To request your driving record, contact your state’s motor vehicle agency, which offers copies online, by mail, or in person for a fee that typically runs between $2 and $25. Online requests are usually the fastest, often delivering a printable copy within minutes of payment. Knowing how to request your driving record also means knowing which version to ask for, what it will contain, and how to read it once you have it.
Decide Which Version You Need
Most state motor vehicle agencies issue two versions of a driving record. A non-certified (or “unofficial”) copy is a basic printout of your driving history. It works for checking your own record for accuracy, reviewing your point balance, or handing a copy to your insurance agent.
A certified record is stamped or sealed by the issuing agency as an officially verified document. Courts require certified copies when your driving history is introduced as evidence, and some employers or government agencies insist on one. Certified records typically cost a few dollars more. Before you pay, ask whoever needs the record whether a certified copy is required. If no one has asked for one, the standard record is usually enough.
Request It From Your State’s Motor Vehicle Agency
Every state handles driving records through its own agency, which might be called the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Department of Licensing, or something similar. Search your state’s agency website for “driving record” or “motor vehicle record.” You’ll generally need your full name, date of birth, and driver’s license number. Some states also ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Online
Online portals are the fastest route. You’ll typically create an account or verify your identity, choose the type of record you want, pay by credit or debit card, and either view the record immediately or download a PDF. Many states deliver the record within minutes. If you need a certified copy, some states will mail a physical version after you complete the online request.
By Mail
Download the request form from your state agency’s website, fill it out, and send it with a copy of your ID and payment (usually a check or money order) to the address on the form. Expect roughly two to three weeks from the date you mail the request, though processing times vary.
In Person
Walk-in service is available at most motor vehicle offices. Bring your driver’s license or state-issued ID and a form of payment. Staff will process your request on the spot, and you can usually walk out with a printed copy the same day. In-person visits tend to accept the widest range of payment methods, including cash.
What It Costs
Fees depend on your state, the type of record, and how many years of history you want. Standard electronic records range from as low as $2 in a handful of states to around $25 in the most expensive ones, with the majority falling between $5 and $15. Certified copies and extended histories covering seven or more years typically cost a few dollars extra. Mail-in and walk-in requests sometimes carry different fees than online orders. Check your state agency’s website for the exact amount before you submit.
Be cautious with third-party websites that promise to pull your driving record for you. These sites often charge $20 to $40 or more for a record you could get directly from your state for a fraction of the price. Some look convincingly official, using names or web designs that mimic a government agency. Always go to your state’s actual motor vehicle website to place the request.
What Your Record Will Show
A driving record, sometimes called a motor vehicle report or MVR, summarizes your history behind the wheel.1Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Driver’s Motor Vehicle Record Specifics vary by state, but most records include:
- Personal details: your full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and current license status (valid, expired, suspended, or revoked).
- Traffic violations: tickets for speeding, running a red light, reckless driving, and similar offenses, with dates and outcomes.
- Points: most states assign a point value to each violation, and accumulating too many within a set period can trigger higher insurance premiums, mandatory driving courses, or license suspension.
- Accidents: crashes you were involved in, whether or not you were at fault, typically with dates and basic details.
- Suspensions and revocations: any period when your driving privileges were restricted or taken away, along with the reason.
Out-of-state violations may appear too. Under the Driver License Compact, an agreement among 47 states and the District of Columbia, the state where you received a moving violation reports it to your home state, which then treats the offense as if it happened on local roads.2CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts. Driver License Compact Parking tickets and equipment infractions generally aren’t included.
Check It for Errors
Once you have the record, read it carefully. Look for violations you don’t recognize, accidents attributed to you that involved a different driver, incorrect personal details, or a license status that doesn’t match your understanding. Errors happen more often than you’d expect: a transposed license number, a clerk entering the wrong name at a traffic court, or an out-of-state conviction matched to the wrong person.
If something looks wrong, contact your state’s motor vehicle agency and ask about their dispute process. You’ll typically need to submit a written request identifying the specific error and provide supporting documents such as a court disposition showing a charge was dismissed, an accident report listing a different driver, or proof that a suspension was lifted. Keep copies of everything you send, and follow up if you don’t hear back within a few weeks. Fixing a driving record error before it reaches an employer’s background check or an insurance quote is far easier than undoing the damage after the fact.
Who Else Can Pull Your Record
Federal law restricts who can access your driving record without your permission. The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act bars state motor vehicle agencies from releasing your personal information to just anyone who asks. Exceptions cover specific groups, including government agencies, courts, and law enforcement carrying out official duties. Insurers can access records for claims investigations and underwriting. Businesses can verify information you submitted to them, but only for fraud prevention or debt recovery.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2721 – Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information From State Motor Vehicle Records If someone obtains or uses your record in violation of the DPPA, you can sue for damages. Courts must award at least $2,500 in liquidated damages per violation, plus attorney’s fees, and can add punitive damages if the violation was willful or reckless.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2724 – Civil Action
Employers who want to check your driving history as part of a hiring decision must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Before ordering the report, the employer has to give you a written disclosure stating they intend to obtain it, and you have to authorize the request in writing.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681b – Permissible Purposes of Consumer Reports That disclosure must stand on its own as a separate document, not buried in an employment application full of other waivers.6Federal Trade Commission. Background Checks on Prospective Employees: Keep Required Disclosures Simple
If the employer decides not to hire you based partly on what the record shows, the FCRA requires them to send you a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and a summary of your rights, then wait a reasonable period (generally at least five business days) before making a final decision. If they go ahead with the rejection, they must send a final notice identifying the reporting agency and informing you of your right to dispute the report’s accuracy.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681b – Permissible Purposes of Consumer Reports That window is your chance to correct bad data before it costs you a job.