California Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22

After a DUI arrest in California, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.ca.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.

The request for an administrative hearing is due within 10 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.

• A DUI arrest starts the Administrative Per Se process, under which the DMV suspends or revokes the driving privilege independently of the court case.
• A driver has 10 days from arrest to request an APS hearing to contest the suspension.
• The DMV administers a statewide Ignition Interlock Device programme for DUI offenders.
• Reinstatement requires completing the suspension period and any ordered DUI programme, then satisfying DMV requirements.

1. Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
2. Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
3. Install an ignition interlock device if the court or agency orders one.
4. California requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
5. Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.

Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on dmv.ca.gov before you travel to an office.

These California ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

• 90068 — Los angeles
• 90201 — Bell gardens
• 90230 — Culver city
• 90249 — Gardena
• 90254 — Hermosa beach
• 90262 — Lynwood
• 91335 — Reseda
• 91402 — Panorama city
• 91702 — Azusa
• 91755 — Monterey park
• 91789 — Diamond bar
• 91902 — Bonita
• 92082 — Valley center
• 92139 — San diego
• 92223 — Beaumont
• 92258 — North palm sprin
• 92267 — Parker dam
• 92270 — Rancho mirage
• 92275 — Salton city
• 92281 — Westmorland
• 92309 — Baker
• 92310 — Fort irwin
• 92314 — Big bear city
• 92320 — Calimesa

How long do I have to challenge a California licence suspension?

The administrative hearing request is due within 10 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the CA licensing agency at dmv.ca.gov before relying on it.

How long is a first-offense suspension in California?

A first DUI offense generally carries a 6 months suspension in California. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.