Every California DMV Form You Need After a DUI (2026 Guide)
After a California DUI you'll deal with roughly seven pieces of paperwork, and the good news is that you personally file surprisingly few of them. The officer hands you a DS 367 Suspension/Revocation Order and temporary license at the arrest, and you request a DMV hearing within 10 days. From there, your insurance company files the SR-22, your DUI program files your enrollment proof, and your interlock installer files the installation certificate. You handle the reissue fee and, if needed, a new license application. This guide walks the forms in the order they'll actually reach you and says plainly who is responsible for each — turning that pile of envelopes into a checklist. For the bigger picture, start with our California DMV SR-22 guide.
TL;DR: The DS 367 starts the clock (30-day temporary license, 10 days to request a hearing). The SR-22 is filed by your insurer, not you — and an SR-26 cancels it if your policy lapses. Your DUI program and interlock installer send their own proofs. You pay the reissue fee (usually the $125 APS fee for a DUI) and, if your license was taken, apply for a new one on a DL 44.
The forms in the order you'll meet them
| Form / document | What it is | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| DS 367 / DS 367M | Administrative Per Se Suspension/Revocation Order and temporary driver license, given at the arrest | Officer issues it; you read the deadlines |
| DMV hearing request | Your request to contest the APS suspension, made to a DMV Driver Safety office | You (or your attorney), within 10 days |
| Order of Suspension/Revocation | The DMV letter confirming your suspension start date, length, and reinstatement requirements | Mailed to you by the DMV |
| SR-22 (California Insurance Proof Certificate) | Proof you carry at least the state minimum liability coverage | Your insurer files it electronically with the DMV |
| SR-26 | The cancellation notice that ends an SR-22 filing | Your insurer files it if your policy lapses or cancels |
| DUI program proof of enrollment | Certificate showing you enrolled in a licensed California DUI program | The program reports it to the DMV |
| IID installation certificate | Proof an ignition interlock device was installed, if required | The installer submits it |
| Reissue fee payment | The DMV fee that actually restores your driving privilege | You, often online |
| DL 44 | Application for a Driver License / ID Card, if you need a new card issued | You, at a DMV office |
| INF 1125 | Request for your own driver record (the 10-year record people call an "H-6") | You, by mail — or request it online |
Now the detail on each.
1. DS 367 / DS 367M — the form that starts everything
When you're arrested for DUI, the officer typically confiscates your physical license and hands you a Suspension/Revocation Order and Temporary Driver License (DS 367 or DS 367M). Two facts on that piece of paper matter more than anything else in the stack:
- It works as a temporary license for 30 days from the date of issue. You are not automatically unlicensed the moment you're arrested.
- You have 10 days to request a DMV hearing. This is the single hardest deadline in the whole process, and missing it means the Administrative Per Se (APS) suspension takes effect without you ever contesting it.
If the officer didn't serve you with a DS 367, the DMV mails the Suspension/Revocation Order to you instead. Either way, the 10-day window runs from service — read the date and act on it.
Remember that the DMV action and the criminal court case are two separate tracks. The DS 367 belongs to the DMV track only; nothing on it resolves your court case. Our California DUI laws explained post covers how the two interact.
2. The DMV hearing request — a phone call, not really a form
There's no single downloadable "hearing request form" you mail in. You (or your attorney) contact a DMV Driver Safety office within 10 days and request an Administrative Per Se hearing, and you can ask for a stay so the suspension doesn't take effect while the hearing is pending. Because the window is short and the hearing is a real legal proceeding, this is the point where a DUI attorney is most worth the call. We're an insurance agency, not a law firm — but this is the deadline people most often miss.
3. Your Order of Suspension/Revocation
Once the APS action is final, the DMV's Mandatory Actions Unit sends a written Order of Suspension/Revocation. It tells you, specifically for your case: when your suspension starts and how long it runs (commonly 4 months for a first DUI, 1 year for a second within 10 years, and separately 1, 2, or 3 years for a first, second, or third chemical-test refusal); whether you're eligible for a restricted or IID-restricted license; and exactly what the DMV requires before it reinstates you.
Keep this letter. Every later step refers back to it. If you've lost yours, the DMV can tell you what's on file.
4. The SR-22 — filed by your insurer, not by you
This is the form clients ask about most, and the reassuring part is that you don't fill it out. An SR-22 (California Insurance Proof Certificate) is a certificate of financial responsibility your insurer files electronically with the DMV to prove you carry at least the required liability coverage. It is not a policy, not a type of insurance, and not a fee you pay the DMV — it's a filing attached to an auto policy.
What California drivers should know:
- California uses the SR-22 form. It does not use FR-44, which exists only in Florida and Virginia.
- The coverage behind it must meet current minimums, which rose to 30/60/15 on January 1, 2025 — $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage.
- You'll usually keep it on file for three continuous years.
- No car? You can still file. A non-owner (operator) SR-22 covers you as a driver without requiring vehicle ownership.
- The filing fee itself is small (often around $25). The cost driver is the high-risk policy underneath it — which is exactly why shopping carriers matters.
All you have to do is buy a policy from a carrier that files SR-22s and tell them you need the filing — we can do it the same day you're covered. More on our SR-22 filing and SR-22 after a DUI pages.
Need the SR-22 part handled today?
We'll compare California's high-risk carriers, write the policy at DMV-compliant limits, and file electronically — often same-day. Call (657) 600-0955 or request a free SR-22 quote.
5. The SR-26 — the form you never want filed
The SR-26 is the mirror image of the SR-22: the notice your insurer sends the DMV when your policy cancels, lapses, or otherwise ends. When the DMV receives one during your required filing period, your driving privilege can be suspended again — and your three-year clock may restart from zero.
So a missed payment isn't a small administrative hiccup; it's the most common way people lose ground after doing everything else right. Set up autopay, keep the card on file current, and call your agent before a due date you can't meet. See What Happens If Your SR-22 Lapses?
6. DUI program enrollment proof
California requires completion of a licensed DUI program. You generally need to be enrolled before you can get a restricted license, and to have completed the program before full reinstatement. You don't send this proof yourself — the program reports your enrollment (and later your completion) to the DMV. Your job is to enroll early, keep attending, and keep your own copy of the certificate in case there's a reporting delay.
7. IID installation certificate
If your case requires an ignition interlock device under SB 1046 (in effect since January 1, 2019), the installer provides the DMV with proof of installation — another form you don't file yourself.
For a first DUI with no injury, the IID is generally optional: roughly 6 months of IID buys an IID-restricted license that lets you drive anywhere, versus a roughly 12-month restricted license limited to work and your DUI program. A first DUI causing injury and a second DUI each carry 1 year; a third carries 2 years, and a fourth or subsequent 3 years. For many first offenders the IID-restricted option is the fastest route back to driving normally. Details on our California ignition interlock page and in How to Get a Restricted License After a DUI.
8. The reissue fee
The last step is money, not paperwork — but people budget for the wrong number, so it belongs on the list. The standard reissue fee is $55, but DUI/APS reinstatements typically require the $125 APS reissue fee instead, plus a small administrative fee of around $15. You can often pay through the DMV's online virtual office. Our California DMV reissue fees explained post breaks down which fee applies when.
9. DL 44 — the driver license application
If your license was revoked rather than suspended, or your card was confiscated, you may need a new one issued — that's the DL 44 (Application for Driver License or Identification Card), completed at a DMV office. Not every DUI case requires it, since many suspensions end with the DMV simply restoring your existing license once the SR-22, program proof, and fee are in. Check your Order of Suspension before making an appointment.
10. INF 1125 — your own driving record (the "H-6")
Drivers often hear they need to pull an "H-6," a 10-year printout of their driving record. That's the informal name; you request your own record online through the DMV or by mailing the INF 1125 (Request for Your Own Records) form with the required fee. Pull it before you shop insurance — knowing exactly what's on your record lets you give carriers accurate information and avoid a quote that gets re-rated upward once underwriting sees the real thing.
The three mistakes that cost people the most time
- Missing the 10-day hearing deadline. It runs from the date on the DS 367, not from your court date.
- Assuming the SR-22 is something you file. It isn't — but nothing moves until you buy a policy and ask the carrier to file it.
- Letting the policy lapse. One SR-26 can undo months of progress.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DS 367 form in California? It's the Suspension/Revocation Order and Temporary Driver License an officer issues at a DUI arrest. It serves as a temporary license for 30 days and starts the 10-day window to request a DMV hearing.
Do I fill out the SR-22 form myself? No. Your insurance company completes and files the SR-22 electronically with the California DMV. You just need a policy that meets current minimum limits and a carrier willing to make the filing.
What is an SR-26? The cancellation notice your insurer files when your SR-22 policy ends. It tells the DMV your proof of financial responsibility has stopped, which can trigger a new suspension and restart your filing period.
How do I get a copy of my California driving record? Request it online through the DMV, or mail form INF 1125 with the required fee. This is the record commonly called an "H-6."
Which reissue fee applies to a DUI? DUI and APS reinstatements typically use the $125 APS reissue fee rather than the standard $55, plus a small administrative fee of around $15.
We'll take one form off your list — permanently
Of everything above, the SR-22 is the one with a three-year tail — and it's the one we handle start to finish: shopping California's high-risk market for the lowest rate you qualify for, writing coverage that meets the 30/60/15 minimums, filing electronically with the DMV (often same-day), and watching your renewals so an SR-26 never gets filed by accident.
Everyone makes mistakes, and this is a process, not a verdict. Call (657) 600-0955 or request your free SR-22 quote and we'll get the filing moving today.
This article is general information, not legal advice. DMV forms, procedures, and fees can change, and every case differs; verify the specifics of your case with the California DMV or a qualified attorney. Woodward Agency is a licensed California insurance agency and is not affiliated with the California DMV.