Got arrested for DUI? Take a breath. The next 48 hours matter — but they don't have to ruin your year. Here's the exact list of what to do, in order, for California drivers.
If you were arrested for DUI in California, you have a 10-day window to act on one critical step before your license gets suspended automatically. Most people don't know about it. Let's walk through everything in order.
Not on social media, not on calls (jail calls are recorded), not to friends. Anything you say can be used. Save it for your attorney.
You should have:
If you're missing any of these, write down the date and time of the arrest and the arresting officer's name and badge number.
California allows the arresting agency to impound your car for up to 30 days. Storage fees are real (often $50-100/day). The faster you get it, the cheaper. Bring proof of registration, proof of insurance, and a release order if required.
This is the most important thing in this article.
You have 10 calendar days from the date of arrest to request a DMV "Administrative Per Se" hearing. If you don't request it, the DMV will automatically suspend your license starting day 30 after arrest. If you DO request it, the suspension is put on hold pending the hearing.
To request the hearing:
The DMV hearing is separate from your criminal court case. It only addresses whether the DMV can suspend your license. Many people win this hearing — especially if there were procedural issues with the arrest. Even if you lose, you've bought yourself extra time on your license.
This is not a place to go DIY. The right DUI attorney can sometimes get charges reduced to a wet reckless or even dismissed. They can also represent you at the DMV hearing. Costs typically run $2,500-$7,500 for a first-offense DUI. Most attorneys offer free consultations.
Your pink temporary license is valid for 30 days from the arrest date — but only if you have the original of it on you. After day 30, if you haven't requested the DMV hearing, you cannot legally drive. Period. Driving on a suspended license adds a separate criminal charge and makes everything much worse.
You don't need to file SR-22 yet — that comes after license reinstatement — but you should know what it is and have a quote ready, because as soon as you reinstate, you need it filed within hours.
SR-22 in California is a certificate your insurance company files with the DMV proving you carry the state-required minimum auto liability. You need to maintain it for 3 years from the reinstatement date.
The cost: SR-22 filing fee is $15-$25 (one-time), and your insurance premium will go up. Typical California rates after a first DUI:
We strongly recommend calling us early in this process. We can quote you and have everything ready to file electronically with the DMV the moment your license is reinstated. Same-day filing means you don't have a single day of suspended-license risk.
Your court date will be 3-8 weeks out for a first-offense DUI. Use the time to:
Most first-offense DUIs in California result in:
None of this is the end of the world. Hundreds of thousands of Californians go through it each year, follow the steps, and come out the other side with their license, their job, and their family intact. The faster you act on the steps above, the cleaner the path.
Not if you act in 10 days. The pink temporary license issued at arrest is valid for 30 days. If you request a DMV hearing in the first 10 days, the suspension is delayed until after the hearing. If you don't, the suspension automatically begins on day 31.
You don't legally need one, but you'll dramatically improve your chances with one. The DMV rules of evidence are different from court, and an attorney who handles DUI hearings regularly knows what arguments work.
We handle everything insurance-related — SR-22 filing, high-risk auto insurance, getting you back on the road same day. We don't represent you in court or at the DMV hearing — for that you need a DUI attorney. We can recommend several in Stockton, San Jose, and San Rafael if you don't already have one.
Walk into our office with valid ID and we'll have your SR-22 electronically filed with the California DMV within an hour, usually within 30 minutes. You can leave with proof of filing and an active policy.
Talk to us. We compare across multiple carriers and routinely beat what people are quoted at Freeway, Fiesta, or directly through their old carrier. We don't add broker fees on standard SR-22 policies. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive SR-22 quote in California for the same driver can be $100/month or more.
Even if you're still in the first 48 hours after arrest, it's not too early to have a quote ready. Call us at 209-670-1556 or walk into our Stockton, San Jose, or San Rafael office. We've helped thousands of California drivers through this exact situation. We don't judge, we don't lecture — we help you get back to normal as fast as possible.