The California DMV Mandatory Actions Unit is the division that enforces license suspensions and revocations the law requires automatically after a DUI conviction, a chemical test refusal, a fatal or serious-injury crash, or certain accumulations of violations. You can reach it directly at (916) 657-6525.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. Exemption Requests Most business with the unit happens by phone or mail rather than at a field office.
What the Unit Actually Does
The unit applies suspensions and revocations that California treats as automatic consequences of specific offenses. Once a court reports a qualifying conviction or the DMV receives chemical test results at or above the legal limit, the action goes on your record without any weighing of individual circumstances. A judge can’t override it. The DMV can’t waive it because you need to drive to work. The lengths are set by statute, and the unit’s job is to apply them the same way statewide.
Two tracks run in parallel. Vehicle Code Section 13352 requires the DMV to suspend or revoke a license the moment it receives a court record of a DUI conviction.2California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 13352 – Suspension or Revocation of Driving Privilege Section 13353.3 sets up a separate administrative per se suspension based on the chemical test alone, which can hit before the criminal case is resolved.3California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 13353.3 – Suspension of Privilege to Operate Motor Vehicle The unit also processes actions from fatal and serious-injury collisions under Section 13800.4California Department of Motor Vehicles. Fatal and Serious Injury Accidents
The 10-Day Deadline to Request a Hearing
If you were arrested for DUI, the clock that matters most starts on the arrest date. You have 10 calendar days to contact the DMV and request an administrative per se hearing. Request it in time and your driving privilege stays intact until the hearing officer issues a decision. Miss the window and the suspension takes effect automatically 30 days after your arrest, with no right to contest the administrative action.
The hearing is not part of your criminal case. A hearing officer looks at whether the officer had reasonable cause for the stop, whether the arrest was lawful, whether your blood alcohol concentration was 0.08% or higher, and whether the chemical test was properly administered. Winning blocks the administrative suspension only; it doesn’t affect what the criminal court does. You request the hearing by calling the Mandatory Actions Unit at (916) 657-6525.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. Exemption Requests
How Long the Suspension Will Last
Length depends on the offense and your prior record. For DUI convictions under Vehicle Code Section 23152:
- First conviction: six-month suspension.
- Second conviction within 10 years: two-year suspension.
- Third conviction within 10 years: three-year revocation.
- Fourth or later conviction: four-year revocation.
DUI causing injury runs longer. A first offense with injury is a one-year suspension; a second or subsequent offense with injury can reach a three-year or five-year revocation.2California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 13352 – Suspension or Revocation of Driving Privilege
Administrative per se suspensions run on their own schedule. A first violation is a four-month suspension. A second within 10 years is a one-year suspension.3California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 13353.3 – Suspension of Privilege to Operate Motor Vehicle These can overlap with a court-ordered suspension from the criminal case, but they are technically independent.
Calling the Unit
The number is (916) 657-6525.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. Exemption Requests Hold times run long, especially early in the week. The unit offers an automated callback so you don’t have to wait on the line. Once you’re through the general DMV menu, choose the options specific to mandatory suspensions.
Have your California driver license number ready. You’ll also need your full legal name as it appears on your record, your date of birth, and any court case numbers from the offense that triggered the action. Knowing the court and county speeds up the technician’s search for the reporting documents.
If you’re not sure what’s on your record, request a copy of your driving record through the DMV online portal for $2.5California DMV. Request Your Driver’s Record By mail, use form INF 1125 for $5.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Termination of Action for Out-of-State Residents Confirm your mailing address is current before you start; official notices go by mail, and a stale address can cost you a deadline.
What You Need to Reinstate
Reinstating after a mandatory suspension means proving you’ve met every condition attached to the action. One missing form or a wrong number can push the whole thing back.
SR-22 Insurance Certificate
Most DUI-related reinstatements require an SR-22, formally called a California Insurance Proof Certificate. It isn’t a separate policy. It’s a form your insurer files with the DMV certifying you carry at least the required minimum coverage, transmitted electronically. If your coverage lapses while the requirement is active, the insurer notifies the DMV and your license is suspended again.7California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Driver’s Handbook – Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions Insurers typically charge $15 to $50 to file it, on top of higher premiums.
DUI Program Enrollment or Completion
You’ll need proof that you’re enrolled in or have completed a licensed DUI education program. The program provider sends this to the DMV electronically using a Notice of Completion Certificate (DL 101) or a Proof of Enrollment Certificate (DL 107). Don’t submit form DL 804 yourself unless the DMV specifically asks for it.8Department of Motor Vehicles. Participant’s Certification of DUI Program Enrollment or Completion Programs run from three months for a first offense up to 30 months for repeat offenders.
Ignition Interlock Verification
If your offense requires an ignition interlock device, a certified installer completes a Verification of Installation form (DL 920) and submits it to the DMV.9California Department of Motor Vehicles. Statewide Ignition Interlock Device Pilot Program Make sure the installer enters the correct court case number and DMV file number. Errors there cause rejections that extend the time you can’t drive.
Reinstatement Fees
The standard reissue fee is $55. An administrative per se reissue fee is $125.10California Department of Motor Vehicles. Reissue Fees If child support actions are also on your record, add a $15 Department of Social Services fee.11California Department of Motor Vehicles. Reinstating a Driver’s License That Is Suspended or Revoked These can be paid through the DMV’s virtual office.
Once the department has everything, allow processing time before checking status. When the technician updates your record, a formal notice comes by mail confirming your privilege is restored. Keep that notice in your vehicle until your new card arrives.
Restricted Licenses During Suspension
A mandatory suspension doesn’t always mean zero driving. California has restricted options that let you drive under limited conditions while the suspension runs.
For DUI offenders, the common path is an IID-restricted license, which allows driving anywhere as long as an ignition interlock is installed in every vehicle you operate. Before applying, you must serve any required hard suspension period during which no driving is allowed at all, enroll in a DUI program, file an SR-22, and have the IID installed.9California Department of Motor Vehicles. Statewide Ignition Interlock Device Pilot Program
Drivers under 21 whose suspension comes from an administrative per se action have a separate “Critical Need” restriction under Vehicle Code Section 13353.8. It’s harder to get. You have to prove that every alternative form of transportation is genuinely impossible, not just inconvenient. The DMV weighs transit schedules, ride services, and household members with licenses. Applications use form DS 694, an SR-22 filing, and supporting documentation such as work schedules, maps showing distances to transit stops, and declarations explaining why other options won’t work. The restriction can’t start earlier than the 31st day after the suspension began.12California Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for Critical Need Restriction
Driving While Suspended
Driving on a DUI suspension is a separate misdemeanor under Vehicle Code Section 14601.2. A first conviction carries 10 days to six months in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines. A second within five years runs 30 days to a year and up to $2,000. The mandatory minimum jail time applies even with probation, so there’s no path that avoids at least some time in custody. Your vehicle can also be impounded, and the penalties stack on top of the consequences from the original DUI.
If You’ve Moved Out of State
A California mandatory action can follow you. Many states check California records before issuing or renewing a license, and an unresolved suspension can block you.
Out-of-state residents may qualify for a termination of action, which clears the California hold without requiring in-person completion of California programs. Submit an Application for Termination of Action (DL 4006) with proof of out-of-state residency.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Termination of Action for Out-of-State Residents A separate 1650 waiver is available to non-California residents convicted of DUI or wet reckless in the state. It exempts you from the California DUI program requirement, can only be granted once in your lifetime, prohibits you from driving in California for three years after approval, and can’t be applied for until the full suspension period has run.