North Carolina DWI Felony vs. Misdemeanor Calculator 2026
State-specific DWI cost estimates for North Carolina, including fines, attorney fees, SR-22 insurance, ignition interlock, and more.
Your North Carolina DWI estimate will appear here
Answer the questions and press the button. You will get a low, typical and high figure, with each cost listed on its own line.
- Uses this state's own fines, suspension and interlock rules
- Market costs such as attorney fees are labelled as estimates
- Free, and nothing to sign up for
North Carolina DWI FAQ
How much does a DWI cost in North Carolina?
Attorney fees for a first-offense DWI in North Carolina typically run $1,500 to $5,000 on our estimates, and the fine is $200 to $1,000 before court costs. Adding insurance, interlock, education, reinstatement and lost time from work, our calculator puts a typical first offense at about $23,105 (range $10,968 to $38,097) with its default answers; the median of our 50 state estimates is $17,615.
How long is your license suspended for a first DWI in North Carolina?
A first-offense DWI conviction in North Carolina carries a license suspension of 1 year (365 days). A hardship or restricted license may be available during this period.
Is an ignition interlock device required in North Carolina for a first DWI?
In some cases. North Carolina requires an interlock for a first offense only at a BAC of 0.15% or higher. When it applies, it lasts 12 months.
How long is SR-22 insurance required after a DWI in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires SR-22 high-risk insurance filing for 3 years following a DWI conviction.
Can a DWI be expunged in North Carolina?
North Carolina does not allow DWI convictions to be expunged. Some states have other ways to limit who can see a record, such as sealing, which this site does not cover yet.
North Carolina DWI figures this calculator uses
- Felony at offense number
- 4
- Lookback period for prior offenses
- 10 years
- Fine, third DWI
- $1,000 to $4,000
- High-BAC penalty tier
- 0.15% and above
Statutory figures were checked against North Carolina law (primary source) and last verified May 2026. Typical ranges are market estimates, not law; see our methodology.
Worked example
With the calculator's default answers (offense number: First offense; bac level at arrest: 0.10%; aggravating factors present: None):
| Cost | Typical |
|---|---|
| Misdemeanor Defense Attorney Fees | $3,250 |
| Misdemeanor Fines and Court Costs | $850 |
| Estimated total (range $1,875 to $6,300) | $4,100 |
Change the answers in the calculator above to see your own estimate.
On our estimates, a typical first-offense DWI in North Carolina comes to about $23,105, the 9th highest of the 50 states. The median of our 50 state estimates is $17,615. These come from the total-cost calculator with its default answers, not from a national survey.
North Carolina DWI Overview
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