You should make it a habit to check your driving record about once a year. You can do this by requesting a copy through your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This can usually be done online, though occasionally you may be required to submit a request in writing. You’ll probably have to pay a small fee, depending on the state.
The insurance agent who handles your car insurance may also be able to get a copy of your driving record, so check with them.
The reason you want to check your driving record periodically is to make sure everything is accurate. Insurance carriers base your rates on your driving record. If the DMV has given you points for moving violations or other infractions, insurance companies take note and your rates will be higher. Sometimes there are errors or these violations linger longer than they should, and you can work to correct the errors.
Read on to find out all the details about checking your driving record.
- You should check your driving record periodically, because your insurance rates are largely based on your record.
- You can obtain a copy of your driving record from the DMV and sometimes from your insurance agent.
- If you find any errors, work to correct them.
How to check your driving record
- Start by calling your insurance carrier: Some insurance companies will provide a copy of your driving record for free or the same fee the DMV would charge. This might be the easiest route, so asking doesn’t hurt. If not, you’ll have to turn to the DMV.
- Go to your state’s DMV website: Most states have an option to request your driving record online. You’ll need to have your driver’s license number ready. Some states require you to fill out a form. There will most likely be a small fee of $2-10.
- Decide what kind of driving record you need: For instance, Massachusetts gives you two options: an “unattested” driving record, which is used for personal informational purposes, or a “true and attested” driving record, which is signed by the registrar and can be used for official and court purposes.
- Once you receive your report, review it for accuracy: Your report will contain any tickets, moving violations, suspensions, DUIs, points and driving courses taken. Occasionally there will be errors, such as someone else’s accident being listed under your name.
What’s on your driving record?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, below is a list of items commonly listed on your driving record (beyond driver’s license status, license classification and defensive driving courses completed):
- DUI/DWI convictions
- Traffic accidents
- Moving violation convictions, including for speeding, and related fines
- Fees and citations owed
- License status and expiration
- Points assessed for driving violations
- Defensive driver courses taken
Why do insurance companies look at your driving record?
Authorities like your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) add points to your record to assess your worthiness to drive, which is seen as a privilege. Insurers want to know if you have points on your record and, if so, how you got them to determine how risky you are as a driver.
If you have moving violations on your driving record, insurance companies will consider you a high-risk driver. Claims cost insurers money, so insurers charge high-risk drivers more to help cover the anticipated higher cost of covering that driver. Tickets and points on your record affect your car insurance policy.
How to get a copy of your driving record
You should pay attention to your record as much as the insurers. You can get a copy of your driving record, or MVR (motor vehicle report), through your state’s DMV or the driver’s licensing agency.
William F. Harris, an independent insurance agent in the Los Angeles area, says your insurer may provide your current record. Others may handle the paperwork but charge you the same fee the DMV requires.
“Just ask,” says Harris. “Most agents I know of will help you get that information.”
Harris suggests checking your driving record regularly—perhaps as often as once a year. Avoid third parties (many operate online) that offer to provide your record for an additional fee.
Wrong information? Here’s how to fix your driving record
If you find incorrect information on your driving record, there are a few things you can do. Contact your insurance company if you have a surcharge attributed to a driver other than yourself, one not listed on your policy. The insurance carrier can help to get that cleared.
If you have any citations or convictions you feel were wrongly decided that ended up on your record, you can dispute these. The DMV in each state has a department where you can file a dispute form. You’ll need your identifying information such as name, driver’s license number and vehicle involved when filling out the form. Follow all instructions they give from that point forward. Then it’s a waiting game.
How long do tickets and violations stay on your record?
It varies from state to state and depends on how severe the violation is. Speeding tickets typically mar your driving record in most states for three years, but a DUI can remain for several more.
In California, a speeding ticket usually stays for three years, but a DUI remains for ten In Tennessee, a DUI is on your driving record forever, and in Florida, it takes 75 years before removal. In general, and in most states, a citation will remain for three to seven years.
How much do your rates increase for a ticket resulting in a conviction?
That varies, but a first DUI offense can raise it by 90%, according to an analysis by CarInsurance.com. The table below shows how much rates rise, on average, for common violations and accidents for full coverage with a $500 deductible.
| Violations | Full Coverage Rate | % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Rate after 1 at-fault accident | $2,979 | 55% |
| Rate after 1 DUI | $3,655 | 90% |
| Rate with poor credit | $3,399 | 77% |
Learn more about how long do points stay on NJ driving record
Auto insurance for high-risk drivers
You can still get insurance if you have a poor driving record, categorizing you as a high-risk motorist. The most obvious drawback is that a high-risk driver insurance policy will be more expensive, perhaps more if you have a significant DUI violation within six or 12 months.
If you’ve been busted for a moving violation, you can still save on car insurance by comparing car insurance companies. No two insurers charge the same amount for the same coverage, so you can overpay if you don’t shop around.
For example, rate hikes vary by as much as 25 percent among the following companies after a conviction for exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 miles per hour:
- State Farm – 12%
- Allstate – 14%
- Nationwide – 17%
- Farmers – 23%
- Progressive – 30%
- Geico – 37%
If you have trouble finding a company that will sell you a policy, here are some of the car insurance companies that work with high-risk drivers and may insure you:
The General, a subsidiary of American Family Insurance
- Titan Insurance, a subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance
- Dairyland Insurance, a subsidiary of Sentry Insurance
- Geico Casualty, the high-risk branch of Geico
- Infinity Insurance
- SafeAuto Insurance
Your driving record isn’t the only motorist report insurers check
Insurance companies check your driving record and use that to determine your insurance premiums, but they also look at other things.
Insurance companies also use the following reports when deciding what you pay for coverage:
CLUE report: This is a summary of your car insurance claims history. If a car insurance company has done any of the following and you want to review the accuracy of this, you can get a free copy by filling out a form at consumerdisclosure.com:
- Denied you insurance
- Increased your rates
- Limited your coverage
- Cancelled your policy
Insurance score: This report is compiled by your car insurance company based on your credit history. The exception is for drivers in California, Massachusetts and Hawaii — states that don’t allow insurance companies to use credit information when pricing insurance.
In conjunction with these reports, insurance companies then factor in your age, gender, the city where you live and the make and model of your car to determine your premiums.
Ways to improve your driving record
You can improve your driving record by trying a few things.
- Check your driving record and make sure it’s accurate. Request a copy of your record from your insurance company or the DMV. Work to correct any errors you find. Do this right away. This is your best bet.
- Always drive safely and obey all traffic rules. Just one speeding ticket can make your insurance rates jump up significantly. Safe driving is the key.
- If you do get a speeding ticket or other violation and you think it was unfair, you can fight it. This can prevent it from going on your record. Fill out the “request for a hearing” option on the speeding ticket which will get you a court date to fight the ticket. For anything that ends up on your record that seems like an error, fill out a dispute form with the DMV.
- Think about taking a defensive driving course. In some states, this can help
Resources & Methodology
Sources
Mass.gov. “Request a driving record.” Accessed April 2024.
Methodology
In 2024, CarInsurance.com pulled rates from Quadrant Information Services for 40-year-old male and female drivers with full coverage insurance with 100/300/100 liability limits and $500 comprehensive/collision deductibles. The Auto Problems Report comprises data from 51 states, 548 cities, 1,467 ZIP codes, 202 companies and 5,000,736 car insurance quotes.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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