Texas Record Guide
How Long Does a DWI Stay on Your Record in Texas?
The blunt answer: forever, on its own. Texas criminal records don't expire, age off, or clear themselves after seven or ten years — that's a myth borrowed from credit reporting. But 'forever' has two legal exits, and more Texans qualify for them than know it.
Why a DWI doesn't fall off by itself
There is no automatic aging-off of criminal records in Texas. A DWI arrest and its outcome stay in DPS's criminal history database, the county's court records, and commercial background databases indefinitely. The seven-year figure people cite comes from FCRA limits on reporting certain older non-conviction information in some contexts — convictions can be reported without time limit.
So a 2009 DWI shows up in a 2026 background check exactly as prominently as a recent one, unless a court has ordered it expunged or sealed.
Exit one: expunction (if you weren't convicted)
If your DWI was dismissed, you were acquitted, or you were arrested and never charged, the arrest can be expunged — erased entirely — on the standard timelines. A DWI reduced to a different charge requires reading the plea papers, since the structure of the plea determines what relief the original arrest allows.
Exit two: nondisclosure for first-time convictions
Since 2017, Texas allows many first-time DWI convictions to be sealed with an order of nondisclosure. The core requirements: it was your first DWI, your BAC was under 0.15, the incident involved no accident with another person, and you've completed your sentence plus the waiting period — two years if you had an ignition interlock for at least six months, five years otherwise.
Sealing hides the conviction from employers, landlords, and background check companies; law enforcement and certain licensing agencies retain access. Thousands of eligible Texans haven't used this law simply because they don't know it exists — it's newer than their conviction.
Common questions
Does a DWI come off your record after 10 years in Texas?
No — Texas records never expire on their own. The only ways off are expunction (for non-convictions) or an order of nondisclosure (for qualifying first-time convictions).
Can employers see a 15-year-old DWI?
Yes, if it was a conviction and hasn't been sealed — convictions can be reported indefinitely. A sealed DWI stops appearing on private background checks regardless of age.
What disqualifies a DWI from being sealed?
A BAC of 0.15 or higher, an accident involving another person, a prior DWI or other disqualifying history, or an incomplete waiting period. If sealing is off the table, we'll say so plainly at the free review.
Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Texas law, not legal advice about your case, and reading it does not create an attorney‑client relationship. Eligibility depends on the complete details of your criminal history — get a free case review for a definitive answer.
Find out if your record can be cleared
Free, confidential case review. Most eligibility checks take less than 15 minutes.