When it comes to being convicted of a DUI, there are far more costs involved than fines, court costs and lawyer fees. If you are waiting for your court hearing date following a DUI arrest, you might be concerned about the possibility of being found guilty, charged fines, and losing time from work due to being in jail. But, there are other costs that you may need to cover.  

Impound lot fees

You will need to pay before you can get your vehicle out of impound. Sometimes, impound lots charge by the day. So, it's important to ask about these charges if you are unsure as to whether or not you want to post bail or get a bail bond. If the impound charges per day, you may be better off getting bonded out of jail so you won't be hit with a high bill at the impound lot.

DUI classes

You may be ordered to attend classes before you can get your driver's license back. This may be ordered by the court, by the driver's licensing division of your state's motor vehicle department, or both. You will not be able to reinstate your driver's license (which you will lose driving privileges based on your DUI conviction) until after you've fulfilled your class requirements. You will need to pay to take these classes.

Alternate transportation

You may need to find alternate transportation while your driver's license is suspended, especially if you normally drive yourself back and forth to work. If you live in a city, this may be easy and affordable since public transportation may be more available in your area. However, if you live in a suburban area or out in the country where no public transportation is offered, you may find yourself paying others to give you rides. Perhaps you have friends or family members who can give you rides, but they may ask you for money to help with their costs when they learn that you will need their help for 6 months.

Reinstate driver's license

After your suspension period, your driver's license will not be automatically reinstated. You will have to pay for it to be reinstated. This fee covers administrative fees, which includes the notification on your driving record that you've been convicted of a DUI and have completed the suspension period. To get your driver's license reinstated, you will likely have to get an SR-22 from your insurance company.

Higher insurance premiums

An SR-22 is a document that your insurance company can provide to show proof of financial responsibility. Due to having a DUI conviction on your record, you can expect your insurance premiums to be higher than they were before. Sometimes, insurance companies decline customers who have bad marks on their driving records. So, you may need to shop around to find a new insurance company.

Install ignition interlock device

After your driver's license suspension period, you will need to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle. This is another requirement you will be court ordered to meet. This device, of course, isn't free and the state will not cover the costs. You will be given a list of several places for someone to drive your vehicle to so the device can be installed. If you don't have anyone to drive it, you will have to call a tow truck to take it there, which would be yet another additional expense.

A DUI conviction means paying out a lot of money, and not just for fines and legal fees. If you've been charged with a DUI, it's important to hire an experienced lawyer who can try to have the charges reduced or dismissed due to all the costs that are involved in a DUI conviction. For more information on laws in Utah, check out sites like http://druyonlaw.com.