A DUI costs money in several separate places, and only one of them is the fine. Some amounts are fixed by Montana statute. Others, like classes and insurance, are set by private providers and vary too much for an honest single number. This page lists both kinds and says which is which. It is part of our Montana DUI Guide.
The Fine
| Offense | Impairment or per se DUI | Aggravated DUI | Passenger under 16 (not aggravated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First DUI | $600 to $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,200 to $2,000 |
| Second DUI | $1,200 to $2,000 | $2,500 | $2,400 to $4,000 |
| Third DUI | $2,500 to $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Felony DUI (fourth or later) | $5,000 to $10,000 | Same range | Same range |
Sources: MCA § 61-8-1007 for a first through third offense and § 61-8-1008 for a felony. An aggravated DUI with a passenger under 16 is higher still: $2,000, $5,000, and $10,000 for a first, second, and third offense. See aggravated DUI for what makes a charge aggravated.
Other Amounts Set by Statute
| Cost | Amount | MCA |
|---|---|---|
| Court surcharges on a misdemeanor DUI | $15 plus $50 per charge | § 46-18-236 |
| License reinstatement fee | $200 | § 61-2-107 |
| Administrative fee after a test refusal | $300 | § 61-8-1032 |
| Public defender, if assigned and you plead before trial | $250, if able to pay | § 46-8-113 |
| Under-21 DUI fine, first conviction | $100 to $500 | § 61-8-1007(3) |
Costs Montana Law Requires You to Pay, Without Setting a Price
- The chemical dependency assessment, education course, and treatment. The defendant pays and may use health insurance (MCA § 61-8-1009(3)). See DUI classes and treatment.
- 24/7 sobriety testing or another testing program. The participant pays the program's fees (MCA § 61-8-1010(2)(a)). Fees are set under rules of the Attorney General and vendor agreements. See the 24/7 program page.
- Ignition interlock. The person pays the reasonable cost of leasing, installing, and maintaining the device (MCA § 61-8-1010(2)(b)). See ignition interlock and probationary licenses.
- Jail served in an alternative facility. If the court allows a term to be served in another approved facility, the defendant bears the expense if financially able (MCA § 61-8-1011(2)).
- Restitution, if there was a crash.
Your Vehicle
Towing and impound charges after an arrest are set by the tow company and the storage lot, and they grow daily. On a second or later conviction, one of the three options the court must choose from is seizure and forfeiture of each vehicle the person owned at the time of the offense (MCA § 61-8-1010(2)(c)). The other two are a testing program or an interlock restriction.
Insurance
For many people insurance is the largest cost over time, and it is the one with the least public information. What Montana law does say:
- A 3-year limit on rating. Special risk classifications for a private passenger auto policy may not be based on adverse driving-record information that is 3 years old or older (MCA § 33-16-201(4)(b)). For commercial auto the limit is 5 years.
- Mid-term cancellation is allowed after a suspension. A license suspension or revocation during the policy period is a permitted ground for cancellation (MCA § 33-23-211).
- Proof of insurance filings. The statute ties the required certificate of insurance to a license revocation (MCA § 61-6-131). A misdemeanor DUI produces a suspension. Confirm with the Motor Vehicle Division what applies to you.
We do not publish a percentage or dollar figure for premium increases, because no Montana regulator publishes one and insurers differ.
Lost Income
A first conviction brings a 6-month suspension and a second or third brings 1 year (MCA § 61-5-208). Whether you can drive to work during that time depends on a probationary license. Add court dates, jail time where there is a mandatory minimum, and class hours. For anyone who drives for a living, this category can exceed all the others.
Legal Fees
A private attorney's fee depends on the charge and how far the case goes. Our page on what a DUI lawyer costs explains how fees are structured and what to ask. A public defender is not always free either: a court can order a convicted defendant who is able to pay to reimburse the cost, which is $250 for a misdemeanor resolved by plea before trial (MCA § 46-8-113).
What Lowers the Cost
The largest costs follow from a conviction, so the outcome of the case matters more than anything on this page. Short of that, three things help: meeting the 30-day deadline if there was a test refusal, asking about a probationary license early, and raising ability to pay at sentencing rather than after a payment is missed.
This page explains Montana law in general as of the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. Amounts set by providers and insurers vary. It is not legal advice about your specific case.