How to Check Your Driving Record

To check your driving record, you need to request a copy online through your state's Department of Motor Vehicles, visit a location in person, or send a request by mail. You may be required to pay a fee to get your official records.

Ways to Get Your Driving Record

1. Online: Visit your state’s DMV website to view your driving history online.
2. By Mail: Request a copy of your driving record in the mail.
3. In Person: Go to your local DMV office.

Looking up your driving history can be useful because you can check for possible errors and find out exactly what points or violations are on your record.

How to Check Your Driving Record in Each State 

The easiest and fastest way to check your driving record is through the Department of Motor Vehicles or its equivalent in your state. Many states make driving records available online, but if you need an official record for court or employment, you’ll generally have to order one through the mail or request it in person. Below, we detail the steps you should take. 

Steps to Check Your Driving Record 

1. Go to your state DMV’s website.
2. Provide your personal information in the required fields.
3. Pay any requested fees.
4. Follow the instructions to request an official copy in person or through the mail if your record is unavailable online.

Costs range from about $2 to $25 for official copies of your driving record, depending on the state and the type of motor vehicle record (MVR) requested. Try to avoid getting your driving record from third-party sources, as they usually charge more than your DMV.

The table below shows the state agency where residents in each state can get their driving record.

How to Check Your Driver's License: State Information

Learn more about how to check your driving record.

What Does a Driving Record Show? 

Some details vary by state, but your driving record will generally include: 

• Driver’s license status
• License classifications and endorsements
• Driving points
• DUI/DWI convictions
• Fees and citations owed
• Expiration date of license
• Traffic accidents
• Moving violation convictions and fines
• Safe and defensive driving courses attended

Learn more about how to keep your driving record clean.

What Is Your Driving Record Used For?

Driving records, also known as MVRs (motor vehicle reports) and driving abstracts, can be a factor in background checks, employment decisions, and court proceedings. Insurance companies also look to them to evaluate your driving habits. So it’s important for you to know what’s on your own record.

State privacy laws protect this information. In most cases, anyone who wants to view your data must first receive your permission. If someone like a potential employer wants a copy of your driving record, you must provide written permission with your signature.

In the case of an insurance company, there is an “implied need” that doesn’t require written permission. However, the insurer agrees to keep the information private and to only use the information for business purposes.

As you research your driving record and points, remember that there are other reports available to you that insurance companies refer to when pricing insurance:

• CLUE Report – a summary of your car insurance claims history. 
• Insurance Score – based on your credit history and tailored to the needs of the insurance industry.

How to Improve Your Driving Record 

The best ways to improve your driving record are taking a defensive driving class, trying your best to drive safely moving forward, and fixing citation errors by contacting the state DMV. You can get more details about each below.

1. Fix any errors on your driving record 

After requesting a copy of your driving record, review your personal information and your citations to make sure there are no errors. If you do find incorrect information, you can request a review from your state DMV. In some cases, you may need to schedule a hearing to dispute information on your record.

2. Take a driver-safety class

Many states will permit you to take a class from a certified organization to remove points from your record. In general there are two types of classes you can take depending on your state's system: classes that eliminate a single citation and classes that can improve your driving record.

To eliminate a single citation, some states like Wisconsin allow you to take a traffic safety course within a few weeks of the ticket if you have not taken the course in the previous year. The course will prevent the incident from adding points to your driving record or affecting your insurance rates.

Other states, like New York, allow you to improve your record overall by taking an accident prevention course. You can take the class once every three years even if you don’t have recent violations. After completing the course, up to four points will be removed from your record, and your insurance rates will be reduced by 10% for three years.

3. Work toward being a safer driver 

Although points won’t completely disappear from your driving record, they’ll only be counted for a certain period of time. In the meantime, you can practice safe driving habits to avoid getting tickets altogether, or drive less overall to reduce the possibility of being cited.

As old violations stop getting counted, it pays to shop around for car insurance, since you may qualify for lower rates as your record gets cleaner.

Learn more about how to improve your driving record.

Video: How Your Driving Record Affects Insurance

Ask the Experts

To gain more insight about driving record check, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. Why is it important for drivers to check their driving record?
2. How often should drivers check their driving record?
3. What is the best thing to do if drivers see an error on their driving record?
4. What are the best things drivers can do to improve their driving record?