2025 Guide: How to Check Your Driving Record and Its Impact on Insurance Costs

Your driving record plays a crucial role in determining your car insurance rates.

A clean driving record generally leads to lower premiums, while a history of accidents or serious traffic offenses increases your risk profile, resulting in higher insurance costs.

Wondering how to check your driving record and what it means for your insurance? This guide walks you through the process of obtaining and interpreting your driving history to make smarter insurance decisions.

Key Points to Remember

• Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can provide your driving record, usually for a small fee.
• There are various types of driving records depending on their intended use, such as background checks or court proceedings.
• Driving records include details of minor and major violations like speeding tickets, accidents, and DUI arrests.
• Your driving history directly affects your car insurance premiums, although older violations may eventually be removed from your record.

What Information Does Your Driving Record Contain?

The contents of your driving record vary by state law. For example, in North Carolina, your record includes:

• Your full name and address
• Driver’s license number and status (valid, expired, suspended, etc.)
• Convictions for motor vehicle violations
• Details of accidents
• Driver control actions such as failure to yield or stop

Pending traffic charges typically do not appear on your record. Also, different types of records exist, such as:

• Residential history records listing your driving locations
• Certified true copies for official government or court use
• Complete extract copies for personal or employer review
• Limited extract copies showing recent three-year driving history, often used for background checks

In New York, for instance, driving records are categorized as standard, limited, or commercial, each containing varying levels of detail.

Note:

You do not need a driver’s license to have a driving record; any individual with traffic violations can have an official record.

How to Obtain Your Driving Record in 2024

The process varies by state but generally includes:

• Selecting the type of driving record you need
• Filling out the required application form
• Providing identification, including your Social Security number
• Paying any applicable fees

For example, South Carolina offers a free online points summary, while full three or ten-year records require a small fee. North Carolina charges $5 to $7 depending on the record length requested.

Check with your local DMV or Department of Public Safety to learn how to request your driving record. Many states now offer online requests, though some may require in-person visits.

Important:

Under certain legal conditions, individuals may be permitted to access another driver’s record.

How Insurers Use Your Driving Record to Set Premiums

Insurance companies assess risk by reviewing your driving history, focusing on moving violations and accidents, whether you were at fault or not.

They typically review recent records from the past three to five years, though some offenses like DUIs can impact your record for up to ten years depending on state laws.

Frequent or severe violations increase your risk profile, often leading insurers to raise premiums or deny coverage altogether.

Additional Factors:

Insurers also consider your credit score, age, location, and vehicle type when determining rates.

What Does a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) Include?

An MVR contains information on accidents, moving violations, criminal convictions related to driving (such as DUIs), license restrictions, and any suspensions or revocations within the look-back period.

Dealing with a Non-Clean Record

If your record includes violations, higher insurance costs may not be permanent. As infractions age beyond the insurer’s look-back period, they no longer influence premiums. For example, a 2019 accident would drop off a three-year look-back in 2022, potentially lowering your rates at renewal.

Duration Accidents Remain on Your Driving Record

Accident records usually stay on your driving history for three to five years, depending on state regulations. The countdown may start from the accident date or the end of that year.

Over time, a clean driving record can help you qualify for better insurance rates. Meanwhile, consider asking about available discounts or adjusting deductibles to reduce premiums. Shopping around remains a smart strategy for finding the best coverage deal.

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