Illinois law names some DUI costs and leaves others open. A court fine can run from $75 up to $2,500 for a Class A misdemeanor. License reinstatement is $250 after a first summary suspension and $500 after a later one. A permit costs $8. Some bills, like an interlock device and insurance, have no price in the statute.
Your deadlines
- Day 46. Your statutory summary suspension starts, counted from the day you got the notice.
- Day 90. The last day to file a petition to rescind that suspension.
The amounts the law names
Here is every dollar figure this post could trace to an Illinois statute. A DUI case in Will County is heard at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, and the same state law applies there as anywhere in Illinois.
| Cost | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Court fine, Class A misdemeanor | Minimum $75 unless the law says otherwise, up to $2,500 | 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55(e) |
| Extra fine, first DUI at 0.16 or more | Minimum $500, plus 100 hours of community service | 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(4) |
| Extra fine, child under 16 in the car | Additional minimum $1,000, plus 25 days of community service benefiting children | 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) |
| Reinstatement after a summary suspension | $250, or $500 for a second or later DUI related suspension | 625 ILCS 5/6-118(b) |
| Reinstatement after a revocation | $500 | 625 ILCS 5/6-118(b) |
| Monitoring device driving permit | $8 | 625 ILCS 5/6-118(a) |
| Permit administration fee | Up to $30 per month | 625 ILCS 5/6-206.1(a) |
| Blood draw, if found guilty | Up to $500 | 625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(j) |
Two more costs are named but come with no amount: the professional evaluation and the victim impact panel. Both are covered below.
The court fine
A first DUI with no extra facts is a Class A misdemeanor. The general fine rule for that class says the minimum is $75 unless the law says otherwise, and the court may impose up to $2,500 for each offense. A fine can come on top of probation, conditional discharge or jail time (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55).
The $2,500 is a ceiling, not a price list. The judge picks the number, and court costs and assessments set by other laws are added to it. Those add-ons vary by case, so no single Will County total is given here. The Circuit Clerk can give you an itemized figure for a specific case.
Arrested for DUI? Call Jeff now.
The license clock starts the day you get the notice. During office hours, Jeff answers the phone himself.Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to noon. After hours, leave your name, number and the best time to call back.
Jeff McCarthy, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
What the Secretary of State charges
The license side has fixed numbers. After a summary suspension you must pay a reinstatement fee before driving privileges come back. It is $250, or $500 if the driver has had a second or later suspension or revocation tied to DUI (625 ILCS 5/6-118(b)). A conviction leads to a revocation, and reinstatement after a revocation is $500 (6-118(b)). Privileges cannot be restored until the fee is paid (6-208.1(c)).
A first offender who takes a monitoring device driving permit pays $8 for the permit and an administration fee of up to $30 per month. The statute sets that cap, and the Secretary of State sets the exact amount by rule.
The interlock device
A permit holder must drive only vehicles with an ignition interlock device, and the driver pays for it. The statute says so in plain words: at his or her own expense (625 ILCS 5/6-206.1(a-1)). It gives no price. Providers set their own, so any figure printed in an ad belongs to that provider.
There is one cost break. If the Secretary of State finds a driver indigent, the provider installs the device and covers monthly monitoring and removal at no charge to the driver. Lockout fees and reset fees still belong to the permit holder (6-206.1(c-5)).
A second or later conviction brings a longer requirement. The Secretary must require interlock on all vehicles the person owns for not less than 5 years, with a fee of up to $30 each month (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(e)).
Costs with no official price
Several costs are real and the law gives no number for them.
- Professional evaluation. The court must order one after a finding of guilt and before sentencing or supervision, and the person pays for it (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(a)). Treatment or classes that follow cost extra.
- Victim impact panel. A court may require it, even after a supervision order. Its costs are paid from fees collected from the offender (11-501.01(b)).
- Insurance. Your insurer sets the rate after a DUI. This post gives no figure because no official table exists for it.
- Missed work, rides and a tow. They are real, and they vary too much to state.
After some DUI outcomes the Secretary of State may also require special proof of insurance. Ask Jeff whether that applies to you and for how long.
What pushes the bill up
The statute adds mandatory minimums when certain facts are present.
- A first DUI with an alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more: at least 100 hours of community service and a $500 fine.
- A second DUI at 0.16 or more: at least 2 days in jail and a $1,250 fine (11-501(c)(5)).
- A second DUI of any level: at least 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service (11-501(c)(2)).
- A child under 16 in the vehicle: 6 months in jail, a minimum extra $1,000 fine and 25 days of community service (11-501(c)(3)).
Read more on the DUI penalties chart and on what drives DUI cost.
One sample, using only the statute numbers
Take a first offender whose test showed 0.08 or more. The suspension period is 6 months (6-208.1(a)). Say the driver takes the permit. The named numbers are $8 for the permit, up to $180 in administration fees (6 months at up to $30), and $250 to reinstate. That is up to $438 before any fine, evaluation, device, insurance or lawyer. It is only an arithmetic example, not a quote.
Lawyer fees are separate from everything on this page. Jeff explains them on the first call. You can also try the DUI cost estimator.
Questions people ask
What is the maximum fine for a first DUI in Illinois?
A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor, and the general fine for that class can be up to $2,500 per offense. Extra minimum fines apply if the alcohol level was 0.16 or more or a child under 16 was in the car.
Does court supervision cost less than a conviction?
The evaluation is required before supervision or sentencing, and a victim impact panel can be ordered with supervision too (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(a) and (b)). A conviction adds a revocation, so reinstatement is $500. The costs differ by case.
Who pays for the ignition interlock device?
The driver pays, unless the Secretary of State finds the driver indigent. Then the provider installs and monitors without charge to the driver, but lockout and reset fees stay with the driver.
What is the reinstatement fee for a DUI suspension?
It is $250 after a summary suspension, or $500 if it is the second or later DUI related suspension or revocation (625 ILCS 5/6-118(b)).
Does this include what a lawyer costs?
No. These are costs to the driver set by law or left open by law. Jeff explains his fees on the first call.
Sources
- 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55, Illinois General Assembly
- 625 ILCS 5/11-501 and 11-501.01, Illinois General Assembly
- 625 ILCS 5/6-118 and 6-206.1, Illinois General Assembly
- 625 ILCS 5/6-208.1, Illinois General Assembly
Reviewed by Jeff McCarthy, Attorney, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441.
This page is general legal information about Illinois law. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney client relationship, and it does not account for the facts of any particular case.
