A DMV report is an official record issued by a state motor vehicle agency, and it comes in two forms: a driving record that documents you as a licensed driver, and a vehicle history report that documents a specific car. The first tracks your license status, traffic violations, and accidents. The second traces a vehicle’s title, damage, odometer readings, and ownership history. Federal law limits who can pull either one.
What a Driving Record Shows
A driving record, often called a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), is the file your state’s motor vehicle agency maintains on you. A typical record includes:
- Personal details: your full legal name, date of birth, and driver’s license number.
- License status: whether your license is valid, suspended, revoked, or expired, along with any restrictions or endorsements.
- Traffic violations: convictions for offenses like speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence.
- Accident history: reported crashes, regardless of fault.
- Points: demerit points assigned to violations, which states use to trigger suspensions and other penalties.
- License activity: renewal dates, address changes, and completed traffic school or defensive driving courses.
The specifics vary by state. Some states include unpaid parking tickets; others leave them off. Terminology and format differ too, but the core categories above appear in nearly every state’s version.
These records are taken seriously enough that federal regulators require motor carriers to pull each commercial driver’s MVR at least once every 12 months and keep it on file for three years.1Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Driver’s Motor Vehicle Record
How Long Violations Stay on Your Record
Minor infractions like speeding tickets typically remain on your driving record for one to ten years, depending on the state. The points attached to those violations usually expire sooner, often within one to three years, at which point they stop counting toward suspension thresholds. The underlying conviction can still appear on the full record after the points drop off.
Serious offenses linger. A DUI conviction commonly stays on a state driving record for ten years from the date of arrest, and some states keep it permanently. That ten-year window matters because any additional DUI within it triggers harsher penalties, including longer suspensions and steeper fines.
Your DMV driving record is separate from your criminal record. A DUI on your driving record won’t necessarily appear on a criminal background check for housing or employment, and the rules for expunging each type of record are different.
Insurers run on their own clock. Most look back three to five years from the conviction date when setting premiums, regardless of how long your state keeps the violation on file. So even after a ticket drops off your official record, your insurer may still be charging you more for it.
What a Vehicle History Report Shows
A vehicle history report is tied to a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) rather than to a person. The backbone of these reports is the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), a federal database established under 49 U.S.C. § 30502 and administered by the Department of Justice. NMVTIS exists to protect buyers from fraud and keep stolen vehicles from being resold.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 30502 – National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
An NMVTIS report covers five data points:
- Title status: the current state of title and the date it was last issued.
- Brand history: labels applied by state titling agencies that flag a vehicle as “junk,” “salvage,” “flood,” or similar.
- Odometer readings: the latest reported mileage, which helps you spot rollback fraud.
- Total loss history: whether an insurer or self-insuring organization has declared the vehicle a total loss.
- Salvage history: whether the vehicle has been transferred or sold to a junkyard, salvage yard, or auto recycler.
Consumers access NMVTIS data through approved third-party providers listed on the Department of Justice’s website. The Federal Trade Commission recommends running a VIN through one of these providers before buying any used car.4Federal Trade Commission. Used Cars
Commercial services like Carfax and AutoCheck supplement NMVTIS data with information from insurance claims, repair shops, and dealer records, which is why their reports often show more detail. The extras cost more, but the NMVTIS data alone catches the most dangerous red flags.
Who Can Legally Access Your Records
Your driving record contains personal information, and federal law restricts who can see it. The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 2721, bars state motor vehicle agencies from disclosing your personal information except for specific approved purposes.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2721 – Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information From State Motor Vehicle Records
Under the DPPA, “personal information” means your name, address, phone number, Social Security number, driver’s license number, photograph, and medical or disability information. The law does not treat information about your traffic violations, accidents, or license status as “personal information,” which is why those details flow more freely.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2725 – Definitions
The DPPA lists more than a dozen permissible uses. The ones most likely to touch you:
- Government agencies, including courts and law enforcement, can access records for official functions.
- Insurance companies can pull records for claims investigations, fraud prevention, and underwriting.
- Employers (or their agents) can obtain or verify information about CDL holders as required by federal law.
- Parties to a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding can access records for purposes like serving process or investigating a claim.
- Businesses can verify DMV information you’ve submitted, but only for fraud prevention, debt recovery, or pursuing legal remedies.
Random individuals cannot walk into a DMV and pull your driving record out of curiosity. Someone who obtains your records outside the DPPA’s approved uses faces civil liability. You can always request your own record without restriction.
When an employer uses a consumer reporting agency to pull your driving record for a background check, the Fair Credit Reporting Act kicks in as well. The employer needs your written consent first, and if they decide not to hire you based on what they find, they must tell you and identify the agency that provided the report.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
How to Request a DMV Report
Driving Records
To request your own driving record, you’ll need your full legal name, date of birth, and driver’s license number. Start at your state’s motor vehicle agency website. Most states offer an online portal for instant or near-instant access, and you can also request a copy by mail or in person.
Fees vary widely by state and method. Online requests are generally cheaper than mailed or in-person requests. Some states charge only a couple of dollars for an electronic copy; certified or notarized copies cost more. Online orders usually take credit or debit cards; mailed requests typically take checks or money orders.
Processing times also depend on the method. Online requests often deliver results immediately or within a few business days. Mailed requests can take two to four weeks, sometimes longer if the agency needs to verify information.
Vehicle History Reports
For a vehicle history report, you need the vehicle’s VIN. You’ll find it on the driver’s side dashboard near the windshield, on the registration card, or on the title. The Department of Justice maintains a list of approved NMVTIS providers at vehiclehistory.gov; you enter the VIN, pay the provider’s fee, and get the report.4Federal Trade Commission. Used Cars
If you want a more detailed report with insurance claim history and repair records beyond what NMVTIS covers, commercial providers offer expanded reports at a higher cost. Either way, the VIN is the only piece of information you truly need.
How to Fix Errors on a DMV Report
Mistakes happen. A violation might be attributed to the wrong person, an accident entry might list incorrect details, or a resolved suspension might still show as active. Catching errors matters because they can raise your insurance rates or cost you a job.
Start by getting a current copy of your driving record and reviewing every entry. If something looks wrong, contact your state’s motor vehicle agency directly. Most states have a formal dispute or correction process that requires a written request with supporting documentation, such as court records showing a ticket was dismissed, a police report clarifying fault in an accident, or proof that a suspension was lifted. Follow up in writing and keep copies of everything.
If the error appears on a report that an employer or insurer pulled through a consumer reporting agency, the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you more leverage. You can dispute inaccurate information directly with the reporting agency, which must then investigate and either correct or delete unverifiable information within 30 days.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681i – Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy
If an employer took adverse action against you based on inaccurate report data, they were required to give you the name and contact information of the reporting agency beforehand. You’re entitled to a free copy of that report, and if the agency or employer violated the FCRA, you may have grounds to sue in state or federal court.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act