Top Check Your Driver's License Status

You can order a copy of your personal Texas driver record online, and it will be mailed to you. These reports may be required for employment applications, to contest traffic tickets, and for many other purposes―even if you just want to make sure it's accurate. Be aware that the online reports cost anywhere from 50 cents to $2 more than their traditionally ordered counterparts.

While commercial drivers cannot renew their Texas CDLs using online forms, they can obtain their own driving records online. The only difference is that commercial drivers must fill in their 16-digit Texas Department of Public Safety audit number.

While one might think that any record purchased from the State of Texas would be "official," some of these reports are certified and thus more official than others. Be sure you determine which one you need prior to ordering it. If you are obtaining your driving record to submit to someone else such as an employer, a school, or another outside authority, you may want to confirm whether they need a regular or a certified record.

What's the difference to you? Fees are up to $5.50 higher for the certified driver record reports.

Although you may order your driving record online, you don't receive it that way―the Texas Department of Public Safety snail-mails it to you within five business days. This may not be fast enough for some purposes. Nothing moves at all on Saturdays and Sundays, and state or federal holidays will also affect processing time.

If speed is of the essence, try using a commercial company, such as the one at the top of this page that can get your record to you in half the time.

Top Types of Driving Records

Texas offers six types of driving record reports, all of which you may order online or by mail (see below). Each record provides the following information:

• Type 1 (Status Record): Name, date of birth, license status, and latest address. Fee: $4 by mail, $4.50 online.

• Type 2 (3-year History Record): Name, date of birth, license status, and list of accidents and violations on record within the past three years only. Fee: $6 by mail, $6.50 online.

• Type 2A (Certified 3-year History Record): Certified version of Type 2. Note that despite its official-sounding name, this record is not acceptable for the purposes of the Defensive Driving Course (DDC). Fee: $10 by mail, $12 online.

• Type 3 (List of All Accidents and Violations in Record): Name, date of birth, license status, and list of all accidents and violations on record. Fee: $7 by mail, $7.50 online. Only the license holder may obtain this record.

• Type 3A (Certified List of All Accidents and Violations in Record): Certified version of Type 3. This record is acceptable for the Defensive Driving Course (DDC). Fee: $10 by mail, $12 online. Only the license holder may obtain this record.

• Certified Abstract of Driving Record: Certified text abstract of complete driving record of a license holder. Fee: $20 by mail, $22 online.

Top How to Order

Online

As previously mentioned, you may order your driving record online and it will be mailed to you. You're eligible whether you hold a noncommercial or a commercial driver's license―all you need is a credit card with which to pay. The online system's FAQ page can help answer your ordering questions.

By Mail

If you'd rather order your driving record by mail, you can download a DR-1 request form to print. Fill it out and send it along with payment to:

• Driver Records Bureau

• Texas Department of Public Safety

• Box 149246

• Austin, TX 78714-9246

The DR-1 request form allows a third party to request a copy of the driver record for any individual as long as that individual signs the information release authorization box or if the requestor meets any one of 14 different "exceptions."

These exceptions are varied and comprehensive; the bottom line is that pretty much anyone can get permission to see your recent driving record, whether or not you want them to. If you are an employer, the DR-1 request form is the application you should use to request a copy of an employee's driving record.

In Person

Some Texas driver license offices can give you your driving record on the spot. The office at 6502 South New Braunfels Avenue in San Antonio already provides this service, and other offices may be adding it.

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