How Much Does a DUI Cost in Wyoming? Total First-Offense Breakdown

The criminal fine for a first-offense DUI in Wyoming is capped at $750. If that were the whole picture, it would barely register as a financial event. The real cost is the cascade of mandatory fees, insurance increases, treatment programs, and administrative charges that pile up over the next one to three years. Most people do not see the total number until it is too late to plan for it.

The Full Cost Inventory

Here is what a standard first-offense DUI costs in Wyoming, broken into the categories you will actually encounter:

Immediate costs (day of arrest):

• Towing and impound: $150–$350 (varies by local tow operator)
• Bail bond: $100–$1,000 (typically 10% of bail amount through a bondsman)

Criminal court penalties:

• Misdemeanor fine: $200–$750 (judge's discretion under W.S. § 31-5-233)
• Court costs and surcharges: $200–$400 (clerical costs, victim compensation surcharges, lab analysis fees)

Legal representation:

• Private DUI defense attorney: $1,500–$5,000 depending on whether the case goes to trial
• Public defender: free if you qualify under the financial eligibility test (W.S. § 7-6-106), but only covers the criminal case — not the WYDOT administrative hearing

WYDOT administrative fees:

• Contested case hearing request: $25
• Record review request: $15
• Probationary license issuance: $55 (if eligible — BAC between 0.08% and 0.14%)
• Reinstatement fee: $50
• New Class C license: $45

Interlock costs (if BAC 0.15%+ or refusal):

• Interlock administrative fee: $100
• IID installation: $70–$150
• Monthly IID lease and calibration: $70–$150/month for a minimum 6-month term ($420–$900 total)

Assessment and treatment:

• Substance abuse assessment (Addiction Severity Index): $75–$200
• Level 0.5 DUI education class (8 hours): $200–$500
• Level 1.0 outpatient treatment (if recommended): additional cost varies
• Victim Impact Panel: $30–$65

Insurance:

• SR-22 filing fee: $25–$50
• High-risk insurance premium increase: $500–$1,500/year for 3 years ($1,500–$4,500 total)

The Range: $4,145 to $14,145

Adding up the minimum and maximum estimates across all categories produces a total liability range of roughly $4,145 to $14,145. This excludes lost wages — which for rural Wyoming workers who lose driving privileges and cannot commute can dwarf every other number on this list.

The low end assumes a standard BAC (0.08%–0.14%), no interlock requirement, minimal treatment recommendation, and a negotiated plea without trial. The high end includes interlock costs, extended treatment, private attorney fees, and the full SR-22 insurance premium impact.

Hidden Costs Most People Miss

The SR-22 is a 3-year commitment. WYDOT requires SR-22 high-risk insurance filing for three consecutive years after reinstatement. Any lapse in coverage — even a single missed payment — triggers an immediate, automatic license suspension. At $500–$1,500/year in premium increases above normal rates, this is often the largest single cost category.

The probationary license is not free. Getting a restricted license to drive during your suspension requires the $15 record review fee, a substance abuse assessment, enrollment in an approved DUI course, an SR-22 filing, and the $55 license issuance fee. These are prerequisites, not optional extras.

Treatment costs scale with severity. If the Addiction Severity Index assessment recommends Level 1.0 Outpatient treatment rather than the baseline 8-hour education class, you are looking at weeks of sessions instead of a single day, with proportionally higher costs.

Indigent Assistance

If you qualify for the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you may be eligible for WYDOT's indigent interlock assistance under W.S. § 31-7-401. This program waives the $100 interlock administrative fee and pays half of the installation and monthly lease costs. Apply through the oneWYO portal, by email to [email protected], or by mail to WYDOT Driver Services.

For legal representation, you can apply for a public defender at your initial court appearance. The Wyoming State Bar's Modest Means Program also connects moderate-income defendants (household income between 200% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level) with participating attorneys who charge a capped rate of $100/hour and a maximum $1,000 retainer.

Planning Instead of Panicking

The difference between the low end and high end of this cost range often comes down to whether you act within the deadlines, understand which fees are mandatory vs. optional, and make informed decisions about legal representation. Missing the 20-day WYDOT hearing deadline can cause the suspension to take effect and can mean months without driving privileges, so plan for the reinstatement and restricted-license costs that may follow.

The Wyoming First-Offense DUI Guide includes a complete cost inventory with every fee itemized, a planning worksheet to estimate your specific total, and the step-by-step timeline for both the administrative and criminal tracks so you can budget before costs arrive.

See more Wyoming guides →