibrate. Removal costs are an additional $50 to $150 fee.

IID requirements by state

The average amount of time you’ll need an IID is 9 months. Where you live determines how long you’ll need to use your IID, with many states requiring at least a year.

Whether you’re ordered to install an IID in your vehicle at all depends on your BAC and whether you’re a first-time offender. 36 states require it on a first conviction, and all but 3 states require it after your second conviction at least.

• IID requirements by state map
• IID requirements by state table

How much does jail time cost?

It’s a tricky number to estimate, especially given how differently incarceration and other penalties are handled among the states. A few states punch up the punishment by charging inmates up to $60 for each day they’re in jail.

On average, you’ll spend a minimum 2.1 days in jail after a DUI conviction, which includes states that don’t set a minimum jail time.

As for the cost of lost wages, let’s break down average costs. The median annual income in the US of $35,977 breaks down to $139 per workday. At that rate, the average DUI costs $288 in lost wages.

However, that’s merely the minimum penalty for a first DUI conviction. Most penalties increase after your first DUI, increasing the possibility of jail time with each offense. These averages also don’t include job loss, which could be a reality if your employer catches wind of your DUI. Some government and public office positions or jobs that rely on your driving ability won’t allow employees with DUIs at all.

• Lost wages and jail time by state map
• Lost wages and jail time by state table

How much does it cost to get your car back?

When you’re convicted of a DUI, you’ll likely pay for towing and storage if your car is impounded, which varies by state. Towing fees could be as low as $75, for example, but impound, storage and recovery fees can run into the thousands.

How much does it cost to get your license back?

After you’ve paid out your penalties and satisfied your sentence, there’s still the matter of reinstating your driver’s license. In most states, you’re looking at $20 to $40 for a new license, while Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington charge $70 or more.

You could face a higher license reinstatement fee for a DUI specifically. Rhode Island, for instance, charges $152 to reinstate a suspended license — but that number increases to $352 for a license suspended due to a DUI.

How much does car insurance go up after a DUI?

The costs don’t stop with your license. Depending on your state, you could end up paying 112% more each year on your car insurance premiums than before your conviction.

• Car insurance increases by state map
• Car insurance increases by state table

Bottom line

Grabbing the wheel after getting a drink is a bad idea, endangering your life, your livelihood and the lives of fellow drivers. It’s also a costly one, with hundreds or thousands in fees, penalties and potentially jail time. Learning how to avoid and prevent situations like this early can help. Denise Continenza, a prevention affiliate at Penn State Prevention Research Center noted high quality prevention education as a way to curb drunk driving. Regarding high quality prevention Continenza said the following, “It teaches skills rather than scare tactics. It takes adolescent development into consideration. Teens don’t think that something bad could ever happen to them, and this is why programs that scare (bringing in people in recovery to tell their story) or ones that create high levels of emotions (prom night car crash simulations) do not work. They fade in the kids’ memories over time. Teaching them how to resist peer pressure, cope with stress in healthy ways and set goals for their future are effective in keeping kids away from substance use.”

After a night out on the town, hail a cab, request a rideshare or take advantage of public transportation to avoid the devastation of drunk driving. To protect yourself from drunk drivers on the road, compare car insurance policies to cover you and your car from the unexpected.

Methodology

To understand how DUI cost figures are calculated, let’s dive into the range of penalties you face for drunk driving.
To determine DUI cost by state, Finder compared the states across a total of 8 factors that contribute to the overall cost of a DUI.

• Fines
• Towing fee
• Bail and court costs
• License reinstatement fees
• Interlock ignition device fees (installation fee, monthly fee, removal fee)
• Alcohol education
• Lost wages (from jail time)
• Average Insurance Rate Increase After DUI

Sources:

• “Cost of Injury Reports” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• “Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST)” by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• “Auto Insurance Database Report” by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
• “DUI Laws by State” by Nolo
• “Highway Statistics 2019” by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
• “Arrests by State, 2019” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• “Suspended License Reinstatement by State” by FindLaw

• 2019

  Each year, about 10,000 drivers die on American roads in crashes involving alcohol. These alcohol-impaired deaths represent some 28% of all road fatalities in the United States.

  Along with the emotional costs, road accidents cost the nation $44 billion in medical bills and work loss, according to the CDC. Extrapolating those figures, we found that drunk drivers are at the root of an expensive $12.32 billion in medical expenses and lost wages.

  How much does a DUI cost?

  The cost of alcohol-impaired driving varies by state and depends on the severity of the accident. For example, if you’re convicted of a DUI in Tennessee, you could be on the hook for $5,650 to $8,650 in fees and penalties. That’s a small sum compared with what the Department of Motor Vehicles estimates for someone living in Alaska, a whopping $24,265.

  To understand how these figures are calculated, let’s dive into the range of penalties you face for drunk driving.

  How much are fees and fines?

  You face a range of penalties if you’re caught and convicted for drunk driving that largely come down to how strict your state’s DUI laws are. All 50 states have adopted laws limiting your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%. Still, the penalties you face in South Dakota differ widely from those of California, skewing the national average.

  📰

  Fines

  $352

  🚚

  Towing

  $15

  🕌

  Bail and court

  $106

  💳

  License fees

  $265

  💲

  Insurance increase

  $1,248

  🔧

  Interlock iginition device

  $748

  🍺

  Alcohol education

  $218

  🚔

  Lost wages

  $345

  💲

  TOTAL

  $3,294

  How much does a DUI cost in each state?

  The average cost of $3,294 across the US doesn’t tell the whole story. This includes states that impose much lower fees and fines than the others. Compare the minimum average costs of a DUI for each state.

  • Average cost by state map
  • Average cost by state table

  State	Cost of DUI
  Alabama	$2,583
  Alaska	$4,891
  Arizona	$5,966
  Arkansas	$3,494
  California	$4,076
  Colorado	$4,369
  Connecticut	$4,846
  Delaware	$3,731
  Florida	$3,404
  Georgia	$5,453
  Hawaii	$3,638
  Idaho	$1,961
  Illinois	$2,956
  Indiana	$2,479
  Iowa	$3,382
  Kansas	$3,599
  Kentucky	$3,216
  Louisiana	$4,544
  Maine	$2,564
  Maryland	$3,125
  Massachusetts	$4,248
  Michigan	$2,732
  Minnesota	$2,669
  Mississippi	$1,961
  Missouri	$2,056
  Montana	$2,725
  Nebraska	$4,191
  Nevada	$3,290
  New Hampshire	$3,477
  New Jersey	$2,981
  New Mexico	$2,403
  New York	$3,510
  North Carolina	$3,321
  North Dakota	$2,018
  Ohio	$2,541
  Oklahoma	$5,159
  Oregon	$4,292
  Pennsylvania	$2,688
  Rhode Island	$3,440
  South Carolina	$3,313
  South Dakota	$1,082
  Tennessee	$3,177
  Texas	$3,436
  Utah	$5,204
  Vermont	$1,811
  Virginia	$2,561
  Washington	$4,179
  Washington, DC	$1,848
  West Virginia	$2,490
  Wisconsin	$2,744
  Wyoming	$2,168

  Which state is toughest on drunk drivers?

  In terms of fines, you may want to avoid drunk driving altogether in Oregon. While fines vary depending on the severity of the incident, you could be hit with a fine of up to $6,000 in the Beaver State.

  And in states with already high car insurance rates like Connecticut, a $1,500 increase to your premiums for the next few years is especially daunting. Other factors that significantly raise the cost in certain states are court fees and lost wages from jail time. Compare the overall most expensive states for DUI offenders.

  Worst states for a DUI

  • Arizona
  • Alaska
  • Georgia
  • Utah
  • Oklahoma

  Cheapest states for a DUI

  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • Mississippi
  • Idaho

  How much are DUI fines?

  The average fee for a first DUI conviction is $352, and that number jumps to $762 for your second conviction. Those numbers include states that don’t charge a required fee.

  Fees are highest in states like Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Washington, Utah and Pennsylvania. Only 13 states have no required fine.

  • Minimum DUI fines by state map
  • Minimum DUI fines by state table

  State	1st conviction	2nd conviction
  Alabama	$600	$1,100
  Alaska	$1,500	$3,000
  Arizona	$750	$1,750
  Arkansas	$150	$400
  California	$390	$390
  Colorado	$600	$600
  Connecticut	$500	$1,000
  Delaware	$500	$750
  Florida	$500	$1,000
  Georgia	$300	$600
  Hawaii	$150	$500
  Idaho	$0	$0
  Illinois	$0	$0
  Indiana	$0	$0
  Iowa	$625	$1,875
  Kansas	$750	$1,250
  Kentucky	$200	$350
  Louisiana	$300	$750
  Maine	$500	$700
  Maryland	$0	$0
  Massachusetts	$500	$600
  Michigan	$100	$200
  Minnesota	$0	$0
  Mississippi	$250	$600
  Missouri	$0	$0
  Montana	$600	$1,200
  Nebraska	$500	$500
  Nevada	$400	$750
  New Hampshire	$500	$750
  New Jersey	$250	$500
  New Mexico	$0	$500
  New York	$500	$1,000
  North Carolina	$200	$2,000
  North Dakota	$500	$1,500
  Ohio	$375	$525
  Oklahoma	$0	$0
  Oregon	$1,000	$1,500
  Pennsylvania	$300	$300
  Rhode Island	$100	$400
  South Carolina	$400	$2,100
  South Dakota	$0	$0
  Tennessee	$350	$600
  Texas	$0	$0
  Utah	$1,370	$1,560
  Vermont	$0	$0
  Virginia	$250	$500
  Washington	$940.50	$1,195
  Washington, DC	0	2500
  West Virginia	$100	$1,000
  Wisconsin	$150	$350
  Wyoming	$0	$200

  What’s an ignition interlock device?

  An ignition interlock device (IID) is a breathalyzer that requires a driver to blow into a mouthpiece prior to starting the vehicle. If the IID detects that the driver’s BAC is above a predetermined threshold, the device immobilizes the vehicle.

  An IID typically costs between $70 and $150 to install and roughly $60 to $80 monthly to maintain and calibrate.

  IID requirements by state

  The average amount of time you’ll need an IID is 9 months. Where you live determines how long you’ll need to use your IID, with many states requiring at least a year.

  Whether you’re ordered to install an IID in your vehicle at all depends on your BAC and whether you’re a first-time offender. 36 states require it on a first conviction, and all but 3 states require it after your second conviction at least.

  • IID requirements by state map
  • IID requirements by state table

  State	IID required
  Alabama	6 months
  Alaska	6 months
  Arizona	12 months
  Arkansas	12 months
  California	3 months
  Colorado	8 months
  Connecticut	12 months
  Delaware	14 months
  Florida	6 months
  Georgia	12 months
  Hawaii	12 months
  Idaho	12 months
  Illinois	12 months
  Indiana	12 months
  Iowa	12 months
  Kansas	6 months
  Kentucky	6 months
  Louisiana	12 months
  Maine	5 months
  Maryland	12 months
  Massachusetts	24 months
  Michigan	12 months
  Minnesota	12 months
  Mississippi	3 months
  Missouri	6 months
  Montana	6 months
  Nebraska	6 months
  Nevada	3 months
  New Hampshire	12 months
  New Jersey	6 months
  New Mexico	12 months
  New York	6 months
  North Carolina	12 months
  North Dakota	1.1 months
  Ohio	1.1 months
  Oklahoma	18 months
  Oregon	12 months
  Pennsylvania	12 months
  Rhode Island	24 months
  South Carolina	6 months
  South Dakota	0 months
  Tennessee	12 months
  Texas	12 months
  Utah	18 months
  Vermont	0 months
  Virginia	6 months
  Washington	12 months
  Washington, DC	0 months
  West Virginia	4.17 months
  Wisconsin	12 months
  Wyoming	6 months

  How much does jail time cost?

  It’s a tricky number to estimate, especially given how differently incarceration and other penalties are handled among the states. A few states punch up the punishment by charging inmates up to $60 for each day they’re in jail.

  On average, you’ll spend a minimum 1.5 days in jail after a DUI conviction, which includes states that don’t set a minimum jail time.

  As for the cost of lost wages, let’s break down average costs. The median annual income in the US of $56,615 breaks down to $217 a day. At that rate, the average DUI costs $345 in lost wages.

  However, that’s merely the minimum penalty for a first DUI conviction. Most penalties increase after your first DUI, increasing the possibility of jail time with each offense. These averages also don’t include job loss, which could be a reality if your employer catches wind of your DUI. Some government and public office positions or jobs that rely on your driving ability won’t allow employees with DUIs at all.

  • Lost wages and jail time by state map
  • Lost wages and jail time by state table

  State	Lost wages	Minimum jail time
  Alabama	$0	No minimum sentence
  Alaska	$651	3 days
  Arizona	$2,170	10 days
  Arkansas	$217	1 day
  California	$868	4 days
  Colorado	$1,085	5 days
  Connecticut	$434	2 days
  Delaware	$0	No minimum sentence
  Florida	$0	No minimum sentence
  Georgia	$2,170	10 days
  Hawaii	$434	2 days
  Idaho	$0	No minimum sentence
  Illinois	$0	No minimum sentence
  Indiana	$0	No minimum sentence
  Iowa	$434	2 Days
  Kansas	$434	2 Days
  Kentucky	$434	2 days
  Louisiana	$434	2 days
  Maine	$0	No minimum sentence
  Maryland	$0	No minimum sentence
  Massachusetts	$0	No minimum sentence
  Michigan	$0	No minimum sentence
  Minnesota	$0	No minimum sentence
  Mississippi	$0	No minimum sentence
  Missouri	$0	No minimum sentence
  Montana	$217	1 day
  Nebraska	$1,519	7 days
  Nevada	$434	2 days
  New Hampshire	$0	No minimum sentence
  New Jersey	$0	No minimum sentence
  New Mexico	$0	No minimum sentence
  New York	$0	No minimum sentence
  North Carolina	$217	1 day
  North Dakota	$0	No minimum sentence
  Ohio	$651	3 days
  Oklahoma	$2,170	10 days
  Oregon	$434	2 days
  Pennsylvania	$0	No minimum sentence
  Rhode Island	$0	No minimum sentence
  South Carolina	$434	2 days
  South Dakota	$0	No minimum sentence
  Tennessee	$434	2 days
  Texas	$651	3 days
  Utah	$434	2 days
  Vermont	$0	No minimum sentence
  Virginia	$0	No minimum sentence
  Washington	$217	1 day
  Washington, DC	$0	No minimum sentence
  West Virginia	$0	No minimum sentence
  Wisconsin	$0	No minimum sentence
  Wyoming	$0	No minimum sentence

  How much does it cost to get your car back?

  When you’re convicted of a DUI, you’ll likely pay for towing and storage if your car is impounded, which varies by state. Towing fees could be as low as $75, for example, but impound, storage and recovery fees can run into the thousands.

  How much does it cost to get your license back?

  After you’ve paid out your penalties and satisfied your sentence, there’s still the matter of reinstating your driver’s license. In most states, you’re looking at $20 to $40 for a new license, while Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington charge $70 or more.

  You could face a higher license reinstatement fee for a DUI specifically. Rhode Island, for instance, charges $152 to reinstate a suspended license — but that number increases to $352 for a license suspended due to a DUI.

  How much does car insurance go up after a DUI?

  The costs don’t stop with your license. Depending on your state, you could end up paying 112% more each year on your car insurance premiums than before your conviction.

  • Car insurance increases by state map
  • Car insurance increases by state table

  State	Average car insurance	Premium increase	Cost of insurance after DUI
  Alabama	$723	54%	$1,113
  Alaska	$872	80%	$1,570
  Arizona	$844	37%	$1,156
  Arkansas	$736	68%	$1,237
  California	$841	103%	$1,708
  Colorado	$857	34%	$1,149
  Connecticut	$1,049	100%	$2,097
  Delaware	$1,146	31%	$1,501
  Florida	$1,185	40%	$1,659
  Georgia	$897	47%	$1,318
  Hawaii	$765	62%	$1,239
  Idaho	$574	43%	$821
  Illinois	$8034	70%	$1,366
  Indiana	$666	56%	$1,039
  Iowa	$599	60%	$958
  Kansas	$698	46%	$1,020
  Kentucky	$802	48%	$1,187
  Louisiana	$1,232	62%	$1,995
  Maine	$618	56%	$964
  Maryland	$1,017	51%	$1,535
  Massachusetts	$1,059	67%	$1,768
  Michigan	$1,231	9%	$1,342
  Minnesota	$788	37%	$1,079
  Mississippi	$827	27%	$1,051
  Missouri	$745	39%	$1,036
  Montana	$693	39%	$963
  Nebraska	$682	58%	$1,077
  Nevada	$985	29%	$1,271
  New Hampshire	$775	79%	$1,387
  New Jersey	$1,266	47%	$1,861
  New Mexico	$763	46%	$1,113
  New York	$1,235	49%	$1,840
  North Carolina	$656	112%	$1,389
  North Dakota	$638	33%	$848
  Ohio	$703	31%	$920
  Oklahoma	$824	28%	$1,054
  Oregon	$828	26%	$1,043
  Pennsylvania	$878	25%	$1,098
  Rhode Island	$1,148	25%	$1,435
  South Carolina	$854	27%	$1,084
  South Dakota	$616	27%	$782
  Tennessee	$738	19%	$878
  Texas	$934	44%	$1,345
  Utah	$784	39%	$1,090
  Vermont	$680	67%	$1,136
  Virginia	$751	42%	$1,066
  Washington	$884	28%	$1,132
  Washington, DC	$1,190	0.30%	$1,194
  West Virginia	$855	59%	$1,360
  Wisconsin	$665	51%	$1,004
  Wyoming	$657	52%	$998

  Bottom line

  Grabbing the wheel after getting a drink is a bad idea, endangering your life, your livelihood and the lives of fellow drivers. It’s also a costly one, with hundreds or thousands in fees, penalties and potentially jail time.

  After a night out on the town, hail a cab, request a rideshare or take advantage of public transportation to avoid the devastation of drunk driving. To protect yourself from drunk drivers on the road, compare car insurance policies to cover you and your car from the unexpected.