Quick answer: Most Travis County DWI defense is priced as a flat fee, not hourly — typically quoted after a case review, based on the charge level, blood or breath evidence, ALR representation, and whether trial is likely. We quote a flat fee at a free consultation, so the number is certain before you commit.
DWI defense pricing in Travis County generally follows the shape of the case rather than the clock. A first-offense breath case with no accident is a different engagement than a blood-warrant case, a 0.15+ enhancement, a repeat allegation, or a case headed to trial — and flat-fee quotes reflect that. Hourly billing is rare in this practice area for good reason: defendants deserve cost certainty during an already expensive event.
When comparing quotes, ask what the fee actually covers. Meaningful differences hide in scope: Is the ALR hearing and license work included? Are suppression motions and pretrial litigation included, or billed as extras? What happens to the fee if the case resolves early — or goes to trial? A low headline number that excludes the ALR case and motion practice is not a low price; it is an unbundled one.
Beware of two failure modes at the price extremes. The bargain lawyer who pleads every case at the second setting costs the least today and the most over a lifetime — a DWI conviction never comes off your record. And the highest fee in town does not guarantee the deepest workup. What you are buying is investigation: video review, ALR cross-examination, lab discovery, suppression analysis. Ask any lawyer you interview to describe, specifically, what they will do in the first 30 days.
Budget for more than attorney’s fees: bond fees, an interlock if ordered (installation plus monthly monitoring), SR-22 insurance, DPS reinstatement fees, and class costs. Your lawyer should walk you through the full financial picture at the consultation — ours does, with a flat fee quoted in writing.
Related questions
Is a court-appointed lawyer an option for DWI?
If you are indigent, yes — Travis County appoints counsel who often do excellent work. Appointment is income-based; most employed defendants will not qualify.
Do payment plans exist?
Many firms, ours included, structure flat fees in stages. Ask at the consultation — the answer should be concrete, not vague.
More: Travis County DWI defense · All locations
Free consultation — 24/7. We review your stop, explain your options, and quote a flat fee. Texas Defense Team is a DBA of Steve Bowling Law, PLLC — criminal defense in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bexar, and Bastrop counties and personal injury representation across Texas.
General legal information for Texas — not legal advice about your specific case. Last reviewed September 2026.