No, there is not any state that is not part of the National Driver Register (NDR). All states within the United States will check the NDR if you apply for or apply to renew a driver’s license.
The NDR database keeps information on drivers whose licenses have been revoked, suspended, canceled or denied, or convicted of serious traffic-related offenses.
- Every state checks the National Driver Register database.
- When a person applies for a driver’s license, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or state licensing agency must check the NDR.
- With a license suspension in one state, you should be listed on this national database.
Does any state not check the NDR (National Driver Register)?
All 51 U.S. jurisdictions provide this information. If you have a hold on your license in one state, it will show up on the NDR when any other state checks it.
In every state, when a person applies for a driver’s license, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or state licensing agency must check the National Driver Register database to determine if the applicant has been identified as a problem driver in another state.
If a match is found in the NDR, state officials are directed to another state DMV system for details on the traffic conviction or status of the license.
Why do DMVs check the NDR?
It is a federal requirement that the DMV check applicants against NDR. This federal government mandate intends to prevent problem drivers from shopping around for a license.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the administrator of the NDR. The National Driver Register (NDR) manages the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS), a computerized database that tracks individuals whose driving privileges have been revoked, suspended, canceled or denied, or who have been convicted of serious traffic violations.
The NDR records include identification details such as name, date of birth, gender, driver’s license number and the reporting state. When an NDR search is conducted, the PDPS directs the State of Inquiry (SOI) to the State of Record (SOR), where the individual’s driving status and history are stored.
How to check the NDR’s Problem Driver Pointer System
Since all 50 states within the United States (and the District of Columbia) look at the Problem Driver Pointer System and National Driver Register when a person applies for a driver’s license or is trying to renew a license, you will need to work out your problems, suspension in your case, with your current state to get a valid driver’s license again in your current state or any other state.
With a license suspension in one state, you should be listed on this national database. If you are curious about your status, input the following information into the PDPS site:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Driver’s license number
- Reporting state
Typically, if your license is suspended in one state, you must correct the problem in that state and get that license reinstated before you apply and obtain a new driver’s license in another state. States will allow you to exchange an out-of-state license for a new one when you move to a state within the U.S., but the driver’s license you are turning in must be valid.
If your driver’s license was wrongfully suspended in your current state, work to get the suspension overturned or lifted. Once your driver’s license is no longer suspended, any hold on your license listed on the NDR should be taken off so that you can get a license in another state if you have moved.
Resources & Methodology
Source
U.S. Department of Transportation’s NHTSA. “National Driver Registry FAQ.” Accessed December 2024.
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