What is a clean driving record?

A clean driving record is a motor vehicle record (MVR) with no moving violations, accidents, driving-related convictions, or points during a specified amount of time. The length of time that drivers need to stay clear of such issues in order to have a clean driving record depends on the state and the purpose of the record check.

Many insurance companies only look back three years, whereas certain employers may disqualify candidates with a DUI from seven years ago.

What Having a Clean Driving Record Looks Like

• No moving violations
• No at-fault accidents
• No driving-related criminal convictions
• No points from the past 3-7 years

Insurance companies and employers are more forgiving of smaller violations like speeding tickets. As a result, one speeding ticket over a three-year period will have a smaller impact on your insurance premium than multiple infractions or a serious conviction like a DUI.

What a Clean Driving Record Means

Having a clean driving record will help you pay lower rates for car insurance since your driving history is one of the main things insurers take into account when calculating your premium. Your insurance rate is based on how likely insurance companies think you are to file a claim and cost them money, so a clean driving record suggests that you are a safe driver and therefore less likely to get into an accident.

In addition, a clean driving record keeps you on good terms with your state’s DMV, since states suspend or revoke the licenses of drivers with severe or repeated offenses. For instance, states like Rhode Island and Washington automatically suspend the licenses of those convicted of a DUI.

Finally, a clean driving record is also useful if you are applying for a job that requires driving in a professional capacity.  

How to Get a Clean Driving Record

1. Practice good habits behind the wheel 

Avoiding accidents and moving violations by being a safe driver is the best way to get a clean driving record and prevent your premiums from rising. 

2. Attend traffic school 

In certain states, you can remove tickets or points from your record by attending traffic school for an eligible offense. Depending on the offense, you might even prevent insurance companies from ever seeing a ticket or violation.

With certain insurers and states, points or tickets can also disqualify you from a good driver discount. So, attending traffic school to erase points might allow you to keep or get this discount, too.

 3. Keep track of your points

If you don’t have a clean driving record, keeping track of when offenses fall off your record and getting new quotes for insurance after your record improves can help you save on auto insurance coverage. You can usually check your driving record on your state DMV’s website, or you can request an official copy in the mail.

How to See If You Have a Clean Driving Record

Driving records are available via state DMVs in the form of a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), which insurance companies access when you get a quote or renew your policy. If you’ve recently gotten a ticket, been in an accident, or had your insurance rates increase, it might be worth checking your own MVR for errors and to see how long your offenses will continue to affect you. Most state DMVs allow you to request your own MVR on their website for a small fee.