DUI Expungement / Sealing in California in CA — Dui… | CGMIMM
Dui · CA
DUI Expungement / Sealing in California
California DUI expungement varies dramatically — some states allow sealing / expunging DUI convictions, many prohibit. Even where allowed, specific waiting periods + procedures apply.
Published May 9, 2026
## DUI expungement / sealing in California
**DUI expungement** clears or seals criminal records of DUI convictions. California expungement law varies significantly — some states allow DUI expungement, many specifically prohibit it. Critical to understand local rules.
## State-by-state variation
**States that allow DUI expungement:**
- California (with conditions)
- Some Midwestern states
- Some Northeast states
- Specific to state
- Specific procedures
**States that PROHIBIT DUI expungement:**
- Florida
- Texas (limited)
- Many Southern states
- Some Western states
- Specific to state
**${s.name} approach:**
- Specific to ${s.name} statutes
- Specific procedures
- Specific eligibility
- Always check current law
## Eligibility (where allowed)
**Common requirements:**
**1. Conviction completed:**
- Probation completed
- Specific procedures
- All terms satisfied
- Specific to ${s.name}
**2. Waiting period elapsed:**
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Often 5-10 years
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to offense
**3. No subsequent offenses:**
- Specific period
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to circumstances
- Strict enforcement
**4. All fines paid:**
- Restitution complete
- Court costs paid
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific procedures
**5. Treatment completed:**
- DUI school
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Documentation
**6. Specific to ${s.name}:**
- ${s.name}-specific requirements
- Specific procedures
- Specific eligibility
- Specific to circumstances
## Disqualifying factors
**Generally cannot expunge:**
- DUI causing injury
- DUI causing death
- Aggravated DUI
- Repeat DUI offenses
- DUI with certain priors
- Specific to ${s.name}
**${s.name}-specific exclusions:**
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific exclusions
## Process
**Where allowed:**
**1. Verify eligibility:**
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to ${s.name}
**2. File petition:**
- Specific court
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific forms
**3. Notice to prosecutor:**
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific timing
- Strategic considerations
**4. Hearing (sometimes):**
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to outcomes
**5. Court order:**
- Specific procedures
- Specific to expungement
- Specific to sealing
- Specific outcomes
**6. Update records:**
- Specific agencies
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to circumstances
## Effect of expungement / sealing
**Where successful:**
**Most contexts:**
- Treated as not convicted
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to records
**Background checks:**
- Generally won't appear
- Specific to type
- Specific procedures
- Specific exceptions
**Employment:**
- Specific to industry
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to disclosure
**Housing:**
- Specific to landlords
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to checks
**Limitations:**
**Subsequent offenses:**
- Often counted as priors
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
**Federal use:**
- Federal can still use
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to circumstances
**Immigration:**
- Specific consequences remain
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Limited expungement effect
**Professional licensing:**
- May still affect
- Specific to industry
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
## Sealing vs expungement
**Different effects:**
**Expungement:**
- Records destroyed (in some states)
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
**Sealing:**
- Records hidden but exist
- Specific access for some
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
**${s.name} specific:**
- Specific terminology
- Specific procedures
- Specific effects
- Specific to circumstances
## Disclosure obligations
**Even after expungement:**
**Sometimes required:**
- Some employers
- Specific licensing
- Specific contexts
- Specific to circumstances
**Generally not required:**
- Standard employment
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
**Specific exceptions:**
- Federal employment
- Specific licensing
- Specific contexts
- Specific procedures
## CDL drivers
**Special rules:**
- Federal regs prohibit "masking"
- Specific procedures
- DUI on CDL holder's record forever
- Specific to circumstances
- See CDL DUI guide
**Even diversion / expungement:**
- Doesn't help CDL
- Specific procedures
- Specific to federal regulation
- Significant restriction
## Diversion vs expungement
**Different processes:**
**Diversion (pre-conviction):**
- Avoid conviction altogether
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- See first-offense guide
**Expungement (post-conviction):**
- After conviction
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- After waiting period
**Strategic:**
- Diversion often better when available
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific procedures
- Specific outcomes
## Costs
**Petition costs:**
**Filing fees:**
- $100-$500 typical
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
**Attorney fees:**
- $1,500-$5,000 typical
- Specific to complexity
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
**Specific to circumstances:**
- Multiple offenses
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific costs
## DUI on background checks
**Even with expungement:**
**Background check companies:**
- Sometimes still appear
- Specific to company
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
**FCRA compliance:**
- Specific to companies
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to circumstances
**Update procedures:**
- Notify check companies
- Specific procedures
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific to circumstances
**Specific issues:**
- Old records remain in commercial databases
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Continuing issue
## DUI in another state
**Out-of-state DUI:**
**${s.name}-specific procedures:**
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to expungement
**Driver License Compact:**
- Specific to ${s.name}
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific to record
**${s.name} record:**
- May not be expungable in arrest state
- Specific to ${s.name} record
- Specific procedures
- Specific to circumstances
## Immigration considerations
**Critical for non-citizens:**
**Expungement limited effect:**
- Federal still considers
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific procedures
- Specific to immigration
**LPR consequences:**
- Single DUI usually OK
- Multiple DUIs significant issue
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific procedures
**Visa consequences:**
- Specific to circumstances
- Specific procedures
- Specific to type
- Specific to ${s.name}
## What you should do
If you have a DUI conviction in California and want to expunge: research California eligibility (many states prohibit DUI expungement), wait for required period to elapse, hire criminal defense attorney with expungement experience. Most California criminal defense attorneys handle expungements where available. Cost-benefit analysis essential. Specific to California requirements.
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*This guide is general information about California law as of mid-2026 and is not legal advice. DUI expungement varies dramatically by state. Talk to a licensed California criminal defense attorney about your specific situation.*
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change and outcomes depend on your specific situation — talk to a licensed attorney before acting on anything you read here.