California Driving Records

Your driving history in California is shown on your driving record at the DMV. These records may be called either a driver's license record or DMV record.

You can get a copy of a driving record in order to:

  • Check if history is accurate. This is important because a driving record is used to figure insurance costs.
  • Check for stolen identities.
  • Bring to your employer. (Refer to "Driving Records for Employers" below)
  • Satisfy a court request.

CA Driving Record Information

On your driving record, you will find information such as:

  • Your traffic offenses and convictions, which includes DUIs.
  • The status of your license. You will find out if:
    • Your license has ever been suspended, canceled, or revoked.
    • You need to pay all reinstatement costs.
  • The DMV's points system. (Check "DMV Point System" below)

Your driving record also has the same kind of personal information you would find on your driver' license, which includes:

  • Your full name and birth date.
  • Your address.
  • Your SSN.

DMV Point System

For every driving-related violation you receive, you will get points on your driving record. The majority of offenses are on the record for three or ten years.

Three years:

  • Offenses worth only 1 point.
    • Includes minor offenses or faulty car equipment.
  • Car accidents.
    • Your record will show an accident for three years.
  • License suspensions and revocations.

Ten years

  • Offenses that are worth two points.
  • 2-point violations include DUIs or reckless driving.
  • DUI failures to appear.
    • Any different failures to appear stay on the record for five years.

You can find out more about the DMV's point system by visiting the DMV Point System in California page.

Types of California Driver's License Records

The California DMV offers the following kinds of driving records for performing a CA license check:

Unofficial

When ordering online, you get an unofficial driving record.

Official

You may get an official driving record through the mail or in person.

CA also gives instructions on getting copies of your's or anybody else's National Driver Register (NDR) record. (Refer to "National Driver Register Records" coming soon)

Employer, Insurance, and Attorney Checks

You might want to check out your own record for many reasons, but a driving record may be asked for by a possible employer, insurance companies, and courts or attorneys as well.

  • Employers: An employer may want to see someone's driving record if they are going to be needing to drive for work.
  • Insurance company - Insurance rates are determined partly by your driving record.
  • An attorney - In traffic violation cases, attorneys may need to see a driving record.

How to Order a CA Driving Record

Online

Driving records can be ordered online, but as said before, they are unofficial documents. For an official document, you should visit the DMV or contact them by phone.

For ordering your unofficial driving record online:

  • Check California's Driver Record Request page.
  • Fill in the needed info.
  • Pay the fee. (Check "CA Driving Record Fees" below)

NOTE: Only certified users can do this, which means you must register. You can do that on California's Certified User Registration page.

In Person

To get your driving record in person:

  • Go to your local DMV office.
  • You would be better off scheduling an appointment to avoid waiting.
  • Fill out Form INF 1125.
  • Show valid ID.
  • Pay any fees associated. (See "CA Driving Record Fees" below)

Mail

For getting your driving record in the mail:

Mail this request to the Information Services Branch at the Sacramento DMV.

Make sure you mail a check or money order with it for the correct fee. (See "CA Driving Record Fees" below)

NOTE: Usually, the CA DMV does not give away personal and/or sensitive info on the driving record; You will find the address and SSN blacked out. There may be exceptions made for legal issues.

CA Driving Record Fees

The fees for ordering driving records are:

  • $2 for online.
  • $5 for mail.
  • $5 for in person.

Accepted Payment Methods

Depending on how your order your record, you will have different options for paying.

Online: For online payments, you will need:

  • Major debit/credit cards.
  • The site's eCheck feature.

Mail:

  • For requesting California driving records through the mail, you must mail in a money order or check along with the request.
In Person:

For payment in person, you can use:

  • Cash
  • Checks
  • Money orders.
  • Major Debit/ATM cards.
    • You may NOT use credit cards

National Driver Register Record

In essence, the National Driver Register (NDR), a database of trouble drivers, is full of those who have received license suspensions and/or have been convicted of major traffic violations, like a DUI.

NDR driving records have information from all states that have given you a driver's license, if the state has been reporting the info to the NDR.

You are able to order your NDR record just like with a regular one, and if you're an employer you can request to check one of a possible employee.

When ordering an NDR, you can check information from the past three years from when you've requested.

In most cases, driver's who have ever had a suspension, revocation, or other serious issue order these record checks to ensure the information is accurate before they apply for a license in a different state or try to get a job that requires a lot of time on the road.

Your Driving Record

No request form is needed to look at your own record.

You can just send in a written letter to the Department of Transportation's National Driver register.

In your request, include the following:

  • Full name and birth date.
  • Your state and driver's license number.
  • Your gender, eye color, weight, and height.
  • SSN is optional.

Checking your own record is free.

Employer Requests Ordering a request for a current or possible employee may be done by an employer. It requires:

  • Filling out Form INF 1301A. Read the steps carefully while paying extra attention to:
    • Needing the signature of the driver.
    • Having the driver certify his identity (notarized signatures).
    • Requesting the record in the state in which the drive currently holds a license.

Send in the form along with a money order or check for the fee of $5 to the Information Release Unit at the Sacramento DMV.

Fixing an Error on Your California Driving Record If you find an error with your driving history, such as traffic offenses, convictions, or accidents, you may fix it. Traffic Offenses/Convictions You must fill out and mail in Form DL 207. You must also send in documents that prove you were not found guilty of the violations or convictions you wish to erase.

  • The DMV will request the form DL 157.
  • You need to send in a signed original or certified letter from your court.

Both of these can be obtained from the court in charge of your case.

Send in the Correction Request and the aforementioned documents to the Mandatory Actions Unit at the Sacramento DMV.

Correcting Traffic Accidents

Fill out and send in Form DL 208.

Make sure you send in the original accident report with the fixed report or correct explanation on official letterhead.

These documents can be obtained from the authorities that handled your accident.

Mail all of the aforementioned things to the Mandatory Actions Unit of the Sacramento DMV.

File a Complaint for Illegal Record Access

If you believe someone has seen your driving record without permission, you can file a complaint to the California DMV by filling out the Complaint Form (INF 1164) and then mailing it to the address shown on the form.