Insurance Car Insurance High Risk Car Insurance Where to Get Your Driving Record By Emily Delbridge Updated on October 15, 2021 Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein In This Article View All In This Article The Local DMV Third-Party Vendors Can My Insurance Agent Give Me My Record? What's on Your Driving Record? How to Correct a Mistake on Your Driving Record Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Thomas Barwick / Getty Images Getting a copy of your driving record or accident record can be easy if you know where to go to get it. Do you know how to get yours? A person's driving record, sometimes referred to as an "MVR" or "Motor Vehicle Report," is important. Some jobs require you to maintain a good driving record for employment. Insurance companies use your driving record—particularly accidents and traffic violations—as a factor to determine your insurance rate. If your driving record is really bad, you could be in jeopardy of having your driver's license revoked. Knowing how to get your driving record will help you keep track of this important information. Key Takeaways Your driving record contains important information about your driving history, such as traffic violations, accidents, and convictions.The DMV is the best place to get your driving record, but you may also be able to get a copy from your insurer or another third party.If you find errors on your driving record, you should contact the DMV and your insurance agent immediately to correct them. The Local DMV Going directly to the department of motor vehicles (DMV) will get you the most accurate and certified results. The driving record will have everything in your driving history listed for at least the last several years. You'll have to show a valid driver's license and pay a small fee of typically less than $10, depending on what state you live in. Third-Party Vendors It is possible to get your driving record online from a third-party vendor. The cost is quite a bit steeper, and the accuracy might not be as good. The greatest benefit of getting your driving record online is speed. Can My Insurance Agent Give Me My Record? An easy way to find out what is on your driving record is to ask your insurance agent. Agents can look up your motor vehicle report and may be willing to print you a copy. It may not be a certified copy, but it will let you know the basics. Traffic violations, conviction dates, and accidents will all be available to your insurance agent if they have access to your driver's license number. More than likely, you will be able to get a copy of your driving record free from your insurance agent. It can be difficult to keep track of your driving record over the past three to five years. Getting a copy of your driving record can clarify any of your concerns. You can check your record for accuracy, find out the dates any violations occurred, and prove your good driving record to potential employers. What's on Your Driving Record? Driving records include the dates of the following: Traffic violationsConvictionsAccidentsSuspensionsLicense expiration How to Correct a Mistake on Your Driving Record If you find a mistake on your driving record, it can usually be fixed. The DMV should correct traffic-violation errors. A not-at-fault accident listed as an at-fault accident can usually be cleared up at the insurance office through which you were insured at the time of loss. Driving records are typically accurate, but mistakes do happen. Note If you do find an error on your driving record, you should attempt to get it corrected as soon as possible. Driving records contain important personal information that can affect your financial future. Keep a close eye on your accident driving record; it can mean the difference between high and cheap insurance rates. Knowing how many points are on your driving record can help inspire you to drive more cautiously. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Where does the insurance company get your driving record? Check with your state authorities for the rules in your area, but insurers might have direct access to your driving record through your state government. For example, California allows insurance companies licensed in the state to obtain DMV information about a customer's accident history, their residential address, and more. Do all accidents show up on your driving record? If an accident gets reported, it will likely show up on your driving record. In California, drivers must report collisions if someone is hurt or if property damage exceeds $1,000. Law enforcement can also report collisions, but those won't show up on your record if the accident wasn't your fault. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. "DMV Fees." New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "How to Get My Own Driving Record (Abstract)." Backgroundchecks.com. "Driving Record Report." I Drive Safely. "How Do I Get a Copy of My Driver Record?" Direct Auto Insurance. "Why & How to Check Your DMV Driving Record." New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "Standard Driving Records (Abstracts)." State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Driver License Record Correction Request DL207." California Department of Motor Vehicles. "How Information Is Protected or Disclosed." California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Vehicle Collisions."