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Free California DUI tool

CDL DUI impact calculator.

A DUI hits CDL holders harder than any other driver. Find out the federal disqualification period under 49 CFR 383, what California does to your license, the 30-day employer notification requirement, and what your livelihood options are during disqualification. Free written analysis delivered to your inbox.

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California DUI arrests only. For CDL holders with out-of-state licenses arrested in California, this analysis still applies to the federal disqualification.

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Tell us about your case

Step 1 of 9
What was your BAC (blood alcohol concentration)?
Were you driving a commercial or personal vehicle at the time of the arrest?

CDL holders face a lower BAC threshold (0.04%) when operating a commercial vehicle, but any DUI in a personal vehicle also triggers federal disqualification.

How many prior DUI convictions do you have from the past 10 years?

A second DUI conviction results in lifetime CDL disqualification under federal law.

Was there an accident or injury?
What chemical test happened?
What type of CDL work do you do?
In which California county were you arrested?
Do you currently have an attorney representing you on this case?
Where should we send your free report?
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This tool is for California arrests only.

Your selection indicates an out-of-state license, which suggests the arrest may have been outside California. We focus on California DUI cases. If your arrest was in California, please go back and re-select your license type, or call us to discuss directly.

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Thank you. Your CDL DUI impact analysis is on its way.

Your CDL DUI impact analysis is on its way. It covers the federal disqualification period, the California license action, employer notification requirements, and your livelihood options.

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By submitting, you agree this analysis is informational only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. CDL disqualification outcomes depend on facts and regulatory procedures not visible in this summary. Privacy and terms.

Federal CDL disqualification: the rule that changes everything

Under 49 CFR 383.51, a CDL holder convicted of DUI faces mandatory federal disqualification regardless of which vehicle was involved. A first offense results in a minimum one-year CDL disqualification. If the DUI occurred while transporting hazardous materials requiring a placard, that minimum extends to three years. A second DUI conviction — at any point in your lifetime — triggers permanent lifetime CDL disqualification with no reinstatement option. This federal framework applies whether you were driving a commercial vehicle or your own personal car at the time of the arrest. The distinction between commercial and personal vehicle matters for the BAC threshold (0.04% vs. 0.08%), but not for whether disqualification applies if you are convicted.

The California side of the case

In addition to the federal disqualification, California pursues its own parallel Administrative Per Se (APS) action through the DMV. The arresting officer takes your license and issues a temporary 30-day permit. You have 10 calendar days from arrest to request a DMV hearing to challenge the APS suspension. If you hold a California CDL, the suspension of your CDL privilege is handled separately from your Class C personal driving privilege. An IID restricted license under Vehicle Code 23575.3 may apply to personal vehicles, but there is no restricted CDL available during the federal disqualification period. The CDL disqualification is absolute — there is no restricted commercial license option that allows you to keep driving commercially with conditions.

The 30-day employer notification requirement

Under 49 CFR 383.31, a CDL holder must notify their employer within 30 days of any conviction for a disqualifying offense, including DUI. This requirement applies even if you were driving your personal vehicle and even if the employer does not know about the arrest. Failure to provide the required notification is itself a separate federal violation. The arrest and any subsequent conviction are also recorded in the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), a national database that employers and licensing agencies across all states can access. There is no practical way to conceal a CDL DUI from a current or future commercial employer through CDLIS.

Wet reckless and CDL disqualification

Negotiating a DUI charge down to a wet reckless under Vehicle Code 23103.5 is a common resolution in California DUI cases and often spares non-CDL drivers from the harshest license consequences. For CDL holders, the picture is more complicated. Under federal regulations, if the wet reckless plea involves an alcohol-related offense designation, it may still qualify as a "previous violation" for purposes of calculating a second CDL disqualification offense. Whether a specific wet reckless plea triggers federal CDL consequences depends on the precise language of the plea and how the conviction is coded. This is one reason CDL holders need specialized representation — a plea that appears favorable on its face may still cause federal disqualification consequences if not carefully structured.

Common questions

What people ask about CDL DUI

Does a DUI in my personal car affect my CDL?

Yes. Under 49 CFR 383.51, federal CDL disqualification applies to a DUI conviction regardless of which vehicle you were driving at the time. The federal rule does not distinguish between commercial and personal vehicles for purposes of imposing the disqualification. The only difference is the applicable BAC threshold: 0.04% when operating a commercial vehicle, 0.08% when operating a personal vehicle. Either conviction leads to the same disqualification periods.

How long is the CDL disqualification for a first DUI?

A first DUI conviction results in a minimum one-year CDL disqualification under 49 CFR 383.51. If you were transporting hazardous materials requiring a placard at the time of the offense, the minimum is three years. There is no restricted CDL option available during the disqualification period. You may be able to obtain a restricted Class C personal license after the hard suspension period, but you cannot drive commercially.

What is the CDL BAC threshold?

When operating a commercial motor vehicle, the federal BAC threshold for CDL holders is 0.04%, half the standard 0.08% limit. California mirrors this lower threshold for commercial vehicle operation. When a CDL holder is driving a personal vehicle, the standard 0.08% threshold applies. However, a conviction at either threshold triggers the federal CDL disqualification rules under 49 CFR 383.51.

Can I drive a personal car while my CDL is disqualified?

Possibly. The federal CDL disqualification applies specifically to operating a commercial motor vehicle. Your Class C personal driving privilege is a separate matter handled through the California DMV's APS process. After the applicable hard suspension period, you may be able to obtain a restricted Class C license (with IID and SR-22) that allows personal vehicle driving. You cannot, however, drive any commercial vehicle during the CDL disqualification period regardless of any personal license status.

What does a second DUI mean for my CDL?

A second DUI conviction results in permanent lifetime CDL disqualification under 49 CFR 383.51(b). There is no reinstatement pathway, no probationary period, and no exception. This applies regardless of how many years passed between the first and second convictions. The lifetime disqualification is permanent and applies nationwide through CDLIS. For professional drivers, this effectively ends a commercial driving career.

Is this calculator legal advice?

No. The calculator output is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal advice, meaning advice specific to your circumstances given by a licensed attorney who has reviewed the full record, comes only after a consultation. The consultation is also free and creates no obligation to retain.

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