If his DUI was in CA..... (I can't speak for other states) then it doesn't matter what he says because unless it got pleaded down to a DRY reckless(highly unlikely) then the WET reckless that he has on his MVR is like a flashing red light to insurance companies (they know instantly it was a DUI)......... good news is it was 7 years ago so it won't matter to most starter companies anyway, the other bad news is it won't be purged from his MVR until it's 13 years old and then HE has to call them and ask for a purge (it isn't done "automatically")