What a DUI Really Costs in Florida: A Line-by-Line Look at a First Offense

When someone asks what a DUI costs, they usually mean the fine. For a first offense in Florida, that fine starts at $500. It is also the smallest number on the bill.

The real cost of a DUI is spread across three different systems, the criminal court, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and your insurance company, and each one sends its own invoices on its own schedule. Added together, a first-time DUI conviction in Florida commonly costs between $8,500 and $26,000 over the three years that follow, before any legal fees. Here is where that number comes from.

Day One: The Cost of the Arrest Itself

Bond. Florida bail bond agents charge a premium set by statute: 10 percent of the bond amount, with a $100 minimum. On a first DUI bond, that typically means $100 to $500 that you do not get back.

Towing and storage. Your vehicle is towed from the scene, and towing plus daily storage fees are yours to pay before you can retrieve it. Expect $250 to $600, more if the car sits for several days.

The Court's Bill

The fine. A first DUI carries a fine of $500 to $1,000. If your breath- or blood-alcohol level was .15 or higher, or a minor was in the vehicle, the range becomes $1,000 to $2,000.

Court costs and surcharges. Florida layers mandatory court costs and statutory assessments on top of the fine. These vary by county but commonly add $300 to $600.

Probation supervision. A first DUI carries up to a year of probation, and supervision comes with a monthly fee in the $40 to $55 range. Over twelve months, that is roughly $480 to $660.

Community service. The statute requires 50 hours. Some courts allow the hours to be bought out at $10 per hour, which would be $500, but in most cases the cost is your time.

Vehicle impoundment. Separate from the tow, the court orders a 10-day impoundment for a first offense (30 days for a second, 90 days for a third), which runs after any jail time. The storage cost is yours.

The DHSMV's Bill

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles handles your license, and it has its own fee schedule.

The formal review hearing. You have 10 days after the arrest to request a hearing to contest the administrative suspension. The filing fee is $25. A hardship license application is another $12.

DUI school. Completing a state-licensed DUI program is required before your license can be reinstated. A Level I program for first offenders typically costs around $275 to $300, including the substance abuse evaluation. If the evaluation refers you to treatment, that treatment is billed separately and can run from a few hundred dollars to $2,000 or more.

Reinstatement fees. Getting your license back after a DUI revocation means paying the $75 revocation reinstatement fee, a $130 administrative fee for alcohol-related offenses, the $6.25 tax collector service fee, and the cost of the license itself.

Ignition interlock. An interlock is mandatory when the reading was .15 or higher or a minor was in the vehicle, and courts can order it in other first-offense cases. Installation typically runs $70 to $150, and monthly monitoring $60 to $100. Over six months to a year, that is $500 to $1,500. Repeat offenders face two years or more.

The Bill That Lasts Longest: FR-44 Insurance

After a DUI conviction, Florida requires you to carry an FR-44 certificate for three years from the date your license is reinstated. An FR-44 policy must provide bodily injury coverage of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, plus $50,000 in property damage coverage. Those limits are far above what most drivers carry, and the DUI itself moves you into a high-risk rating.

The combined effect is that premiums often double or triple. For many drivers that means an extra $2,000 to $5,000 per year, or $6,000 to $15,000 over the three-year period. This is usually the single largest line on the entire bill, and it arrives long after the court case is closed.

The Costs Nobody Itemizes

Some expenses do not appear on any invoice:

• Rides, transit, and rideshares during a license suspension of 180 days to a year
• Time away from work for court dates, DUI school, probation appointments, and interlock service visits
• Jobs and promotions that require a clean driving record or a background check
• Commercial driver license disqualification, which is a career issue for professional drivers
• Professional licensing reviews in fields such as nursing, teaching, and real estate
• Immigration consequences for non-citizens, which can be serious and deserve their own advice

A Sample Tally for a First Offense

These are ranges drawn from current statutory fees and typical Central Florida program and vendor pricing as of late 2026. Your figures will differ, and a second offense, a crash, or a felony charge pushes every line higher.

Where the Number Can Change

Almost every item on that list depends on a conviction for DUI specifically. That is why the handling of the case in its first weeks matters so much financially:

Requesting the formal review hearing within 10 days can preserve driving privileges and, in some cases, result in the administrative suspension being set aside.

Pretrial diversion in Orange and Osceola County, for eligible first-time cases, ends with the DUI charge dismissed. No conviction means no DUI revocation, no FR-44, and no permanent record.

A reduction to reckless driving avoids the DUI license revocation and the FR-44 requirement, because both are triggered by a DUI conviction, not by the arrest.

Challenging the evidence in cases with a questionable stop or testing problems can end the case entirely.

None of these outcomes is guaranteed, and each depends on the facts. But the difference between a DUI conviction and any of the alternatives is frequently measured in five figures, which is worth knowing before deciding how to approach the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need FR-44 insurance if my DUI is reduced to reckless driving?

No. The FR-44 requirement is triggered by a DUI conviction. A reckless driving conviction does not carry it, though your insurer may still raise your rates.

How long do I have to keep FR-44 insurance in Florida?

Three years from the date your driving privilege is reinstated.

I don't own a car. Do I still need FR-44?

Yes, if you want your license reinstated. Non-owner FR-44 policies exist for drivers who do not have a vehicle.

Can I get a hardship license during the suspension?

Often, yes. For a first offense, you can waive the formal review hearing within the 10-day window and apply for a hardship license immediately, or apply after a waiting period if you contest the suspension. Enrollment in DUI school is required.

Does a first DUI in Florida require an ignition interlock?

It is mandatory if the reading was .15 or higher or a minor was in the vehicle. Otherwise the court has discretion to order it for up to six months.

This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Fees, program costs, and insurance rates change, and your case will have its own numbers. If you have been arrested for DUI in Orange, Osceola, or Hillsborough County, contact Casagrande Law for a confidential consultation. Hablamos español.