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How much does a DUI cost in Colorado?
A first DUI in Colorado carries a statutory fine of $600–$1,000. This guide stacks every cost layer an official Colorado source prices — the fine, court costs, the license reinstatement fee, the DUI program, ignition interlock, and the SR-22 insurance filing — and says plainly which layers no official source prices at all.
| Colorado DUI costs at a glance | Figure |
|---|---|
| Statutory fine — first DUI | Colorado's sentencing statute (CRS Sec. 42-4-1307, as summarized by the General Assembly) sets the first-offense DUI fine at $600 to $1,000. On top of the fine, offenders pay court costs and surcharges, including a penalty surcharge of up to $500 that funds programs for persistent drunk drivers and a surcharge for the crime victim compensation fund. |
| Statutory fine — second DUI | The statute separates a second offense: $600–$1,500. Second offenses also carry longer suspensions and program requirements — see the sections below. |
| Court costs & fees | Court costs in a Colorado DUI case are assessed by the sentencing court and vary by case; the General Assembly's summary confirms court costs and surcharges are charged in addition to the fine, but no single statewide total is published. |
| License suspension — first offense | A first DUI brings a nine-month license revocation. Early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license is possible after one month with no driving for a BAC of .08-.149, and from day one for a BAC of .15 or higher (with a two-year interlock term); refusing the test brings a 12-month revocation, with early reinstatement after two months. |
| License reinstatement fee | Colorado publishes two reinstatement charges after a DUI: a $95 reinstatement fee and a $25 DUI restoration fee, $120 in total, plus any license issuance charges. Reinstatement also requires meeting the interlock, SR-22, and alcohol education or treatment requirements that apply to the case. |
| Ignition interlock | Conditional — restricted license / court order — An ignition interlock device is required to drive during the revocation through early reinstatement. Drivers classed as persistent drunk drivers - including a first offender with a BAC of .15 or higher, or anyone who refused testing - must use an interlock for a minimum of two years; device costs are paid to approved vendors and are not published by the DMV. |
| DUI education / treatment program | Colorado reinstatement after a DUI involves alcohol education and treatment: persistent drunk drivers must complete mandatory Level II education and treatment, and high-BAC drivers must show enrollment in a Level II program to reinstate. Fees are set by the licensed treatment providers and are not published on the DMV pages reviewed. |
| SR-22 insurance filing | SR-22 proof of financial responsibility is part of Colorado DUI reinstatement, and persistent drunk drivers must maintain SR-22 for at least two years. The insurer files the SR-22; Colorado charges no separate state SR-22 fee, and premiums are set by the insurer. |
The fine
Colorado's sentencing statute (CRS Sec. 42-4-1307, as summarized by the General Assembly) sets the first-offense DUI fine at $600 to $1,000. On top of the fine, offenders pay court costs and surcharges, including a penalty surcharge of up to $500 that funds programs for persistent drunk drivers and a surcharge for the crime victim compensation fund.
Court costs & fees
Court costs in a Colorado DUI case are assessed by the sentencing court and vary by case; the General Assembly's summary confirms court costs and surcharges are charged in addition to the fine, but no single statewide total is published.
License suspension & reinstatement
A first DUI brings a nine-month license revocation. Early reinstatement with an interlock-restricted license is possible after one month with no driving for a BAC of .08-.149, and from day one for a BAC of .15 or higher (with a two-year interlock term); refusing the test brings a 12-month revocation, with early reinstatement after two months.
Colorado publishes two reinstatement charges after a DUI: a $95 reinstatement fee and a $25 DUI restoration fee, $120 in total, plus any license issuance charges. Reinstatement also requires meeting the interlock, SR-22, and alcohol education or treatment requirements that apply to the case.
The national picture — which states charge the most to reinstate — is in our license reinstatement guide.
Ignition interlock
An ignition interlock device is required to drive during the revocation through early reinstatement. Drivers classed as persistent drunk drivers - including a first offender with a BAC of .15 or higher, or anyone who refused testing - must use an interlock for a minimum of two years; device costs are paid to approved vendors and are not published by the DMV.
How interlock pricing works (installation, monthly lease, calibration, removal) is in our ignition interlock cost guide.
DUI education & treatment program
Colorado reinstatement after a DUI involves alcohol education and treatment: persistent drunk drivers must complete mandatory Level II education and treatment, and high-BAC drivers must show enrollment in a Level II program to reinstate. Fees are set by the licensed treatment providers and are not published on the DMV pages reviewed.
SR-22 & insurance
SR-22 proof of financial responsibility is part of Colorado DUI reinstatement, and persistent drunk drivers must maintain SR-22 for at least two years. The insurer files the SR-22; Colorado charges no separate state SR-22 fee, and premiums are set by the insurer.
What an SR-22 is, which states charge a filing fee, and how long it must be carried: SR-22 cost guide.
Towing, impound & other charges
Colorado's General Assembly summary notes penalty surcharges of up to $500 to fund persistent drunk driver programs, plus surcharges benefiting the crime victim compensation fund, in addition to court costs and reinstatement fees.
Worked total: the verified charges stacked
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Statutory fine | $600–$1,000 |
| Total of the verified state-set charges above | $600–$1,000 |
That total is deliberately incomplete: it leaves out everything no official Colorado source prices statewide — court costs where they are set county by county, interlock lease payments to a private vendor, towing and storage, and the insurance increase that follows an SR-22. Add your own figures for those in the cost calculator.
Sources: Colorado DMV - Reinstating After a DUI or Alcohol Offense · Colorado Department of Revenue - Express Consent · Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal Services - Colorado Drunk Driving Laws: Law Summary. Researched October 2026 — confirm current figures with the court and the driver-licensing agency.
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