# Will a DWI Appear on an Apartment Background Check?

> See how a DWI shows up on a tenant report and check that the outcome is right. A court order may change what the report can show.

URL: https://felonfriendlyapartments.com/guide/does-a-dwi-show-up-on-an-apartment-background-check/

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- Will a DWI Appear on an Apartment Background Check?

GUIDE

# Will a DWI Appear on an Apartment Background Check?

A DWI case can show up on an apartment background check. How it shows up depends on the case outcome, the reporting rules that apply and any court order. Check the actual entry instead of assuming every DWI is reported the same way.

![Person reviewing a background report at a kitchen table](/images/misc/person-reviewing-a-background-report-at-a-kitchen-.webp)

## What this guide covers

- How to match a DWI entry with your own paperwork

- What a nondisclosure order can change on a report

- What we check in the policy that covers your DWI

![Court disposition document on a desk](/images/misc/court-disposition-document-on-a-desk-everyday-sett.webp)

## Figure out what the report says about your DWI

A pending charge, a completed deferred adjudication and a conviction aren't the same thing. Compare the report's case number, offense label, court and disposition with your paperwork. Charges can change during a case, so the original charge isn't always what you were convicted of.

## If you have a nondisclosure order

Keep the signed order and check which case it covers. Nondisclosure limits who can see an eligible record, which makes it different from expunction. An order for one case doesn't cover a different case. If a report shows something that shouldn't be there, send your proof through the screening company's official dispute process.

Our [DWI nondisclosure preparation guide](/guide/dwi-nondisclosure-in-texas/) explains what to bring to a legal appointment. It can't tell you if you're eligible, and it doesn't promise a petition will work.

## What we check in the policy

- If the written policy covers this offense and this outcome.

- Which date the policy counts from.

- If the property will look at a corrected report once your dispute is done.

Checking your own record is good prep, but it won't show you exactly what every screening company will report. See [FTC: tenant background checks and your rights](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/tenant-background-checks-and-your-rights) and the [background report dispute steps](/guide/how-to-dispute-background-check-errors/) for what to do when an entry is wrong.

Published by the Felon Friendly Apartment Team. This is general renter information. Each property makes its own decisions, and questions about your own case belong with a lawyer or legal aid.

RELATED SERVICE

## Apartments for Renters With a DWI

Our help is free to renters. We check how each community's criteria treat your DWI outcome and dates, then talk through the places that may fit.

[See how we help with this record →](/dui-dwi/)

## Common Questions

### Does a DWI show up on an apartment background check?

It can. The outcome, the reporting rules and any court order all change how it's listed. Check the entry against your own court papers.

### Can a DWI be kept off screening reports?

Some DWI cases may qualify for an order of nondisclosure in Texas. That comes down to your sentence, your history and what the law requires. Ask a lawyer or legal aid about your case.

### Does a single DWI rule out most apartments?

There's no single answer. Each property's written criteria cover different offenses, outcomes and dates. We check how each community treats your DWI before you pay to apply.

## Ready to Start Your Apartment Search?

Our help is free to renters. Participating communities may pay our brokerage a referral fee. Tell us what you need, and we'll check each community's criteria against your record.

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## More renter help

[Use renter checklists and budget tools](/renter-resources/) · [Browse the guide library](/guide/)