What a DUI Costs in Pennsylvania
Fees and fines set by the state. Attorney fees, insurance increases, and lost work come on top and vary by case.
First-offense DUI fine, General Impairment (0.08 to under 0.10)
$300
First-offense DUI fine, High Rate (0.10 to under 0.16)
$500–$5,000
First-offense DUI fine, Highest Rate (0.16 or more) or refusal
$1,000–$5,000
PennDOT license restoration fee
$76 (non-commercial); $184 (commercial)
Set by law and adjusted every two years for inflation, so check the current amount on your PennDOT restoration letter.
Restoration fee after a test refusal
Up to $2,000
Charged by PennDOT to restore a license suspended for refusing a chemical test.
Official sources
- Pennsylvania General Assembly — House Bill 1615 (2025–2026), Act 58 of 2025
- Pennsylvania General Assembly — HB 1615 (2025) bill history
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee — Fiscal note, HB 1615
- 75 Pa.C.S. §3806 — Prior offenses
- Philadelphia Courts — Citizens’ Guide, Municipal Court Criminal Division
- Fifth Judicial District (Allegheny County) — Criminal Division departments
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas
- Berks County — Court of Common Pleas
- Erie County Courts
- PennDOT DMV — DUI Legislation (penalty tables)
- PA Driver’s Manual, Chapter 4 — Driving Record Information
- PennDOT DMV — Ignition Interlock FAQs
- PennDOT — Ignition Interlock Limited License Eligibility Fact Sheet
- PennDOT — Impaired Driving
- PA Liquor Control Board — DUI Arrest in Pennsylvania
- 75 Pa.C.S. Chapter 38
- 75 Pa.C.S. §3802
- 75 Pa.C.S. §3803
- 75 Pa.C.S. §3804
- 75 Pa.C.S. §1547
- 18 Pa.C.S. §9122.1 — Petition for limited access
- Pennsylvania State Police — Criminal Record Expungement
- Pa. R. Crim. P. 320 — Expungement after ARD
- PennDOT DMV — Ignition Interlock Limited License
- PA Office of Victim Advocate — The Court Process
- PA Dept. of Drug and Alcohol Programs — Analysis of Pennsylvania ’s DUI Programs
Educational information, not legal advice. Pennsylvania law changes and every case is different. Confirm deadlines with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Driver and Vehicle Services and talk to a licensed Pennsylvania attorney about your situation.
Some details on this page are still being verified against official sources. Check the linked sources before relying on a specific number or deadline.
Last reviewed October 1, 2026.