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How much does a DWI cost in Texas?
A first DWI in Texas carries a statutory fine of Unverified. This guide stacks every cost layer an official Texas source prices — the fine, court costs, the license reinstatement fee, the DWI program, ignition interlock, and the SR-22 insurance filing — and says plainly which layers no official source prices at all.
| Texas DWI costs at a glance | Figure |
|---|---|
| Statutory fine — first DWI | A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Penal Code section 49.04. On top of the fine for the offense itself, Transportation Code section 709.001 adds a mandatory fine of $3,000 for a first conviction within 36 months, rising to $6,000 if the blood alcohol level was 0.15 or more; that added fine is waived for defendants found indigent. The base Class B fine range could not be verified from an official page for this guide, so it is left blank rather than estimated. |
| Court costs & fees | Texas court costs and fees in DWI cases are set by statute and by the court handling the case, and no single statewide figure is published by the Department of Public Safety. |
| License suspension — first offense | Separate from the criminal case, the Department of Public Safety's Administrative License Revocation (ALR) program suspends the license for 90 days after a first failed alcohol test, or 180 days after a first refusal to be tested. |
| License reinstatement fee | The reinstatement fee after an Administrative License Revocation suspension is $125, payable to the Department of Public Safety before the license can be reinstated. Other types of suspensions carry their own reinstatement fees, commonly $100. |
| Ignition interlock | Conditional — restricted license / court order — An occupational license issued after a DWI suspension or conviction carries an ignition interlock restriction, so a driver who needs to keep driving during the suspension must use a vehicle equipped with an interlock device. Device costs are paid by the driver and are not published by the state. |
| DWI education / treatment program | First offenders must complete a 12-hour DWI education course offered through programs approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The Department of Public Safety does not publish the course fee. |
| SR-22 insurance filing | Whether an SR-22 filing is required after a first DWI conviction could not be verified on the official Department of Public Safety pages reviewed, so no requirement is stated here. Insurance after a DWI is treated as high-risk coverage and generally costs more than a standard policy. |
The fine is only the first layer. Add interlock months, towing, and your insurance increase to the verified state charges in the calculator.
Open the DUI cost calculatorThe fine
A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Penal Code section 49.04. On top of the fine for the offense itself, Transportation Code section 709.001 adds a mandatory fine of $3,000 for a first conviction within 36 months, rising to $6,000 if the blood alcohol level was 0.15 or more; that added fine is waived for defendants found indigent. The base Class B fine range could not be verified from an official page for this guide, so it is left blank rather than estimated.
Court costs & fees
Texas court costs and fees in DWI cases are set by statute and by the court handling the case, and no single statewide figure is published by the Department of Public Safety.
License suspension & reinstatement
Separate from the criminal case, the Department of Public Safety's Administrative License Revocation (ALR) program suspends the license for 90 days after a first failed alcohol test, or 180 days after a first refusal to be tested.
The reinstatement fee after an Administrative License Revocation suspension is $125, payable to the Department of Public Safety before the license can be reinstated. Other types of suspensions carry their own reinstatement fees, commonly $100.
The national picture — which states charge the most to reinstate — is in our license reinstatement guide.
Ignition interlock
An occupational license issued after a DWI suspension or conviction carries an ignition interlock restriction, so a driver who needs to keep driving during the suspension must use a vehicle equipped with an interlock device. Device costs are paid by the driver and are not published by the state.
How interlock pricing works (installation, monthly lease, calibration, removal) is in our ignition interlock cost guide.
DWI education & treatment program
First offenders must complete a 12-hour DWI education course offered through programs approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The Department of Public Safety does not publish the course fee.
SR-22 & insurance
Whether an SR-22 filing is required after a first DWI conviction could not be verified on the official Department of Public Safety pages reviewed, so no requirement is stated here. Insurance after a DWI is treated as high-risk coverage and generally costs more than a standard policy.
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
Under Transportation Code section 709.001, a second or later DWI conviction within 36 months adds a mandatory fine of $4,500 on top of the fine for the offense itself.
Worked total
Because the statutory fine itself could not be verified from an official Texas source in our research, a worked total would be a made-up number — we don't publish those. Use the verified components on this page, confirm the fine range in the DWI statute or with the court, and stack your own figures in the cost calculator.
Sources: Texas Dept. of Public Safety — Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Program · Texas Dept. of Public Safety — DWI driver license FAQ (Section 17) · Texas Legislature Online — Penal Code Chapter 49. Researched October 2026 — confirm current figures with the court and the driver-licensing agency.
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