DUI vs DWI: what's the difference?
States use different names for impaired driving: DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI. The name mostly depends on where you were arrested.
Updated October 2026 · Sources are linked in the text · General information, not legal advice.
Texas: DWI
In Texas, the offense is "driving while intoxicated" under Penal Code §49.04 (Texas Penal Code §49.04 (DWI)). A related license process (ALR) runs separately through DPS, with a 15-day deadline to request a hearing (Texas Transportation Code §524.031).
Other states
California, Florida, Arizona and Georgia call the offense DUI. Some states use more than one term for different levels of the same offense. Whatever the name, the key questions are the same: your test result or refusal, any priors, and the deadlines on your paperwork.
Quick answers
Is a DWI worse than a DUI?
It depends on the state. In some states the terms mean the same thing; in others they're different levels. Your paperwork will say what you're charged with.