If I Don't Take a Breathalyzer, Won't My License Be Suspended?
10/15/2026
If you were just arrested for a DUI in Illinois, you are probably asking one question before anything else: how much is this going to cost you? The honest answer is that it depends on your record, the facts of your arrest, the county where you were charged, and the attorney you hire.
At Ktenas Law, our attorneys built their careers as Cook County and Will County prosecutors before founding this firm. That background shapes how we evaluate a case, and it is worth understanding before you compare price tags.
A first-offense Illinois DUI resolved without a trial commonly runs between about $1,500 and $5,000 in attorney fees. Repeat offenses, contested hearings, and trials run higher. What sets the number is your record, the facts of the arrest, and the county where you were charged.
What You Can Expect to Pay for DUI Defense in Illinois
Across the industry, DUI attorney fees in Illinois commonly range from around $1,500 to $5,000 for a first-time offense resolved without a trial, with more complex cases, repeat offenses, or contested hearings running higher. Hourly billing, where it applies, typically falls somewhere between $150 and $500 an hour depending on the attorney and the county.
These are general market ranges, not a quote. The right number for your case depends on the charge, your history, and how much work the defense actually requires. A free case review is the only reliable way to get a number tied to your situation instead of an average pulled from the internet.
What Actually Drives the Price of Your Defense
A DUI case is not priced in a vacuum. A handful of specific factors do most of the work in setting the final fee.
The cheapest quote and the best outcome are rarely the same thing on a DUI. Our DUI defense page explains what the work actually involves.
First-Time Charges Cost Less Than Repeat Offenses
A first DUI with no complications usually means fewer court dates and a narrower scope of work. A second or third offense brings harsher statutory penalties, more paperwork, and often a longer road to resolution, all of which add attorney hours.
Aggravating Factors Push Fees Higher
A high BAC result, a crash, a minor in the vehicle, or a suspended license at the time of arrest can elevate the charge and the stakes. Cases like these require more investigation, more motions, and more preparation, which shows up in the fee.
Where Your Case Lands Matters
A DUI charged in Cook County does not move through the system the same way one charged in DuPage or Will County does. Court schedules, prosecutor practices, and local procedure all vary, and an attorney who already works in that courthouse regularly can often move a case more efficiently than one who does not.
Fighting for a Dismissal Costs More Than a Quick Plea
If your case resolves through negotiation, the workload is smaller. If it heads toward a suppression hearing or trial, your attorney may need to review body camera footage, challenge the breath or blood test, and prepare witnesses. That additional work is reflected in the total cost.
How Illinois DUI Attorneys Structure Their Fees
Most DUI attorneys in Illinois bill one of two ways. A flat fee covers a defined scope of work, often through a specific stage of the case, for one set price. Hourly billing charges for actual time spent and is usually paired with a retainer, an upfront deposit the attorney draws down as the case proceeds.
Before you sign anything, ask exactly what the fee includes. A flat fee that stops at the plea stage is very different from one that carries through a full trial. Get the scope in writing so there are no surprises later.
The Expenses a DUI Charge Adds Beyond Attorney Fees
Attorney fees are only one line item. A DUI charge in Illinois carries several other costs worth planning for.
Fines and court costs. A standard first-offense DUI, classified as a Class A misdemeanor(opens in a new tab), carries a fine of up to $2,500 and a jail exposure capped at just under one year under 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55. Courts also add separate assessments and processing fees on top of the fine, and those amounts vary by county.
Alcohol and drug evaluation and education. Illinois requires a substance use evaluation before a DUI case can be resolved, and the results determine whether you complete a short risk education course or a longer treatment program. The Illinois Department of Human Services notes that the fee for this evaluation is set by the individual provider, not the court, and providers are required to offer a reduced rate to anyone who cannot pay the full amount.
Higher insurance premiums. A DUI conviction typically raises auto insurance costs substantially. One national study found that premiums rose by roughly 75 percent on average after a DUI conviction, and elevated rates commonly last for several years.
License consequences, and where reinstatement fits in. A DUI arrest can trigger an automatic Statutory Summary Suspension of your license, separate from any criminal penalty. A defense attorney can petition the court to challenge that suspension. Reinstating your license once a suspension or revocation period ends is a different process, handled directly through the Illinois Secretary of State, and it is not a service a criminal defense attorney performs on your behalf. If a hearing officer requires a breath alcohol ignition interlock device as part of that process, that requirement also runs through the Secretary of State, not through your defense case.
Questions That Matter More Than the Price Tag
A lower quote is not automatically a better deal, and a higher one is not automatically a stronger defense. A few questions tend to matter more than the number itself.
- Has this attorney handled cases in the specific county and courthouse where yours is filed?
- What exactly does the fee cover, and what happens if the case goes further than expected?
- How will you communicate, and who actually handles your file day to day?
- What does their experience look like with cases that share your specific facts, such as a high BAC reading or a prior conviction?
Reading reviews can help you gauge communication and reliability, but treat any promise about how your case will turn out as a red flag. No attorney can ethically guarantee a result before reviewing your evidence.
Why the Former-Prosecutor Difference Is Worth the Investment
At Ktenas Law, our attorneys spent years on the other side of the courtroom as Cook County and Will County prosecutors before founding this firm. That means we know how the state builds a DUI case, what a prosecutor looks for in a breath test or a field sobriety report, and where the weak points in that evidence tend to show up.
That insider perspective does not change what the law allows. It changes how efficiently your defense can be built, which is exactly the kind of value that matters when you are weighing cost against outcome.
Talk to Ktenas Law Before You Decide
If you are facing a DUI charge anywhere in Cook, Will, or DuPage County, the right first step is a free case review, not a guess based on averages you found online. Contact Ktenas Law at (312) 800-1626 to talk through your specific charge and get a clear picture of what your defense actually involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fees for a first-time DUI in Illinois commonly range from about $1,500 to $5,000 when the case resolves without trial, with more complex or repeat cases running higher. The exact number depends on your charge, your record, and how much work your defense requires.
Yes. Plan for court fines and assessments, a required alcohol and drug evaluation, any education or treatment the evaluation recommends, and higher auto insurance premiums for several years after a conviction.
A flat fee offers predictability but only for the scope it names, so confirm what stage it covers. Hourly billing tracks actual work but can grow if the case becomes contested. Ask your attorney to explain both options in writing before you decide.
Price alone is a poor way to compare DUI attorneys. A quote that seems unusually low may reflect a narrower scope of work or less time devoted to your file. Ask what the fee includes and weigh that against the attorney’s experience with cases like yours.
Generally, yes. Illinois law imposes harsher penalties on repeat offenses, and the added court dates, negotiation, and case complexity typically increase the attorney’s workload and the total cost.
