Driving Records in California

You can order your CA driving record:

What Are Driving Records?

Your driving record shows your driving history in the state. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) refers to these records as driver license records and DMV records.

People often obtain copies of their driving records to:

  • Ensure the information is correct, especially since your driving record may be used to determine your car insurance rates.
  • Monitor for identity theft.
  • Submit to an employer (see Employer, Insurance & Attorney Requests below).
  • Submit to a court when requested.

Types of CA Driver License Records

The CA DMV provides the following types of driving records to perform a California license check:

  • Unofficial: This is the copy you'll see if you order online.
  • Official: You can request this copy in person or by mail.

California also provides instructions on how to request a copy of your own or someone else's National Driver Register (NDR) record check. (See “National Driver Register Records" below for details.)

Info Shown on Your CA Driver Record

Your CA driving record includes information regarding:

  • Traffic tickets and convictions, including DUI.
  • Your driver license status, including whether:
    • Your license is or was ever suspended, revoked, or canceled.
    • You owe any license reinstatement fees.
  • The DMV Point System (See “DMV Points" below).

Your driver record also includes the same kinds of personal information associated with your driver's license, including your:

  • Name and age.
  • Address.
  • Social Security number.

DMV Points

You accumulate driving record points for each driving- and vehicle-related violation. Most offenses stay on your record for either 3 years or 10 years.

3 years:

  • Convictions worth 1 point.
    • These include minor traffic violations or faulty equipment.
  • Car accidents.
    • These stay on for 3 years from the date of the accident.
  • License suspension and revocation.

10 years:

  • Convictions worth 2 points.
    • Examples include DUI and reckless driving.
  • DUI “failure to appear" offenses.
    • All other “failure to appear" or "failure to pay" offenses stay on your record for 5 years.

Learn more about the California Point System at our DMV Point System in California section.

Employer, Insurance & Attorney Requests

While you may want to view your CA driver license record for personal reasons, your driving record might also be requested by an employer, an insurance company, or a court/attorney:

  • Employers – Employers often want to see driving histories of potential employees or those who are required to drive on the job.
  • Insurance companies – Your driving history can be factored into your insurance premiums.
  • Attorneys – Courts or attorneys may request your driving records, especially in­­­­­­ the case of a traffic violation.

DMV Records & Your Car Insurance

Did you know car insurance companies check your driver history when determining your rates?

A less-than-perfect driving history doesn't mean you have to settle for sky-high auto insurance rates. You may be able to keep points off your record by attending a defensive driving course.

Ordering a California Driving Record

Online

You can order an online driver record, but understand online driving records aren't official documents. If you need an official document, order in person or by mail.

To order your unofficial record online:

  • Visit the state's Driver Record Request page.
  • Provide the required information.
  • Pay the applicable fee. (See “Fees for Your CA Driver License Record" below.)

NOTE: You must be a Certified User to use this option. That just means you have to register, which you can do via the state's Certified User Registration page.

In Person

To order your CA driving record in person:

By Mail

To order your driving record by mail:

Mail your request to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Information Release Unit G199
P. O. BOX 944247
Sacramento, California 94244

NOTE: Make sure to write “Certified Driver Record" at the top of the application or written request IF you are requesting an official copy.

Ordering Another Person's Record

California considers driving records public information, but that doesn't mean just anybody can order one for just any reason. You can request the driving history, and the DMV will determine whether you receive it.

Begin the process by completing the Request for Record Information (Form INF 70) and mailing it to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Information Release Unit G199
P.O. Box 944247
Sacramento, CA 94244

Include a check or money order for the appropriate fee. (See “Fees for CA Driver License Records" below).

NOTE: Typically, the DMV does not reveal personal and sensitive information on these records; information such as the person's address and Social Security number will be blacked out. Exceptions might be made in legal situations.

Fees for CA Driver License Records

Fees for driver records in CA are:

  • Online: $2.
  • By mail: $5.
  • In person: $5.

Accepted Methods of Payment

The types of payment accepted will vary based on how you request your record.

Online:

If paying online, you'll need to use either:

  • A major credit/debit card.
  • The system's eCheck feature.

By Mail:

If requesting your CA drivers record by mail, you'll send a check or money order with your request.

In Person:

Your local DMV office accepts:

  • Cash.
  • Check.
  • Money orders.
  • Major ATM/debit cards.
    • Credit cards are NOT accepted.

National Driver Register Records

Essentially, the National Driver Register (NDR) is a national database of “problem drivers"—drivers who've had license suspensions or serious traffic convictions, such as DUI.

NDR drivers records include information from every state that's issued you a driver's license, as long as that state has reported the information to the NDR.

You can order your own NDR driving record check or that of an employee, if you're an employer.

When you order an NDR drivers record check via California's application process, the information goes back 3 years from the inquiry date.

Typically, drivers who've ever had suspensions, revocations, or other serious license issues order NDR driving record checks to make sure the information is correct before applying for a license in another state or interviews for jobs that require driving.

Your Own Record

You do not need a request form to order your own record.

Just submit a notarized written request to the Department of Transportation's National Driver Register at:

National Driver Register
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Your request must include your:

  • Full legal name and date of birth.
  • State and driver's license number.
  • Sex, height, weight, and eye color.

Your Social Security number is optional.

Your NDR driving record check is free of charge.

Employer Requests

To order a request for the drivers record of a current or prospective employee:

  • Complete a Request for NDR Record Check (Form INF 1301A). Read all of the instructions carefully, but pay special attention to:
    • Having the driver authorize the record check with a signature.
    • Making sure the driver certifies his identity by having the signature notarized.
    • Making the request in the state where the driver is currently licensed.

Mail the form and a check or money order for the $5 fee to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Information Release Unit G199
P.O. Box 944247
Sacramento, CA 94244

Fixing Errors on Your CA Driving Record

You can request to fix incorrect information regarding traffic violations, convictions, and accidents on your driving record in California.

Traffic Violations and Convictions

Complete and submit the Driver License Record Correction Request (Form DL 207).

You also must include appropriate court documents to prove you weren't convicted of the violation:

  • The DMV requests a Court Abstract/Document Error (Form DL 157).
  • An original signed or certified letter from the court on official letterhead.

You can get both from the court that handled your case.

Mail the Correction Request and applicable documents to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Mandatory Actions Unit, Mail Station J233
P.O. Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290

Traffic Accidents

Complete and submit a Traffic Accident Record Correction Request (Form DL 208).

Be sure to include the original traffic accident report, along with an amended report or correction explanation on official letterhead. You can get these documents from the law enforcement agency that handled the accident.

Mail all forms and documents to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Mandatory Actions Unit, Mail Station J233
P.O. Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290

Filing a Complaint of Illegal Record Access

If someone has accessed your driver's license record illegally, you can make a complaint to the DMV by completing the Complaint Form (INF 1164) and mailing to the address on the form.

Forms

DL 207
Driver License Record Correction Request
Complete this form to request the correction of inaccurate information about a CA traffic violation and/or conviction on your driving record.
INF 1301A
Requests for National Driver Register (NDR) Record Checks
Complete this form to request a National Driver Register (NDR) Record for yourself OR an employee in California.
INF 70
Request for Record Information
Order another Driver's CA driving record OR vehicle record for purposes allowed by law. Can also be done online.
INF 1125
Request for Your Own Driver License/Identification Card (DL/ID) or Vehicle/Vessel Registration (VR) Information Record
Complete this form to request your own California driving record OR registration record.
DL 208
Traffic Accident Record Correction Request
Use this form to request a correction on a car accident record in CA.
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