Sealing and expungement · Florida
Will a DUI stay on your record forever in Florida?
With Sabrina Jadunandan, Orlando DUI defense attorneyDuration 0:29Reviewed 2026-08-12
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Can a Florida DUI be sealed or expunged from your record?
No — not once the case resolves as a DUI. Florida law requires an adjudication of guilt on a DUI, and §943.059 and §943.0585 make anyone who has been adjudicated guilty ineligible to seal or expunge that record. The conviction stays visible. What a DUI attorney can work toward is a resolution that is not a DUI conviction, which is what preserves the possibility of sealing or expunging the record later.
What this video covers
- Why a DUI carries an automatic adjudication of guilt
- Why adjudication blocks sealing and expungement
- How the case outcome affects future eligibility
Full transcript
Will a DUI stay on your record forever? 100%. And the reason why is the Florida statute requires an automatic conviction of guilt when you resolve your case with a DUI. And that means you're not eligible for a sealing or expungement if that's something you wish to pursue. And that's why it's so important to have a DUI attorney, because we may be able to find ways to give you an opportunity to seal or expunge your record in the future. Much love from the DUI gal.
Florida law and sources
- Florida Statute §316.193 — Driving under the influenceFlorida Legislature
- Florida Statute §943.059 — Court-ordered sealing of criminal history recordsFlorida Legislature
- Florida Statute §943.0585 — Court-ordered expunction of criminal history recordsFlorida Legislature
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Keep reading
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Which records can be sealed or expunged, and what disqualifies you.
Florida DUI penalty chart
See the minimum sanctions a Florida DUI conviction carries.
The information on this website is for general information only and is not legal advice.