Ultimately, no. Both terms refer to “drunk driving” or driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The key difference between DUI and DWI is that DUI stands for driving under the influence, while DWI stands for driving while intoxicated or, in some cases, driving while impaired. The reason there are two terms for the same act is that some states prefer to use DUI while others use DWI. That is to say, the act of driving while intoxicated is illegal in all 50 states, but each state refers to the crime in different ways.