You were arrested for DUI in Las Vegas. Here's the exact timeline for your court appearances, ignition interlock installation, and SR-22 filing—and what happens if you miss any of them.
Your Court Schedule: Arraignment to Sentencing in Clark County
Your arraignment happens 5 to 10 days after arrest if you were booked into Clark County Detention Center. You'll appear at Las Vegas Justice Court (200 Lewis Ave) or Henderson Justice Court (243 S Water St) depending on where you were arrested. The court will read the charges—DUI first offense under NRS 484C.110 or DUI with aggravating factors if your BAC was .18 or higher, you had a minor in the vehicle, or you caused injury.
If you plead not guilty, your trial date is set 30 to 90 days out. Most first-offense cases resolve before trial through plea agreements. If you plead guilty or no contest—or are found guilty at trial—sentencing happens immediately or within 14 days. The sentencing order triggers three separate compliance obligations: DUI school enrollment, ignition interlock device installation, and SR-22 insurance filing. Each has its own deadline, and missing any one extends your license suspension indefinitely.
Clark County processes roughly 7,000 DUI cases annually. Justice Court handles misdemeanor DUI. District Court handles felony DUI (third offense within 7 years, or DUI causing substantial bodily harm). If your case is a felony, expect arraignment within 72 hours and a preliminary hearing within 15 days.
Ignition Interlock Device: Installation Windows and Approved Providers
Nevada DMV requires ignition interlock installation within 7 days of your sentencing date for first-offense DUI. You cannot drive legally—even with a restricted license—until the device is installed and the provider notifies DMV. The 7-day window is a hard deadline. If you miss it, your restricted driving privilege is revoked and you start over.
Clark County has six DMV-approved IID providers: Smart Start (multiple Las Vegas locations), Intoxalock (3663 S Maryland Pkwy), LifeSafer (4455 S Pecos Rd), Guardian Interlock (6170 W Lake Mead Blvd), Low Cost Interlock (3535 W Cheyenne Ave), and Monitech (Henderson). Installation costs $70 to $150. Monthly monitoring and calibration fees run $60 to $90. Nevada requires the device for 185 days minimum on a first-offense DUI, measured from installation date to the date DMV receives your completion certificate.
You'll return to the provider every 30 to 60 days for calibration. If you miss a calibration appointment, the device locks you out after 7 days and your restricted license is suspended. If you have multiple failed breath tests or tampering events, the provider reports you to DMV and your case may be sent back to the sentencing court for violation of probation.
Find out exactly how long SR-22 is required in your state
SR-22 Filing: When Your 3-Year Clock Actually Starts
Nevada requires SR-22 filing for 3 years after a DUI conviction. The filing period starts the day DMV reinstates your license—not your conviction date, not your sentencing date, not the date you buy a policy. Most Las Vegas DUI drivers are required to carry SR-22 insurance for 4 to 6 months before the 3-year clock even begins, because license reinstatement doesn't happen until you've completed DUI school, installed the IID, paid reinstatement fees, and filed proof of insurance with DMV.
Your carrier files the SR-22 electronically with Nevada DMV. The filing itself costs $15 to $25. The insurance behind it costs significantly more. Expect monthly premiums of $180 to $320 for minimum liability coverage (15/30/10) in Las Vegas after a DUI, compared to $90 to $140 for a clean-record driver. Most major carriers—State Farm, Geico, Allstate, Progressive—will file SR-22 for existing customers but typically non-renew your policy at the end of your term. New SR-22 policies after DUI generally come from non-standard carriers: Bristol West, Dairyland, GAINSCO, The General, Safe Auto, or Acceptance.
If your SR-22 lapses for any reason—missed payment, cancelled policy, switching carriers without overlap—DMV receives an SR-26 cancellation notice within 24 hours and your license is suspended immediately. The 3-year clock resets to zero. You'll pay another reinstatement fee ($150 for first reinstatement, $250 for subsequent) and restart the filing period from the new reinstatement date.
License Reinstatement Timeline: What Comes Before You Can Drive Again
Your driver's license is administratively suspended for 185 days on a first-offense DUI in Nevada, starting the day of your arrest. This suspension runs parallel to your criminal case—it's a DMV action, not a court penalty. You have 7 days from arrest to request a DMV hearing to contest the suspension. Most drivers waive the hearing or lose it, and the 185-day suspension takes effect automatically.
You become eligible for a restricted license after 45 days if you complete DUI school (8 hours for first offense, offered by providers like the Las Vegas Traffic School or A-1 Driving Schools), install the ignition interlock device, and file SR-22 proof of insurance. The restricted license allows driving to and from work, school, medical appointments, and IID calibration appointments. It does not allow recreational driving, and you cannot drive any vehicle not equipped with your assigned IID.
Full reinstatement after the 185-day suspension requires: completion certificate from your IID provider (proving 185 days of clean use), completion certificate from DUI school, SR-22 filing on record with DMV, payment of the $150 reinstatement fee, and payment of any outstanding court fines or fees. Submit reinstatement documents to the DMV Las Vegas Metropolitan Office (2621 E Sahara Ave) or any full-service DMV location. Reinstatement processing takes 3 to 7 business days. Your 3-year SR-22 filing clock starts the day DMV processes your reinstatement and issues your unrestricted license.
What It Costs: Court Fines, IID Fees, Insurance, and Reinstatement
First-offense DUI in Las Vegas carries a minimum fine of $400 and a maximum of $1,000, set at sentencing. Clark County Justice Court typically adds a $200 administrative assessment, $50 DNA testing fee, and $60 chemical analysis fee. Expect total court-ordered payments of $750 to $1,400 before surcharges. Payment plans are available through the court clerk if you request them at sentencing.
Ignition interlock installation costs $70 to $150. Monthly monitoring and calibration fees run $60 to $90 for 185 days minimum, totaling $370 to $555 over the required period. Nevada DMV charges $150 for first-time license reinstatement after DUI. DUI school costs $100 to $150 for the 8-hour Victim Impact Panel required on first offense.
SR-22 insurance is the largest ongoing expense. Monthly premiums in Las Vegas for minimum liability coverage after DUI average $180 to $320, compared to $90 to $140 for drivers with clean records. Over 3 years of required SR-22 filing, you'll pay $6,480 to $11,520 in premiums, versus $3,240 to $5,040 for a clean-record driver—a difference of $3,240 to $6,480 attributable directly to the DUI surcharge. Add collision and comprehensive coverage and premiums climb to $280 to $450 per month.
Getting Back on the Road: Your Next 30 Days
If your arraignment hasn't happened yet, confirm your court date and location with the Clark County Courts online portal or by calling the Justice Court clerk. Miss your arraignment and a bench warrant is issued within 24 hours. If you've been sentenced, your first priority is IID installation within 7 days. Call a provider, schedule installation, and bring your sentencing order and vehicle registration.
Enroll in DUI school within 14 days of sentencing. Most providers offer weekend and evening sessions to accommodate work schedules. You'll receive a completion certificate the day you finish. Submit it to DMV immediately—it's required for restricted license eligibility. Shop SR-22 insurance as soon as you're sentenced. Contact non-standard carriers directly or use a high-risk specialist broker. Get quotes from at least three carriers. Premiums vary by $50 to $100 per month for identical coverage.
Once your IID is installed, DUI school is complete, and SR-22 is filed, apply for your restricted license at DMV. Bring proof of IID installation, DUI school completion certificate, SR-22 confirmation from your insurer, and payment for the reinstatement fee. Your restricted license is issued same-day if all documents are in order. Mark your calendar for 185 days from IID installation—that's your full reinstatement eligibility date. Miss any IID calibration appointment or let your SR-22 lapse during this period and you restart the entire process from zero.
