DUI Law
How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost in Arizona, and How Do You Know If You're Paying a Fair Price?
Arizona DUI lawyer fees typically run from $2,000 for a misdemeanor to $20,000 for a Class 4 felony. Cost tracks the charge level, the attorney's experience, and whether the case reaches trial. A fair price comes with a written scope that names what happens at trial and at the MVD hearing.
Key Takeaways
Misdemeanor DUI defense runs $2,000 to $13,000.
Class 6 felony DUI runs $4,000 to $15,000.
Class 4 felony DUI runs $6,500 to $20,000.
Attorney experience sets where you land inside each range..
Your quote almost never includes court fines, expert witness fees, or interlock costs.
A price far below market often signals a volume practice that plans to plead your case out fast.
How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost in Arizona?
A DUI lawyer in Arizona costs $2,000 to $13,000 for a misdemeanor charge. Class 6 felony DUI runs $4,000 to $15,000, and Class 4 felony DUI runs $6,500 to $20,000. Attorney experience sets where your quote falls inside each range.
Charge level sets the floor. A standard DUI under A.R.S. § 28-1381 involves fewer motions and a shorter path to resolution than an Extreme DUI where the state must defend a 0.15 or higher reading.
Venue matters too. A Chandler municipal court case moves differently than a felony filing in Maricopa County Superior Court, and the attorney's time reflects that.
DUI Case Type
First-Time Standard DUI (BAC 0.08 to 0.149)
Extreme DUI (BAC 0.15 to 0.199)
Super Extreme DUI (BAC 0.20 and above)
Aggravated DUI (Felony)
Governing Statute
A.R.S. § 28-1381
A.R.S. § 28-1382(A)(1)
A.R.S. § 28-1382(A)(2)
A.R.S. § 28-1383
Typical Attorney Fee
$2,000 to $13,000
$2,000 to $13,000
$2,000 to $13,000
$4,000 to $15,000 Class 6, $6,500 to $20,000 Class 4
What Drives the Cost
Municipal court, limited motion practice, 10 day jail exposure with 9 suspendable
30 day mandatory jail minimum, testing challenges
45 day mandatory jail minimum, narrower plea room
Superior Court litigation, prison exposure starting at 4 months
Add a trial to any row and the number climbs. Many firms bill trial separately, because a two day jury trial takes far more preparation than a plea negotiation.
Arizona DUI Lawyer Fees: Flat Fees, Hourly Rates, and Retainers
Arizona DUI lawyers bill three ways: flat fees, hourly rates, and retainers. Flat fees dominate misdemeanor work. Hourly rates of $200 to $400 show up in complex felony cases, and retainers act as a deposit against that hourly billing.
Flat Fee Arrangements
You pay one price for a defined scope of work. This is the standard setup for misdemeanor DUI and gives you a predictable number.
Read the scope carefully. Many flat fees cover the case only through a plea, then require a second payment if you go to trial.
Hourly Legal Rates
The attorney bills for time spent, usually $200 to $400 per hour in Arizona. This works in your favor when a case resolves early and against you when it does not.
Legal Retainers
A retainer is money you deposit up front that the firm draws against as it works. Ask what happens to the unused balance, because that answer separates a true retainer from a nonrefundable flat fee wearing a different name.
Arizona attorneys must put nonrefundable fee agreements in writing. No written agreement is your first warning sign. Review Arizona legal payment options before committing to any structure.
15 sept 2026
LegalBid.io
What Your Attorney Fee Does Not Cover
Your attorney fee covers legal representation, not the case itself. Court fines, expert witnesses, and interlock costs bill separately. Together they often match or exceed what you paid your lawyer.
Court fines and assessments. Roughly $1,500 for a first standard DUI, about $2,500 for Extreme, and $3,000 or more for Super Extreme.
Independent blood retesting. A private lab retest typically runs a few hundred dollars.
Toxicologist or breath machine expert. Expect $1,500 to $5,000 when your defense attacks the test result.
MVD hearing representation. The license case is separate from the criminal case, and you generally have 15 days from the notice to request that hearing.
Alcohol screening and treatment. Screening runs $79 to $150, with education or treatment adding $500 to $2,000.
Ignition interlock device. Installation runs $75 to $150, plus $70 to $150 monthly for the required term.
Investigator fees. Witness location and interviews add cost in contested cases.
Trial fees. Often billed separately from the base defense fee.
Comparing DUI Lawyers in Arizona Without Guessing
Compare scope before you compare price. A $3,000 quote that ends at the plea stage and a $6,000 quote covering the MVD hearing, motions, and trial are different products. Ask every firm where representation stops.
A rock bottom quote deserves scrutiny. Firms priced well under market often run high volume practices built on resolving cases fast, which is fine if your case has no defense and costly if it does.
Walk away from anyone who guarantees an outcome. No attorney can promise a dismissal, and the ones who imply it are selling something other than legal work.
Three Questions That Reveal the Real Price
Ask what happens if the case goes to trial, and get the number. Ask whether the fee covers the MVD hearing. Ask how many Arizona DUI cases the attorney handled last year, then weigh that against the quote.
A lawyer who regularly litigates blood draw procedures in your county brings something a general practitioner does not, and that shows up in the fee. Our guide to comparing DUI lawyers in Arizona covers how to weigh experience against price.
Can You Set Up a Payment Plan?
Yes. Most Arizona DUI firms offer payment plans, usually a deposit up front with the balance spread over several months. Some accept credit cards or work with third party legal financing.
Get the schedule in writing, including what happens if you miss a payment while your case is still open.
If private counsel is out of reach, request a public defender. Court appointed attorneys in Arizona are often experienced in DUI law, though heavy caseloads limit the attention any single case receives.
