DUI and DWI Programs in Minnesota

What DWI program does Minnesota require, and who approves it?

Minnesota requires a substance use disorder assessment after a DWI conviction, carried out by a court-appointed assessor through the county alcohol safety program. Minnesota Statutes section 169A.70 makes that assessment mandatory and sets a deadline of three weeks after the court appearance, and the assessor must meet the professional standards in section 245G.11.

Minnesota’s assessment is a separate step from treatment. The assessor asks about alcohol and drug use and its effect on daily life, then points to a level of care that can range from education alone to residential treatment, and a court can make that finding a condition of sentencing or probation.

Any treatment that follows happens at a program licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services under chapter 245G. Some judicial districts also run DWI courts, a type of treatment court the Minnesota Judicial Council must authorize and that operates under statewide standards. Our page on court-ordered rehab in Minnesota covers that route.

Whether online classes count is up to the court or county that ordered the program, so get written permission before enrolling in one. When calling a provider, have court paperwork, assessment results and the deadline at hand, and ask how completion is reported to the court or probation officer.

How does a DWI assessment decide which program or treatment you need in Minnesota?

A Minnesota DWI assessment screens for a substance use disorder, and its result points to the level of care a court can order. The assessor asks about alcohol and drug use and how it affects daily life. The recommendation can range from education alone to residential treatment. A court can make that recommendation a condition of sentencing or probation.

Minnesota providers on these pages list outpatient programs, intensive outpatient and residential rehab. Many also appear under alcohol rehab in Minnesota. Where opioids are part of the picture, Suboxone clinics list medication options.

Hour counts by offense are not set out in the state sources used here. The assessment result and the court order define what a first, repeat or underage case must finish, so ask the county alcohol safety program for the details. Younger drivers should know that Minn. Stat. 144.343 lets a minor of any age consent to alcohol and drug services without anyone else’s consent.

Can you complete a DWI program online in Minnesota?

Whether online or virtual sessions count is decided by the court or county that ordered the program. No statewide rule on online DWI education was found in the sources behind this page. Get written approval before enrolling in any online course.

Telehealth treatment is more settled. Minnesota Health Care Programs pay for substance use disorder treatment by live two-way audio and video. Audio-only sessions are covered until July 1, 2027, when a scheduled appointment can meet the standard of care that way. Programs offering remote care appear under telehealth rehab in Minnesota.

How do you pay for a DWI assessment or court-ordered treatment in Minnesota?

The assessment and any treatment are paid for separately, and treatment is billed like other health care. Ask the county or assessor what the assessment costs you and whether a fee waiver exists. From January 1, 2026, Medical Assistance pays providers $162.24 for a full assessment, $86.53 an hour for individual counseling, $42.04 an hour for group counseling, and $400 to $515 a day for residential care. Those figures are what the state plan pays programs, not a price a person is quoted.

Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program. It runs through health plans including Blue Plus, HealthPartners, Hennepin Health, Medica, UCare and others. See programs accepting Medicaid. Without coverage, look at sliding scale rehab and state-funded programs. Providers offering sessions in Spanish or with interpreters are on the Spanish-speaking rehab page.

What happens after you finish, and how do you get your license back?

Finishing the recommended program is usually one of several conditions for getting a license back. The court and the state driver licensing office set the full list. Ask both whether ignition interlock, fees or waiting periods also apply. Nothing on this page is legal advice, and completion does not promise any outcome in a case.

When you call a Minnesota provider, have your court paperwork, assessment results and deadline ready. Ask how the program reports completion to the court or probation officer. In a crisis, call or text 988; the national treatment referral line also runs around the clock. Minnesota has no statewide substance use phone line, but Fast-Tracker offers a free online search of treatment openings.

How to read these listings

Every Minnesota program listing DWI services sits within 25 miles of a river, a median of 5.8 miles away, most often the Minnesota River. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International is the nearest major airport for nearly half, and the median distance to the closest airport is 8.7 miles. Half are in towns rather than cities, with Saint Paul and South Saint Paul the most common addresses. Wider options sit on the Minnesota rehab page.