{"id":189,"date":"2020-09-14T21:31:14","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T21:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/?p=189"},"modified":"2022-06-30T16:37:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T23:37:13","slug":"what-is-a-driving-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Driving Record? (And How to Check It)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you get into an accident or get a speeding ticket, the incident does not simply disappear by filing an insurance claim or paying a fee. The incident is recorded on your driving record, which stays with the DMV of your state.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#What-Is-a-Driving-Record\" title=\"What Is a Driving Record?\">What Is a Driving Record?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#What-Does-the-Driving-Record-Contain\" title=\"What Does the Driving Record Contain?\">What Does the Driving Record Contain?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#How-Long-Do-Traffic-Violations-Stay-on-Your-Driving-Record\" title=\"How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Driving Record?\">How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Driving Record?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#How-to-Check-Your-Driving-Record\" title=\"How to Check Your Driving Record\">How to Check Your Driving Record<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Why-Should-You-Check-Your-Driving-Record\" title=\"Why Should You Check Your Driving Record?\">Why Should You Check Your Driving Record?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#How-to-Correct-Any-Mistake-in-Your-Driving-Record\" title=\"How to Correct Any Mistake in Your Driving Record?\">How to Correct Any Mistake in Your Driving Record?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#How-to-Get-a-Clean-Driving-Record\" title=\"How to Get a Clean Driving Record?\">How to Get a Clean Driving Record?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Attend-Driving-School\" title=\"Attend Driving School\">Attend Driving School<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Pay-Your-Fines-on-Time\" title=\"Pay Your Fines on Time\">Pay Your Fines on Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Contest-Driving-Tickets\" title=\"Contest Driving Tickets\">Contest Driving Tickets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Wait-it-Out\" title=\"Wait it Out\">Wait it Out<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Check-with-Your-DMV\" title=\"Check with Your DMV\">Check with Your DMV<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#How-Does-Your-Driving-Record-Affect-Your-Insurance-Premiums\" title=\"How Does Your Driving Record Affect Your Insurance Premiums?\">How Does Your Driving Record Affect Your Insurance Premiums?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#The-Insurance-Company\" title=\"The Insurance Company\">The Insurance Company<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Type-of-Violation\" title=\"Type of Violation\">Type of Violation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#State-of-Residence\" title=\"State of Residence\">State of Residence<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/#Being-a-Good-Driver-Can-Benefit-You\" title=\"Being a Good Driver Can Benefit You\">Being a Good Driver Can Benefit You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-Is-a-Driving-Record\"><\/span>What Is a Driving Record?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Also called an MVR or motor vehicle report, a driving record is a document that indicates recent tickets, accidents, license suspensions, and other moving violations. Every driver has a driving record from the minute they granted a driving license.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-Does-the-Driving-Record-Contain\"><\/span>What Does the Driving Record Contain?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A driving record has all the information about you as a driver and also your driving history. Driving records contain information about your:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Driving license status<\/li>\n<li>Expiration date of your driving license<\/li>\n<li>License endorsements\/classifications<\/li>\n<li>Traffic accidents<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alcohol.org\/dui\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DUI<\/a>\/DWI convictions<\/li>\n<li>Driving points<\/li>\n<li>Moving violation convictions<\/li>\n<li>Unpaid fines<\/li>\n<li>Unpaid fees and citations<\/li>\n<li>Defensive driving courses attended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-Long-Do-Traffic-Violations-Stay-on-Your-Driving-Record\"><\/span>How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Driving Record?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your driving record records all traffic violations, right up to your last ticket. Different violations stay on your motor vehicle record for varying periods of time. Parking tickets typically do not show up, however.<\/p>\n<p>Some states maintain a point system that keeps track of your driving violations. Being over a particular number of points can cause your driving license to be suspended or canceled. Each state has different rules, so make sure to check the driving laws in the state where you live.<\/p>\n<p>States like California use a points system and violations like tickets and accidents can remain on your driving record for 3 years and 3 months, while major offenses remain on your record for 13 years.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-to-Check-Your-Driving-Record\"><\/span>How to Check Your Driving Record<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you want to check whether your driving record has any tickets or accidents showing, you can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/how-to-check-my-driving-record\/\">check your record<\/a>\u00a0with the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) or your state. Depending on the state that you live in, you can request a copy of your record either by mail, online or in person.<\/p>\n<p>You can request a copy of your driving record from the DMV. There may be a fee charged by the DMV to obtain an official copy of your driving record. However, several states allow you the option of viewing the unofficial copy of your driving record online free of cost.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why-Should-You-Check-Your-Driving-Record\"><\/span>Why Should You Check Your Driving Record?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is possible for a driving record to contain errors. It might a good idea to check your record occasionally to ensure that it is accurate. For instance, perhaps you went to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/online-driving-traffic-schools\/\">traffic school<\/a>\u00a0to reduce points for a violation, but the course is not reflected in your driving record. Or, it is possible that you may have been marked as being at fault for something that was not your fault. Checking your driving record after an accident is resolved or every year can keep it up to date.<\/p>\n<p>Also, before shopping for your insurance, it is a good idea to check your driving record and check that there are no mistakes. If you have received a few tickets or caused an accident, this will not only reflect in your driving record but also affect your insurance premiums.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, most states have clear rules about how such violations affect your driving license status and racking up too many points can cause your license to be suspended or even canceled.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-to-Correct-Any-Mistake-in-Your-Driving-Record\"><\/span>How to Correct Any Mistake in Your Driving Record?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you do find a mistake in your driving record, it is possible to fix it. If you are involved in an accident, whether an actual collision or a minor misfortune, make sure that you have all the paperwork related to the incident at hand, including court resolutions, insurance judgments, payments, etc.<\/p>\n<p>If you find a mistake in your driving record, contact the DMV immediately and explain the error and how to fix it. Each state has a specific procedure to fix errors in reports. Some DMVs may ask you to submit your dispute in writing, while others may ask you to come in to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-to-Get-a-Clean-Driving-Record\"><\/span>How to Get a Clean Driving Record?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The easiest way to ensure a clean driving record is to drive safely. However, sometimes mistakes can happen and you may wonder how to clean up your driving record. The process for removing violations from your driving record differs from one state to another. Here are a few things that you can do to clean up your driving record:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Attend-Driving-School\"><\/span>Attend Driving School<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you receive a speeding ticket, as an alternative to adding points to your driving record, several states offer the option of attending driving classes or courses.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pay-Your-Fines-on-Time\"><\/span>Pay Your Fines on Time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Left for a long time, fines and penalties pile up and become worse. Before they worsen, ensure that you pay off any pending fines or penalties.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contest-Driving-Tickets\"><\/span>Contest Driving Tickets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It may be worth your while to contest your ticket if you feel that you have a chance. This could mean convincing the court that there were circumstances that you can explain or that you were wrongly named. This can reduce your penalties or maybe even dismiss them completely.<\/p>\n<p>If you decide to contest a ticket, you should try to find a lawyer to help you out.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wait-it-Out\"><\/span>Wait it Out<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In some states, the points from your driving record are removed after a particular period of time. After the time interval has elapsed, the violation should disappear from your record.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check-with-Your-DMV\"><\/span>Check with Your DMV<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In your state, there may be certain ways you can clean up your driving record. Call or visit your local DMV to see if there are any options available in your specific circumstances.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-Does-Your-Driving-Record-Affect-Your-Insurance-Premiums\"><\/span>How Does Your Driving Record Affect Your Insurance Premiums?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most of us are aware that traffic violations not only affect our driving record, but they also mean higher insurance rates. But how long the rate increase will last depend on many factors like:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Insurance-Company\"><\/span>The Insurance Company<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Every insurance company handles violations differently. For minor violations, some companies may go back two years, while others may go back three years from the incident. If you don\u2019t have any violations or accidents for 5 years, most insurance companies offer a good driver discount and if you\u2019re generally a safe driver, some companies even offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/accident-forgiveness-1969982#:~:text=Accident%20forgiveness%20is%20a%20feature,to%20this%20type%20of%20accident.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">accident forgiveness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Type-of-Violation\"><\/span>Type of Violation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The amount of time that the insurance company surcharges your insurance policy depends on the type of traffic violation. DUI and careless driving are among the worst offenses and on average, the insurance rate may increase by around 73% for reckless driving, and 79% for DUI. Failure to stop and speeding could raise the rates by around 20%.<\/p>\n<p>You may have to wait for around 5 years for the violation points to be cleared from your driving record. For violations like DUI, you may have to wait for around 10 years. Most insurance companies can view your entire driving history; however, most of them only surcharge for points that have accrued in the last 5 years.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"State-of-Residence\"><\/span>State of Residence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Depending on your violation and the state you live in, the points usually fall off your driving record in 2-3 years. For example, if you live in Nevada, most points fall off your record in 1 year and if you get a serious violation like a DUI, you will not get any points, but your driving license will be suspended.<\/p>\n<p>While, in California, points for most traffic violations remain on your record for 3 years; however, for DUI or hit-and-run accidents, the points will remain on your record for 13 years.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Being-a-Good-Driver-Can-Benefit-You\"><\/span>Being a Good Driver Can Benefit You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Being a safe driver is extremely important. Always be cautious, alert, and present at the wheel when driving. This will enable you to drive more carefully, and you are far less likely to get into an accident. This will help you maintain lower insurance premiums.<\/p>\n<p>Many insurance companies offer incentives if you are a safe driver. For drivers who have been free of any violations or accidents for 3 to 5 years, some insurance companies offer a good driver discount.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from getting a discount, being a good driver helps to keep you and others safe on the road. You can also take up a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-are-the-5-rules-of-defensive-driving\/\">defensive driving<\/a>\u00a0class if you want to improve your driving skills. Some insurance companies even offer a discount on the defensive driving course, while some offer a discount after you have taken the class.<\/p>\n<p>Your driving record contains all your important personal information and is also a reflection of your driving history. The information in your driving record can affect your financial future. It\u2019s always a good idea to keep an eye on your driving record. The information you have on your record can help to inspire you to be the best driver you can be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you get into an accident or get a speeding ticket, the incident does not simply disappear by filing an insurance claim or paying a fee. The incident is recorded on your driving record, which stays with the DMV of your state. What Is a Driving Record? Also called an MVR or motor vehicle report, &#8230; <a title=\"What is a Driving Record? (And How to Check It)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/what-is-a-driving-record\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about What is a Driving Record? (And How to Check It)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[32,33],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":710,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189\/revisions\/710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}