A DWI surcharge is an administrative penalty charged by the Texas Department of Public Safety as a fee for you to maintain your driver’s license after you have either suffered a DWI conviction or submitted to a breath and/or blood test which showed an alcohol concentration of .16 or more.
For 3 years following either of the aforementioned events, one of these three surcharges will be assessed:
1. $1,000 per year for a first DWI conviction; or
2. $1,500 per year for subsequent DWI convictions; or, 3. $2,000 per year for registering a .16 or more.