Can a DUI be expunged?

It depends on the state of conviction. DUI911's state guides show expungement, sealing or a similar remedy as possible in some cases in 21 states and generally not available for a DUI conviction in 29. Even where it is possible there is usually a waiting period after the sentence ends, and repeat offenses are often excluded.

Which states do not allow DUI expungement?

Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. In most of these, a dismissal or acquittal can still be cleared; it is the conviction that stays. Several of these states are still being verified, so read the state page and its source.

What is the difference between expungement, sealing and nondisclosure?

Expungement destroys or erases the record. Sealing keeps the record but hides it from the public, usually leaving it visible to courts and police. Nondisclosure (the Texas term) is a form of sealing. A set-aside or dismissal after probation leaves the conviction in place but changes how it reads. Which one your state offers, and who can still see the record, is set by that state’s statute.

Does expungement remove the DUI from my driving record?

Usually not. The criminal record and the driving record are kept by different agencies. Expunging the court case does not normally change what the licensing agency keeps or what an insurer sees, and prior offenses can still count toward a harsher charge for the state’s lookback period.

Can a DUI be expunged if the case was dismissed?

In most states yes, and the waiting period is shorter or there is none. The hard cases are convictions and, in some states, deferred or diversion outcomes that count as convictions for expungement purposes. Your state’s guide says which outcomes qualify.

State data last reviewed October 1, 2026 · all 50 states

DUI Expungement by State: Where a Conviction Can Be Cleared

QUICK ANSWER

A DUI conviction can be expunged, sealed or set aside in some cases in 21 states and generally cannot be in 29. Where it is possible there is usually a waiting period after the sentence ends, repeat offenses are often excluded, and the driving record is a separate question. Dismissed or acquitted charges can be cleared almost everywhere.

Keep reading for the full breakdown

At a glance

Possible in some cases (21)

Usually after a waiting period, often first offenses only.

Generally not for a conviction (29)

Dismissals and acquittals can usually still be cleared.

† Still being verified against official sources.

What each state’s law allows

DUI expungement, sealing or set-aside availability by state, with the lookback period for repeat offenses
State	Clear a conviction?	What the law allows	Lookback	Official source
Arizona†	Possible in some cases	Arizona does not erase DUI convictions, but A.R.S. §13-911 lets you petition to seal arrest, conviction and sentencing records after you complete your sentence and wait a set period (five years for a class 4, 5 or 6 felony).	7 years	Source: A.R.S. §13-911 — Sealing of records
Arkansas†	Possible in some cases	A misdemeanor DWI conviction can be sealed under Arkansas’s Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act once 5 years have passed since you finished your sentence. The Arkansas Crime Information Center provides a specific petition form for misdemeanor DWI.	10 years	Source 1: Arkansas Crime Information Center — Petition to Seal Misdemeanors (DWI)Source 2: Arkansas Department of Public Safety — Criminal History forms
California†	Possible in some cases	After completing probation, many DUI convictions can be dismissed under Penal Code §1203.4. A dismissed DUI still counts as a prior for 10 years and still appears on your DMV record.	10 years	Source: California Senate — Overview of Criminal Punishments for DUI (2026)
Connecticut	Possible in some cases	A DUI conviction under §14-227a can be erased automatically under Connecticut’s Clean Slate law 10 years after your most recent conviction. It is not eligible if you were convicted of another DUI within the following 10 years. A charge dismissed after the Pretrial Alcohol Education Program is erased.	10 years	Source 1: Clean Slate Connecticut — Eligibility Source 2: Connecticut OLR — Criminal Pretrial Diversionary Programs (2016-R-0020)
Indiana	Possible in some cases	Indiana allows expungement of OWI convictions. A misdemeanor OWI can be expunged 5 years after conviction, and a Level 6 felony OWI 8 years after conviction (sooner if the prosecutor agrees in writing), if you have no pending charges and no new convictions in the waiting period.	7 years	Source 1: Indiana Code 35-38-9 (2026)Source 2: Indiana Office of Court Services — Criminal Case Expungement
Iowa†	Possible in some cases	A misdemeanor OWI conviction (first or second offense) can be expunged once in your lifetime if more than 8 years have passed since the conviction, you have no pending charges, and you have paid everything you owe. A felony OWI cannot use this process. A completed deferred judgment is handled separately.	12 years	Source 1: Iowa Code §901C.3 Misdemeanor expungement Source 2: Iowa Judicial Branch — Expunge Court Record forms Source 3: Iowa Code §907.3 Deferred judgment
Kansas	Possible in some cases	A first DUI can be expunged 5 years after you finish your sentence or probation, including a diversion. A second or later DUI requires 10 years.	See guide	Source: K.S.A. 21-6614 Expungement
Kentucky†	Possible in some cases	Misdemeanor convictions can be expunged by petition under KRS 431.078 after a waiting period. Kentucky public defender guidance says the waiting period for DUI is 10 years, matching the DUI lookback. A felony DUI follows the felony expungement rules.	10 years	Source 1: Kentucky Revised Statutes 431.078 Source 2: Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy — Expungement Guide (2024)
Louisiana†	Possible in some cases	A misdemeanor DWI conviction can be expunged, but only once in a 10-year period. The motion must include a certified letter from the Office of Motor Vehicles.	10 years	Source: Louisiana Legislature — Act 78 (HB 241, 2020), expungement
Maryland†	Possible in some cases	Options are narrow. A probation before judgment for DUI or DWI (§21-902(a) or (b)) can be expunged only 15 years after you’re discharged from probation, and only if you have no new convictions or DUI probation in that time. Expunging a DUI conviction itself is not generally available.	5 years	Source 1: Md. Code, Crim. Proc. §10-105 Source 2: Maryland Judiciary — Expungement tip sheet: Probation Before Judgment Source 3: Maryland Judiciary — Expungement eligibility (CC-DC-CR-072BR)
Michigan	Possible in some cases	Since February 2022, you can petition to set aside one first-time OWI conviction if it did not cause injury or death. You must wait at least 5 years after sentencing, probation, parole, or prison, whichever ends last. A judge decides.	Lifetime	Source: Michigan Attorney General — First-time OWI set-aside
Minnesota†	Possible in some cases	DWI convictions are excluded from Minnesota’s automatic (Clean Slate) expungement. You can petition the court: generally 2 years crime-free after a misdemeanor sentence ends, or 3 years after a gross misdemeanor. The judge decides. Your driving record is not erased.	10 years	Source 1: Minn. Stat. §609A.015 — Automatic expungement Source 2: MN House Research — Expungement of Criminal Records
Mississippi†	Possible in some cases	A first DUI conviction can be expunged by petition to the circuit court at least 5 years after you complete the sentence, if you didn’t hold a CDL or commercial permit at the time. A first-offense nonadjudication can be used only once.	5 years	Source: Mississippi Legislature — SB 2305 (2023), nonadjudication, interlock and expunction text
Missouri	Possible in some cases	A first misdemeanor intoxication-related traffic offense can be expunged once, under RSMo 610.130, after 10 years with no new alcohol-related offenses or enforcement contacts. It doesn’t apply to DWI in a commercial vehicle. The general expungement law (610.140) excludes DWI.	Lifetime	Source 1: RSMo 610.130 — Expungement of intoxication-related traffic offense Source 2: RSMo 610.140 — Expungement of certain criminal records
Montana†	Possible in some cases	Montana lets you petition a district court once in your life to expunge misdemeanor convictions. The statute does not list DUI as excluded, but expunged DUIs may still count as priors for sentencing. Check eligibility before you file.	10 years	Source 1: MCA 46-18-1104 — Eligibility for misdemeanor expungement Source 2: Montana Judicial Branch — Misdemeanor Expungement forms Source 3: Montana DOJ — Conviction Expungement Process
Nevada†	Possible in some cases	A misdemeanor DUI can be sealed 7 years after you are released from custody or finish a suspended sentence, whichever is later. A felony DUI can never be sealed.	7 years	Source 1: NRS chapter 179 — Sealing Records of Criminal Proceedings Source 2: Reno City Clerk — Information on Sealing Nevada Criminal History Records
New Hampshire	Possible in some cases	New Hampshire calls it annulment. A DWI conviction cannot be annulled until 10 years after the conviction date. Petitions are filed in the Circuit Court, District Division.	10 years	Source 1: RSA 265-A:21 — Annulment; Plea Bargaining Source 2: NH Judicial Branch — Annulment (District Division)
North Dakota	Possible in some cases	DUI records are sealed under a DUI-specific law, not the general sealing chapter. You may petition the court that handled the case if you have no new DUI or other criminal conviction within 7 years of the first violation.	7 years	Source: ND Courts — Sealing DUI Records (N.D.C.C. §39-08-01.6) research guide
Oklahoma†	Possible in some cases	If you receive a deferred sentence and complete it, the court can dismiss the charge and you can seek expungement under 22 O.S. §991c. Other DUI convictions may be eligible for expungement after waiting periods set by statute.	10 years	Source: OSBI — Criminal History Record Expungement
Utah	Possible in some cases	A Utah DUI conviction can be expunged by petition after a 10-year waiting period, using a Certificate of Eligibility from the Bureau of Criminal Identification. Clean Slate automatic expungement does not cover DUI.	10 years	Source 1: Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification — Expungements Source 2: Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification — Clean Slate Expungement
Vermont†	Possible in some cases	A qualifying DUI misdemeanor can be sealed. The court grants the petition if at least 10 years have passed since you completed your sentence. File a petition with the court.	20 years	Source: Vermont Statutes — Title 13, Chapter 230 (sealing and expungement)
Alabama†	Generally no	A DUI conviction is not generally expungeable in Alabama. Charges that were dismissed, ended in acquittal, or dismissed after a diversion program can be expunged through ALEA’s process.	See guide	Source: ALEA — Criminal Record Expungement
Alaska†	Generally no	Alaska has no general expungement. A judge can set aside a conviction after a successful suspended imposition of sentence, but the conviction stays on your record. Cases set aside that way can be removed from the public CourtView index.	15 years	Source 1: Alaska Court System — PUB-41, Suspended Imposition of Sentence Source 2: Alaska Court System — After Sentencing
Colorado	Generally no	DUI and DWAI convictions cannot be sealed in Colorado. That includes a DUI deferred judgment, even one completed successfully. Dismissed cases and acquittals can be sealed.	Lifetime	Source 1: Colorado Judicial Branch — JDF 611 How to Seal Criminal Conviction Records Source 2: Legislative Council Staff — Sealing and Expunging Criminal Records memo
Delaware†	Generally no	Delaware generally bars expungement of Title 21 motor vehicle offenses, and official sources indicate DUI is among them. Ask a lawyer whether a dismissed case or a completed First Offender Election qualifies.	10 years	Source 1: Delaware Courts — A Guide to Expungement of Adult Record Source 2: Delaware General Assembly — SS 1 for SB 37 (expungement)
Florida†	Generally no	A Florida DUI conviction cannot be sealed or expunged, and the court cannot withhold adjudication for DUI. A case that was dismissed or ended in acquittal may be eligible.	10 years	Source: FLHSMV — Florida DUI and Administrative Suspension Laws
Georgia†	Generally no	Georgia does not allow First Offender treatment for DUI, so a DUI plea or conviction stays on your record and your license is still suspended. Criminal history record restriction is handled by the GBI and generally applies to charges that did not end in a DUI conviction.	10 years	Source 1: Georgia DDS — Traffic Court Reference Manual 2021–2022 Source 2: GBI — Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions
Hawaii†	Generally no	We could not confirm from an official source whether an OVUII conviction can be expunged in Hawaii. Prior convictions count toward enhancement for 10 years. Talk to a lawyer about your record.	10 years	Source: HRS §291E-61 — OVUII
Idaho†	Generally no	Idaho has no expungement for DUI convictions. A court can grant a withheld judgment and later dismiss the case, but the DUI still counts as a prior for 10 years.	10 years	Source: Idaho Code §18-8005
Illinois	Generally no	Illinois law does not allow a DUI conviction, or a DUI court supervision, to be sealed or expunged, with very limited exceptions. The DUI also stays on your driving record permanently.	Lifetime	Source 1: 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 — Expungement and sealing Source 2: Illinois Secretary of State — DUI Fact Book
Maine†	Generally no	Maine’s sealing law covers Class E convictions. OUI is a Class D or higher crime, so an OUI conviction does not appear to qualify. Maine has no general expungement for adult convictions.	10 years	Source 1: 15 M.R.S. §2261 — Sealing definitions Source 2: Maine Judicial Branch — Sealing Your Criminal Record
Massachusetts†	Generally no	An OUI conviction is not expunged in Massachusetts, but it can be sealed. A misdemeanor (a 1st or 2nd OUI) can be sealed 3 years after the conviction or release from custody, whichever is later. Sealing does not erase the RMV record: the RMV still counts every prior OUI.	Lifetime	Source 1: Mass.gov — Find out if you can seal your criminal record Source 2: Mass. RMV — Alcohol and drug suspensions for over 21 years of age
Nebraska†	Generally no	Nebraska has no general expungement for DUI convictions. If you complete probation, you may ask the court to set aside the conviction, which does not erase it or remove it from your driving record.	15 years	Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §29-2264
New Jersey†	Generally no	A DWI is a motor vehicle offense, not a crime, so it does not appear on a criminal record and cannot be expunged. It stays on your MVC driving record and counts for later step-down and repeat-offense calculations.	10 years	Source 1: NJ Attorney General — Sentences and penalties, selected motor vehicle offenses Source 2: NJ Supreme Court — 2014 opinion on the step-down provision
New Mexico	Generally no	DWI convictions are not eligible for expungement under New Mexico’s Criminal Record Expungement Act. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may be eligible.	Lifetime	Source 1: NM Supreme Court — Steps to Filing a Petition for Expungement (Conviction)Source 2: NM Courts — Expungement of Conviction form
New York†	Generally no	New York does not expunge convictions. You can apply to seal up to two eligible convictions (no more than one felony) 10 years after sentencing or release. The Clean Slate Act also seals eligible records automatically: misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8, with courts given until November 2027 to set this up. Sealing does not erase the DMV driving record.	10 years	Source 1: N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law §160.59 Source 2: NY Courts — Clean Slate Act and Criminal Record Sealing
North Carolina	Generally no	A DWI conviction cannot be expunged in North Carolina. The expunction statutes expressly exclude any offense involving impaired driving. A dismissed charge or a not-guilty verdict can be expunged.	7 years	Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-145.5 — Expunction exclusions
Ohio	Generally no	An OVI conviction cannot be sealed or expunged in Ohio. Traffic convictions, including OVI, are excluded from record sealing, and an OVI also blocks sealing other convictions in the same case.	10 years	Source: Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission — Adult Rights Restoration and Record Sealing
Oregon	Generally no	Oregon does not allow a DUII to be set aside under ORS 137.225. That includes a DUII dismissed after diversion. The case stays on your record.	10 years	Source: Oregon Judicial Department — Criminal Set-Aside (Adult Cases)
Pennsylvania†	Generally no	A DUI conviction generally cannot be expunged in Pennsylvania. If you complete ARD, the court can order the ARD case expunged. Some misdemeanor convictions can be sealed from public view through limited access after 7 years without a new conviction.	10 years	Source 1: Pa. R. Crim. P. 320 — Expungement after ARD Source 2: Pennsylvania State Police — Criminal Record Expungement Source 3: 18 Pa.C.S. §9122.1 — Petition for limited access
Rhode Island†	Generally no	Official sources indicate DUI (§31-27-2) and refusal (§31-27-2.1) convictions are not eligible for first-offender expungement in Rhode Island. Ask a lawyer whether any other path applies to your case.	10 years	Source: R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 12-1.3 — Expungement of Criminal Records
South Carolina†	Generally no	A DUI conviction generally cannot be expunged in South Carolina. Dismissed charges and acquittals can usually be cleared.	10 years	Source: SCDPS — SC Laws Relative to Impaired Driving
South Dakota†	Generally no	This guide could not confirm whether a South Dakota DUI conviction can be expunged or sealed. Ask the court clerk or a lawyer whether any option applies to your case.	10 years	Source: SD Unified Judicial System — Criminal Law FAQs
Tennessee	Generally no	A Tennessee DUI conviction cannot be expunged, and DUI is not eligible for pretrial or judicial diversion. A dismissed DUI charge or an acquittal may be expunged. Vehicular assault is also excluded from expunction.	10 years	Source: Tennessee Attorney General — Opinion 05-041 (expungement of DUI)
Texas	Generally no	A DWI conviction cannot be expunged in Texas. A first-time Class B DWI with a BAC under 0.15 may qualify for an order of nondisclosure, which seals the record from most public and employer searches after a waiting period. Dismissals and acquittals can be expunged.	Lifetime	Source: Texas Judicial Branch — Nondisclosure under §411.0736
Virginia†	Generally no	A Virginia DUI conviction cannot be expunged. Expungement covers charges that were dismissed or ended in acquittal. A DUI conviction stays on your DMV driving record for 11 years.	10 years	Source: Virginia DMV — Virginia is TOUGH on drunk and drugged drivers (DMV 168)
Washington	Generally no	A Washington DUI conviction can’t be vacated under RCW 9.96.060. If a DUI charge ends in a conviction for a different offense, such as negligent driving or reckless driving, that conviction may be eligible. A deferred prosecution still counts as a prior for future DUIs.	7 years	Source 1: Chapter 9.96 RCW — Vacating convictions Source 2: Washington Courts — Instructions for vacating a misdemeanor conviction Source 3: Washington DOL — Deferred prosecution
West Virginia†	Generally no	West Virginia’s general expungement law excludes DUI convictions under §17C-5-2, as best we could determine. Dismissed charges and acquittals can usually be expunged.	10 years	Source: W. Va. Code §17C-5-2
Wisconsin†	Generally no	A first-offense OWI is a civil forfeiture, so there is no criminal record to expunge, and it stays on your WisDOT driving record. Wisconsin’s expunction law (§973.015) applies only to certain crimes committed under age 25, and only if the judge orders it at sentencing.	10 years	Source 1: Wis. Stat. §973.015 Source 2: WisDOT — Impaired driving (OWI) in Wisconsin
Wyoming†	Generally no	Official sources reviewed did not confirm that a Wyoming DUI conviction can be expunged. Assume it stays on your record and ask a lawyer about your case.	10 years	Source: Wyoming LSO — Wyoming DUI Provisions (2016)

From each state’s guide, which links the official sources. Educational information, not legal advice. † Still being verified against official sources; check the linked source before relying on it.

Expungement, sealing, nondisclosure, set-aside

States use different words for different amounts of relief. Expungement erases or destroys the record. Sealing (and Texas’s nondisclosure) keeps the record but hides it from the public; courts, police and some licensing boards can still see it. A set-aside or dismissal after probation leaves the conviction on the record but changes how it reads to an employer. The table uses each state’s own word.

Clearing the court record does not usually clear the driving record, and a cleared conviction can still count as a prior for the state’s lookback period. How long a DUI stays on your record covers the three records separately.

Common questions

Can a DUI be expunged?: It depends on the state of conviction. DUI911's state guides show expungement, sealing or a similar remedy as possible in some cases in 21 states and generally not available for a DUI conviction in 29. Even where it is possible there is usually a waiting period after the sentence ends, and repeat offenses are often excluded.
Which states do not allow DUI expungement?: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. In most of these, a dismissal or acquittal can still be cleared; it is the conviction that stays. Several of these states are still being verified, so read the state page and its source.
What is the difference between expungement, sealing and nondisclosure?: Expungement destroys or erases the record. Sealing keeps the record but hides it from the public, usually leaving it visible to courts and police. Nondisclosure (the Texas term) is a form of sealing. A set-aside or dismissal after probation leaves the conviction in place but changes how it reads. Which one your state offers, and who can still see the record, is set by that state’s statute.
Does expungement remove the DUI from my driving record?: Usually not. The criminal record and the driving record are kept by different agencies. Expunging the court case does not normally change what the licensing agency keeps or what an insurer sees, and prior offenses can still count toward a harsher charge for the state’s lookback period.
Can a DUI be expunged if the case was dismissed?: In most states yes, and the waiting period is shorter or there is none. The hard cases are convictions and, in some states, deferred or diversion outcomes that count as convictions for expungement purposes. Your state’s guide says which outcomes qualify.

Read your state’s guide

Every number on this page links to the state guide that explains it, with the official source.

Open your state’s DUI laws (expungement is explained there)

All 50 state guides →

Educational information, not legal advice. Each row comes from that state’s DUI911 guide and the official statute, licensing agency or court page it cites. Laws change and every case is different; confirm the deadline on the paperwork you were given and talk to a licensed attorney in your state.