If you have been charged with a DWI, there are probably a million questions and worries that are running through your mind. However, probably the most important question you have is, “how much is this going to cost me?” While “it depends” is unfortunately always the answer to this question, this post lays out the most common DWI Costs following a DWI/DUI charge in North Carolina.
In addition to the items laid out below, there can be collateral costs to a DWI, such as loss of employment, increased insurance rates, and lost future opportunities (due to criminal record). Your time is also valuable, so the time you spend worrying about the DWI, receiving treatment, talking with your attorney, sitting in the courtroom, etc. should certainly be factored into the overall cost of a DWI.
THE COSTS LAID OUT BELOW ARE NOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF DWI COSTS, AND ARE NOT APPLICABLE IN EVERY SITUATION. Please contact us to determine the costs that are relevant to your charge as well as how we can keep your costs low.
1) Driving Related DWI Costs
Pretrial Limited Driving Privilege
- Time of Payment: Paid 10 Days After Charge
James Minick
The NC DWI Guy - Cost: $100.00
- Payable To: Clerk of Court of the County in which you’ve been charged
- Purpose: If license is revoked for 30 days, the pretrial limited driving privilege allows for limited purposes for the final 20 days of the civil revocation.
See our post on this: How to Obtain a Pretrial Limited Driving Privilege
30 Day Civil Restoration Fee
- Time of Payment: Paid 30 Days After Charge
- Cost: $100.00
- Payable to: Clerk of Court of the County in which you’ve been charged
- Purpose: To Get License Back 30 Days After DWI Charge
- Time of Payment: Either at Conviction or When Eligible
- Cost: $100.00
- Payable to: Clerk of Court
- Purpose: Allows driving for specific limited purposes during the period your license is revoked for the DWI conviction
Ignition Interlock System
- Time of Payment: Upon Installation
- Installation Cost: Approximately $75.00
- Monthly Cost: Approximately $75.00
- Payable to: Installation Company
- Purpose: Driving may only be allowed with an interlock system
- Check with your attorney to see if they have any coupons for either free installation or a waiver of the first month’s rent on the Ignition Interlock Device
License Restoration Fees
- Time of Payment: Upon Restoration of Driver’s License (Following Revocation for Refusal or DWI Conviction)
- Cost: $140.25
- Payable to: NC DMV
- Purpose: Restore Driver’s License
2) Court Fees
Fine & DWI Fee
- Time of Payment: Sentencing Hearing
- DWI Cost Allowed by Statute: Up to $10,000.00
- Typical DWI Cost on a first time DWI: $200.00 – $750.00
- Payable to: Clerk of Court of the County in which you were charged
Court Costs
Time of Payment: Sentencing Hearing
DWI Cost: $193.00
Payable to: Clerk of Court of the County in which you were charged
Jail Fee
Time of Payment: Sentencing Hearing
Cost: $40.00 Per Day in Jail
Payable to: Clerk of Court of the County in which you were charged
Community Service Fee
Time of Payment: Sentencing Hearing
DWI Cost: $250.00
Payable to: Clerk of Court
Lab Fees for Blood Cases
Time of Payment: Sentencing Hearing
DWI Cost: $600.00
Payable to: Clerk of Court
Supervised Probation Fees
Time of Payment: On Schedule Determined by Probation
Set-up Cost: $40.00
Monthly Fee: $40.00
Payable to: Clerk of Court
3) Alcohol Assessment and Treatment
Assessment:
- Time of Payment: At Assessment
- Cost: $100.00
- Payable to: Agency Performing Assessment
Treatment:
- Time of Payment: Determined by Agency
- Typical Cost: $160.00 – $800.00
- Payable to: Agency Conducting Treatment
