For a first DUI in California, the DMV suspension is often four months, though a restricted license may let you drive sooner. A second offense within ten years can bring a one-year suspension. These numbers can change based on your BAC, whether you refused a chemical test, and your prior record.
Two separate suspensions can come out of one arrest. The DMV imposes an Administrative Per Se suspension through its own process, and the court can order a suspension if you are convicted. They often overlap, but they are decided by different systems on different timelines.
Refusing a chemical test raises the stakes. A refusal can trigger a one-year hard suspension with no restricted license during that period, on top of the DUI itself.
The key deadline is short. You have ten days from the arrest to request a DMV hearing, or the suspension takes effect automatically. Acting fast is how you protect your ability to drive. Learn how a DMV hearing works and what license suspension defense can do for your case.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different. Call Crudo Law at (858) 622-7280 or visit /contact for a free, confidential consultation.