A DUI in California costs far more than the fine on the court paperwork. Once you add everything up, a first offense commonly runs well over ten thousand dollars, and the biggest chunk often isn't the fine at all. It's the years of higher insurance that follow.
Here's where the money actually goes:
- Fines and assessments: the base fine is a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, but court penalty assessments and fees multiply it several times over
- DUI school: the state-approved alcohol program, from the shorter first-offense course to the 18 or 30-month programs, each with its own tuition
- License and DMV fees: reissue fees to get your license back
- Ignition interlock: installation plus monthly rental if an IID is required
- Higher insurance: often the largest cost, since premiums can jump for years and you may need an SR-22 filing
- Towing and impound: for the night of the arrest
Repeat offenses cost more across every category. And none of that counts lost work time, or what a conviction can do to a job that depends on driving or a clean record.
That's exactly why fighting the charge, or getting it reduced to a wet reckless, can save real money over time, not just spare you the conviction.
For how insurance is affected, see will a DUI affect my car insurance. For a possible reduction, see our wet reckless page.
Want to understand the full picture for your case? Call (858) 622-7280 or visit our contact page.
This is general information, not legal advice.