What's on your driving record?

A driving record is like a driver's report card with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).  It shows your license status and driving history. What it includes and how long it stays on file depends on the state. It usually lists accidents, tickets, points, suspensions, and license revocations. The National Driver Register also tracks drivers with serious offenses or suspended or revoked licenses. 

Driving records include:

  • Driver's personal identification information
  • Driver's license details
  • Any accidents, citations, violations or convictions
  • Any fines or fees paid or owed
  • License suspensions or revocations
  • Any driving courses taken
  • Infraction points

Fines and payment details do not appear on every standard driving record. Record contents depend on the state and the type of report requested.

How does your driving record impact your life?

Your driving record can affect insurance costs, driving privileges, and opportunities that involve safety or transportation. A minor ticket will not create every problem listed below. Serious violations, repeated offenses, unpaid court matters, and license suspensions carry greater consequences. State laws and employer policies also shape the outcome.

Here are some of the things your driving record impacts. Many of them might surprise you.

1. Your car insurance premium

Your driving record has a direct affect on your car insurance premiumThe payment required for an insurance policy to remain in force. Auto insurance premiums are quoted for either 6-month or annual policy periods.. You’ll pay more if you have one or more moving violations or accidents.

A serious offense such as a DUI or reckless driving charge can label you a high-risk driver and push your premiums up 30% to 300%. Even a speeding ticket can bump your rates by 20%.

2. Your credit rating

If you choose not to pay a traffic or red light ticket, your credit rating will likely take a beating.

Most states will tack on fees if you fail to pay a ticket. Eventually, it will get turned over to a collection agency, and if it is left unpaid, your credit rating could drop quickly and by a lot. The next time you apply for a loan or even to rent an apartment, you could run into serious roadblocks.

That weaker credit record, in turn, may further drive up your car insurance rates.

3. You may be arrested

Ignoring a ticket or court date can lead to added fees, registration holds, license action, or a court warrant, depending on the court and state. If a judge issues a bench warrant for failure to appear, you may be arrested. 

An unpaid ticket does not always result in a warrant, but missing a required court appearance creates a higher risk of arrest.

Depending on state law, it can also lead to a suspended license which makes it illegal to drive, and driving with a suspended license can lead to criminal charges as well.

A serious driving infraction, such as a DUI or reckless driving, creates a permanent criminal record that can have a dramatic impact on a potential sentence for criminal charges in the future.

According to Raj Dua, an attorney at the Dua Law Firm in Fairfax, Virginia, "The court will likely increase the sentence on a subsequent DUI and prosecutors are less likely to reduce any future charges."

4. You could lose your right to vote and many other rights

A DUI or reckless driving charge can be classified as a felony if the damage is serious or it results in a fatality. In many cases, the charge will be reckless homicide. Multiple DUIs can also result in a felony conviction. In New York, a second DUI in 10 years is a felony.

Convicted felons lose a number of rights that vary by state, but examples include:

  • The right to vote
  • Serving on a jury
  • Holding public office
  • Receiving federal aid for education
  • Becoming a firefighter
  • Traveling to foreign countries

5. Life insurance may cost more

Life insurers consider speeding tickets, crashes, DUI convictions and other serious driving events during underwriting. A poor record can lead to a higher premium, delayed approval, or fewer policy options because the insurer may view unsafe driving as a sign of a higher mortality risk.

Kristofer R. Kirchen, president of Advanced Insurance Managers, says, "This may up your rates by a few hundred dollars a year, which over the course of a 30-year term policy can really add up."

6. Your license may be suspended

In almost all cases, your license will be suspended with a DUI or reckless driving charge. An unpaid ticket can also result in a suspension. The suspension will go on your record and, depending on the state, will remain there for three to five years.

The DMV will additionally refuse to register your vehicle if you have unpaid tickets on your record.

7. You might lose your job

Employers will review your driving record when the job involves driving, transportation, or company vehicles. When an employer requests a background report from a screening company, federal law requires written notice and your permission. You also receive dispute rights if the report leads to an adverse decision.

A suspended license can be a deal-breaker for your employer if you drive for a living. Delivery drivers, traveling salespeople or anyone who spends all day in a car may be out of a job. Even if you manage to hang on to your license, if you drive a company car, the insurance increase may be too much for your employer.

8. It might be harder to get a job in the future

There is a certain social stigma attached to a DUI or other serious driving convictions that can affect your future employment.

Many companies run a background check on potential employees and for some, a DUI is a red flag. Any job that requires driving or using a company car may be out of reach as the cost to insure you will be prohibitive.

9. You might have to choose a different career

Almost every police department forbids convicted felons from joining the force, which means drivers with a felony DUI on their records will be unable to serve their community. 

If you're a licensed pilot and are arrested for a DUI, you must send the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a notification letter within 60 days. The FAA will investigate, and if it feels there is an alcohol or substance abuse problem, you may find your license pulled.

While a DUI doesn't automatically result in a suspended pilot's license, you may find your professional pilot opportunities severely limited.

10. Adopting a baby may become more difficult

A DUI does not automatically prevent adoption, but criminal history can form part of the home study. Intercountry adoption applicants must disclose arrests, convictions and other criminal history, including records that were sealed, cleared or expunged. The home study also reviews rehabilitation and current suitability.

While a DUI that happened a long time ago should have no real effect, a more recent one may decrease your chances of being approved by an adoption agency.

What can you do to improve your driving record?

You can improve your record by resolving unpaid tickets, correcting errors, and avoiding new violations. Most accurate convictions cannot be removed simply because they raise your insurance rate. State rules determine how long each item stays and whether traffic school, point reduction or record sealing is available.

Here are some things to consider when trying to improve your driving record:

  • Take a driver safety course: This will help you become a better driver but also may remove infraction points from your record.
  • Expungement: Depending on your state, you may be able to request certain violations be expunged from your record after a specified period of time.
  • Contest the ticket: If your driving record is already questionable, another infraction could be devastating. In that case, it may be worth your effort to hire an attorney and contest the ticket.
  • Practice safe and responsible driving: This is the most important and most effective thing you can do and teach your teens as drivers. Avoid traffic violations and tickets entirely by being a safe and responsible driver.

FAQ: Driving records

How can I pull my driving record?

Request your record from the state DMV or motor vehicle agency that issued your license. Many states offer online, mail, and in-person request options for a small fee. Check the record for wrong convictions, crashes or license actions and follow the state’s correction process if you find an error.

A bad driving record includes recent or repeated violations that indicate a higher risk. At-fault crashes, speeding tickets, reckless driving, DUI convictions, and license suspensions carry more weight than a clean record. There is no national definition, and each insurer or employer applies its own standards. 

Violations stay on your record from three years up to the rest of your life. The period depends on the state and offense. Minor violations can remain for several years, while DUI convictions and serious license actions can stay much longer. Ask your state DMV for its retention rules rather than assuming the insurance rating period matches the public driving record.

Follow insurance.com on Google
Tip iconHelpful auto insurance tools and calculators