A DUI arrest triggers 2 separate license suspension clocks - the administrative DMV suspension (which has a 7 to 10 day appeal deadline most people miss) and any court-imposed suspension after conviction. This tool maps out exactly when your license could be suspended, for how long, and what you need to do to drive again.
A DUI attorney can request your DMV hearing, argue to preserve your license, and help secure a hardship or restricted license while your case is pending. Free consultation.
Most people don't realize a DUI arrest creates 2 completely independent suspension processes. The first is the administrative per se (APS) suspension, imposed by the DMV based solely on the arrest and chemical test result - this happens regardless of whether you're ever convicted. The second is the court-imposed suspension that follows a criminal conviction. These run on different timelines, are challenged through different processes, and can have different durations.
The APS suspension typically begins 30 days after arrest unless you request a DMV hearing within 7 to 10 days. Requesting the hearing stays the suspension until the hearing is held - which can take weeks or months, giving you continued driving privileges during that time. This is why the 7 to 10 day deadline is so critical: missing it means automatic suspension starting in 30 days with no opportunity to contest it administratively. Once your case resolves, check the DUI expungement eligibility tool to understand long-term record implications, and the DUI defense evaluator for your overall case strategy.
Most states offer restricted driving privileges during a DUI suspension for essential purposes - commuting to work, attending school, medical appointments, and court-ordered programs like DUI school or treatment. Eligibility requirements vary: some states require an ignition interlock device for any restricted license, others have waiting periods before you can apply, and some exclude certain offense levels (high BAC, repeat offenders) from hardship eligibility entirely. An attorney files the hardship license application and, in states where IID is required, coordinates the installation.
In many states, installing an IID allows earlier reinstatement of full or restricted driving privileges - sometimes immediately after a short "hard suspension" period of 30 to 90 days with no driving at all. The IID requirement then continues for 6 months to several years depending on prior history and BAC level. Costs include installation ($70 to $150), monthly monitoring and calibration fees ($60 to $90), and removal fees. Some states have indigent fee waiver programs. Your attorney determines whether IID installation accelerates your specific timeline.
CDL holders face dramatically harsher consequences. A DUI - even in a personal vehicle, not a commercial vehicle - typically results in a 1-year CDL disqualification for a first offense and lifetime disqualification for a second. Federal regulations under FMCSA govern CDL disqualifications and states generally cannot offer hardship licenses for CDL privileges during disqualification. For commercial drivers, the stakes of a DUI go far beyond the personal license - it can end a career. CDL holders facing DUI charges need an attorney experienced specifically in commercial driver consequences immediately.