A DUI lawyer in Georgia generally costs between $2,500 and $7,500 for a first-offense misdemeanor, with fees climbing to $10,000, $20,000, or more for repeat offenses, felony charges, or cases involving a crash, injury, or a high BAC. Attorney fees are only part of what you’ll spend. Once fines, mandatory classes, license reinstatement, probation supervision, and higher insurance premiums are added, the total cost of a Georgia DUI conviction often passes $10,000 even for a first offense.
Attorney Fee Ranges by Offense Level
Fees scale with the severity of the charge, because the work scales too. The ranges below cover the lawyer’s fee only, not fines or court costs.
- First-offense misdemeanor DUI: $2,500 to $7,500 for most cases. The low end reflects straightforward charges with no aggravating factors. Cases that go to trial or involve contested evidence push toward the top.
- Second-offense DUI: $7,000 to $10,000. Mandatory minimum jail time enters the picture, and prosecutors are far less willing to negotiate.
- Third or felony DUI: $10,000 to $20,000 or more. A third DUI within ten years is a high and aggravated misdemeanor in Georgia, and a fourth within ten years is a felony carrying up to five years in prison. These cases demand extensive preparation and often involve expert witnesses.1Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-6-391 – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drugs, or Other Intoxicating Substances
Cases involving vehicular homicide, serious bodily injury, or DUI with a child in the car can run well above these numbers. If trial looks likely rather than a negotiated plea, expect fees at or above the top of each range.
How Georgia DUI Attorneys Bill
The fee structure matters almost as much as the dollar amount, because it determines whether you can predict your total cost on day one.
- Flat fee. The most common arrangement for DUI cases. You pay a set amount covering a defined scope, typically pretrial work, negotiations, and court appearances through resolution. Trial is often a separate fee, so ask.
- Hourly rate. Used for particularly complex matters where the attorney can’t estimate the time upfront. Experienced Georgia DUI attorneys generally charge $200 to $500 per hour depending on reputation and location.
- Retainer. You deposit a lump sum into a trust account and the attorney draws against it at an agreed hourly rate. If it runs out before resolution, you replenish. More common in felony cases or cases expected to involve significant motion practice.
Get the fee structure in writing before you hire anyone, and ask specifically what triggers additional charges. The most common surprise is a trial fee that wasn’t discussed at the consultation.
What Pushes Your Case Toward the Higher End
Three factors do most of the work. The first is complexity. A straightforward misdemeanor where your BAC was barely over 0.08 requires far less work than a case involving a collision, a BAC of 0.15 or higher, or a prior conviction. More complexity means more motions, more negotiation rounds, more expert involvement, and a greater chance of trial.
The second is the attorney’s experience. A lawyer who has handled hundreds of Georgia DUI cases, knows the local prosecutors, and understands how specific judges run their courtrooms will generally charge more than a general practitioner who picks up a DUI case occasionally. The premium often pays for itself in outcomes.
The third is geography. Attorneys in metro Atlanta typically charge more than those in smaller judicial circuits, reflecting differences in overhead, caseloads, and court procedures.
What the Fee Actually Covers
A competent Georgia DUI attorney does far more than show up in court. The fee should cover an initial case review of the police report, dashcam or bodycam footage, breathalyzer maintenance records, and the circumstances of the traffic stop itself. Most DUI defenses are built or lost on the legality of the stop or the reliability of the chemical test.
Beyond investigation, the fee covers filing motions to suppress evidence, negotiating with prosecutors for reduced charges or favorable plea terms, and handling all court appearances from arraignment through sentencing or trial. Trial preparation adds jury selection strategy, witness preparation, and cross-examination of the arresting officer and any state experts.
The 30-Day ALS Hearing Deadline
One of the most valuable things a DUI lawyer handles is the administrative license suspension hearing. After a Georgia DUI arrest, you have exactly 30 days to file a written hearing request with the Georgia Department of Driver Services and pay a $150 filing fee.2Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-5-67.1 – Chemical Tests, Implied Consent Notice Miss that deadline and your license is automatically suspended on the 45th day after your arrest, with no opportunity to contest it. The ALS hearing is separate from the criminal case and follows its own rules and timeline, which is where people who try to handle things without a lawyer often get burned first.
If you refused the chemical test at arrest, Georgia’s implied consent law triggers an automatic one-year hard suspension, meaning no limited driving permit if you’re later convicted.3Georgia Department of Driver Services. DUI First Offense 21 and Over Filing the ALS request within 30 days is one of the few ways to preserve driving privileges while the case is pending.
The Other Costs a Conviction Triggers
Attorney fees are only part of the financial picture. A Georgia DUI conviction brings a cascade of mandatory expenses that add thousands on top of what you pay your lawyer.
Fines and Court Costs
Statutory fines escalate with each offense within a ten-year period. A first conviction carries a fine between $300 and $1,000. A second raises the floor to $600 with the same $1,000 ceiling. A third or fourth carries a fine between $1,000 and $5,000.1Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-6-391 – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drugs, or Other Intoxicating Substances These fines cannot be suspended or probated. Court surcharges and administrative fees are added on top and vary by jurisdiction. The ten-year window is measured from arrest date to arrest date, not conviction date, which catches some people off guard.
DUI Risk Reduction Program
Every DUI conviction in Georgia requires completion of a state-certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, commonly called DUI school. Total cost is approximately $360: a $100 assessment fee, a $235 class fee set by the state, and a $25 materials fee. You must complete the program within 120 days of conviction.
License Reinstatement
A first DUI conviction results in a license suspension of up to 12 months, though you can apply for reinstatement after 120 days if you meet all conditions.3Georgia Department of Driver Services. DUI First Offense 21 and Over The reinstatement fee is $210, or $200 if paid by mail. You’ll also need to complete the risk reduction program, undergo a clinical evaluation, and file proof of insurance before reinstatement.
Ignition Interlock Device
Georgia may require an ignition interlock device on your vehicle, particularly for repeat offenses or as a condition of getting a limited driving permit after a test refusal. Installation starts around $150, with monthly lease fees starting near $90 and separate calibration charges each service visit. Over a 12-month requirement, total IID costs typically run $1,200 to $1,800.
Probation Supervision Fees
Nearly every Georgia DUI sentence includes probation. For a first offense, probation runs 12 months minus any time served in jail. Courts can impose a monthly probation supervision fee, with most jurisdictions charging $30 to $50 per month. Over 12 months, that’s $360 to $600 in supervision fees alone.
SR-22 Filing and Insurance Increases
A DUI conviction requires you to file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility with the state, proving you carry the minimum required auto insurance. The filing fee itself is modest, typically $15 to $50 through your insurer. The real cost comes from the premium increase. Georgia drivers with a DUI conviction commonly see their premiums double or triple, and elevated rates typically persist for three to five years. Over that period, the cumulative increase often exceeds the attorney fees themselves.
Choosing a Georgia DUI Lawyer
The cheapest DUI lawyer is rarely the best value. A lawyer who charges $1,500 and pleads you guilty at the first opportunity saves money upfront but may cost you far more in penalties, insurance increases, and career consequences over the following years.
Look for attorneys who focus on DUI defense specifically. Ask how many Georgia DUI cases they’ve handled in the past year, whether they’re familiar with the specific court where your case is assigned, and whether they’ve dealt with the prosecutor likely to handle it. Those relationships often matter more than any credential on a website.
Consult with two or three attorneys before deciding. Most offer free or low-cost initial consultations. Compare not just price but approach: what the fee includes, what would trigger additional charges, whether a trial is covered or billed separately, and how they would handle the ALS hearing. A written fee agreement and a realistic discussion of likely outcomes is worth more than any promise of a specific result.