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Free California DUI tool

Out-of-state DUI calculator.

Arrested for DUI in California with a license from another state? Find out what California does to your right to drive here, how California notifies your home state through the Driver License Compact, and what your home state is likely to do in response. Free written analysis delivered to your inbox.

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This tool is specifically for people with out-of-state driver's licenses arrested in California.

Free out-of-state DUI calculator

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What state issued your driver's license?
What was your BAC (blood alcohol concentration)?
How many prior DUI convictions do you have from the past 10 years?
What chemical test happened?
Was there an accident or injury?
In which California county were you arrested?
Do you currently have an attorney representing you on this case?
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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 out-of-state DUI analysis is on its way.

Your out-of-state DUI analysis is on its way. It covers what California does, how the Driver License Compact works, what your home state is likely to do, and your next steps on both sides.

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By submitting, you agree this analysis is informational only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Outcomes in both California and your home state depend on facts and procedures not visible in this summary. Privacy and terms.

Two parallel proceedings: California and your home state

When an out-of-state license holder is arrested for DUI in California, two separate legal processes begin simultaneously. California's DMV immediately initiates an Administrative Per Se (APS) action targeting your privilege to drive within California. This is separate from your actual home-state license, which California has no authority to suspend directly. You will receive a pink DS-367 form that serves as a 30-day temporary driving permit in California. You have 10 calendar days from arrest to request a DMV hearing to challenge the California APS action. Meanwhile, California will notify your home state through the Driver License Compact, and your home state will then decide what to do with your actual driver's license under its own laws.

How the Driver License Compact works

The Driver License Compact (DLC) is an interstate agreement through which member states share DUI conviction and license action information. When California processes a DUI conviction involving an out-of-state driver, it transmits the information to the driver's home state through the DLC. The home state then treats the California DUI as if it had occurred in the home state and applies its own laws accordingly. Forty-five states are current DLC members. The five non-member states — Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin — do not receive automatic DLC notification, but may still receive information through other channels, and non-membership does not guarantee insulation from consequences.

The 10-day hearing window still applies

Even though California cannot suspend your home-state license, the 10-day hearing deadline is still critical. Requesting a DMV APS hearing within 10 calendar days of arrest preserves your right to challenge California's suspension of your California driving privilege. During the hearing process, a temporary stay of the APS action typically keeps your California driving privilege valid. If you miss the window, California's suspension of your right to drive in California takes effect automatically on the 31st day after arrest. More importantly, prevailing at the DMV hearing can prevent a conviction notation from being transmitted to your home state through the DLC, which significantly reduces the home-state exposure.

What your home state typically does

When your home state receives notification from the DLC, it generally applies its own DUI laws to the California conviction. This means the home state can suspend or revoke your driver's license, impose DUI program requirements, and add the conviction to your driving record just as if the DUI had happened in your home state. The severity of the response varies significantly by state. States with mandatory DUI suspension laws will act quickly. States with more discretionary frameworks may require a separate hearing. A few states treat an out-of-state first DUI more leniently for licensing purposes on a first offense. Your free analysis will address what your specific home state typically does.

Common questions

What people ask about out-of-state DUI

Can California suspend my out-of-state license?

No. California does not have authority to suspend a license issued by another state. What California can do — and does — is suspend your privilege to operate a motor vehicle within California. That is a separate right that California controls. Your home-state license remains physically valid, but using it to drive in California while the California privilege is suspended is a violation of California law. California will also notify your home state through the Driver License Compact, which then gives your home state the opportunity to act on your home-state license under its own laws.

Will my home state find out about my California DUI?

In most cases, yes. California transmits DUI conviction information to other states through the Driver License Compact. This transmission happens after a conviction, not after an arrest. If you are arrested but not convicted, or if the charge is reduced to a non-DUI offense, the DLC transmission may not occur. Forty-five states participate in the DLC. If your home state is one of the five non-member states (Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, or Wisconsin), the automatic DLC notification does not apply, though other information-sharing mechanisms may still exist.

What is the Driver License Compact?

The Driver License Compact is an interstate agreement signed by 45 states (and the District of Columbia) that requires member states to share driving records, including DUI convictions, with the driver's home state. The DLC operates on two principles: the "One License" principle (a driver should hold only one license) and the "One Record" principle (traffic convictions in any state should follow the driver). When California reports a DUI conviction through the DLC, the driver's home state receives it and applies its own laws as if the offense occurred at home.

My home state is not in the DLC — am I safe?

Not necessarily. Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin do not participate in the DLC, which means they do not receive automatic DLC notifications. However, non-participation does not create a legal shield. These states may still receive information through the Non-Resident Violator Compact, insurance records, or direct license record requests. Additionally, a California DUI conviction remains on the California driving record and can surface in background checks, employment screening, and insurance underwriting regardless of home-state notification.

Can I still drive in my home state while my California privilege is suspended?

Potentially, yes — at least until your home state takes action. California's APS suspension applies only to operating a vehicle in California. Your home-state license remains valid under home-state law until your home state independently suspends or revokes it. However, once California transmits the DLC notification after conviction, your home state will typically begin its own proceeding. The timing depends on your home state's procedures and caseload. Using your home-state license to drive in California while the California privilege is suspended is still unlawful in California.

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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