How Much Does It Really Cost to Get Your Licence Back in Victoria?

If you've lost your licence after a drink driving offence in Victoria, the bill doesn't stop at the court fine. Between mandatory programs, interlock fees and the odd unexpected extra, most first-time offenders end up spending somewhere between $2,000 and $8,000 before they're back behind the wheel. The cost depends heavily on your blood alcohol reading and driving history. 

We talk to people across Melbourne and regional Victoria every week who are caught off guard by how quickly the costs stack up. Here's a realistic, line-by-line breakdown, based on current Victorian government fee schedules.

Quick Answer

• A first-time drink driving offence in Victoria fine can reach up to 25 penalty units (currently $5,087), though most magistrates land well below the maximum.

• A standard Drink Driver Behaviour Change Program costs $430–$500. The Intensive Behaviour Change Program for higher BAC readings or repeat offences runs $790–$900.

• Alcohol interlocks add roughly $175 for installation plus around $200 a month for leasing, servicing and the government recovery fee, for a minimum of six months.

• Extras like court reports, alcohol assessments and legal advice can each add anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars if needed.

• All up, working out how to get your licence back after suspension in Vic usually means budgeting $2,000–$8,000+, with the length of your interlock period the biggest swing factor.

  
  

What a First-Time Drink Driving Offence in Victoria Costs in Fines

Under the Road Safety Act 1986, fines are calculated in "penalty units," currently valued at $203.51 each (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026). Magistrates usually fine first-time offenders up to 25 penalty units (about $5,087 at today's rate), though the actual amount handed down depends on your BAC, your circumstances and whether the magistrate records a conviction.

On top of the fine, you'll lose your licence for a minimum of three months, rising to six months or more for higher readings, with the Magistrates' Court able to disqualify drivers for up to five years in serious cases. None of this is negotiable once you're before a magistrate, so it pays to know what's coming.

Behaviour Change Program Costs

Every drink driver in Victoria must complete a behaviour change program before they can apply to get their licence back, regardless of how minor the offence felt at the time. If your BAC was under 0.150 and it's your first offence, you'll do a standard Victoria drink driving course, which is a 6-hour program run over two sessions.

If your reading was 0.150 or higher, you've offended before, or you refused a breath test, you'll need the longer intensive behaviour change program instead, which is 10 hours across three sessions plus a one-on-one component. Provider fees vary slightly, but ours include the Department of Transport and Planning's recovery fee and GST, so there are no surprises on the day.

Alcohol Interlock Costs Add Up Fast

This is where most people underestimate the total. Once your disqualification period ends, you'll need an alcohol interlock fitted before you can drive again. Installation and training alone start around $175, with leasing and servicing from roughly $160 a month, plus a separate government cost-recovery fee of $40.80 a month ($20.40 for concession card holders). Removal at the end of the program adds another $100 or so. Run the numbers over a six-month minimum period, and you're looking at well over $1,000 just for the interlock.

The Hidden Extras: Reports, Assessments and Legal Costs

Depending on your matter, the court may request an alcohol or drug assessment report (for example, where a licence eligibility order applies to certain repeat or drug-related driving matters). 

These assessments typically take 45–60 minutes and help the magistrate understand whether further support is needed alongside your program. If you choose to engage a lawyer, that's a separate cost, and it's worth getting a clear, fixed-fee quote upfront rather than an open-ended hourly rate.

How to Get Your Licence Back After Suspension in Vic: The Realistic Total

Add it together, and a typical first-time, lower-range offence looks something like this:

• A fine of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars

• A BCP program at $430–$500

• Interlock costs from roughly $1,200–$1,500 for the minimum six-month period

Higher BAC readings, repeat offences or longer interlock periods push the total toward $8,000 or beyond once you factor in the intensive program, extended leasing fees and any reports or legal advice along the way.

The good news is none of this has to be confusing. At Drink Drive Victoria, we’ve supported thousands of Victorians through exactly this process, and we know how to make a stressful situation feel a lot more manageable. 

If you're working out your next steps after a drink driving Victoria charge, visit Drink Drive Victoria and we'll walk you through what applies to your situation and what it'll cost.