Driving Records

What a Driving Record Contains

Just like a credit report paints a picture of your financial well-being, your driving record contains a detailed history of your driving activity. It shows:

• Your name, date of birth, and mailing address.

• Your driver license class, endorsements, and restrictions.

• The current status and the expiration date of your driver license.

• Any suspensions or revocations (for four years if they were cleared or terminated, indefinitely if not).

• Accidents. (whether your fault or not)

• Moving violation convictions (for three years, or 10 years for serious offenses such as DWI).

Also like a credit report, this information says a lot about you and might be seen by other parties such as insurers and potential employers. If the information is unflattering, it could be used against you.

This is why it sometimes makes sense to review your driving record (also known in this state as a driver abstract) to check its accuracy. If highly regulated and technologically advanced credit card companies can make mistakes on your credit report, the Department of Motor Vehicles can make mistakes too.

If, for some reason, you weren't aware that a violation has been added to your record, you might not even know about it. This could happen if you moved and didn't immediately notify the department of your new address, for example, or if you forgot to take care of a traffic ticket.

Not only will the status of your New York license be affected by what's on your driving record, but information about suspensions, revocations, DWI or drug-related convictions, and other serious traffic violations is shared among all 50 states through the National Driver Register (NDR). So if you move to another state and apply for a driver license there, your driving history might follow you.

Note that your Social Security number never appears on your New York driving record. Your record will be deleted five years after your license expires without being renewed.

Check Your Driver's License Status

It's really easy to get a copy of your own driver abstract; the New York DMV offers several ways to do it, and it only costs $10.

By far the most routine way is to order it when you renew your driver license by mail. The renewal form you're sent includes a check box for this purpose; just add the $10 search fee to your renewal fee in one check made out to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles." The DMV will send your record to you separately from your new license in about two weeks.

If you have a credit card and the DMV has your current mailing address on file, you may order the abstract {Bonline} and the DMV will mail it to you within two weeks.

Ordering by telephone with a credit card is also convenient, but you will pay a $5 processing fee in addition to the normal $10 search fee. Call (800) 225-5368 from area codes 315, 518, 585, 607, or 716. Call (518) 473-5595 from all other area codes.

By mail, you may use Form MV-15 (Request for Driving and/or Vehicle Record Information). Include a photocopy of your proof of identity and a personal check or money order made out to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles" for $10. Send it to:

• MV-15 Processing

• NYS Department of Motor Vehicles

• 6 Empire State Plaza

• Albany, NY 12228

For instant gratification, you may appear in person at any local DMV office and receive your driving record immediately. Just provide proof of identity, fill out Form MV-15, and pay the $10 search fee.

Because the language and codes in your driving record might be unfamiliar, the DMV provides information about how to read your driver abstract. If you find any inaccuracies, contact the DMV.

Federal Driver Privacy Protection

Some people may be able to view your driving record if they qualify for permissible uses under the federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). This can include insurance companies or potential employers who need to verify an applicant's commercial driver license.

Others can also request a copy of your driving record if you give them written consent. You might be asked to sign a statement on an employment application, for example, that allows the prospective employer to check your driving record. This is why you want to make sure there's nothing on there that shouldn't be.

Third-Party Searches

You may wish for the added convenience of receiving your driving record in a few days by e-mail or fax rather than waiting two weeks for a copy in the mail or standing in line at a DMV office. Third-party companies, such as the one at the top of this page, can provide you with a copy of your driving abstract for a fee, and some can even e-mail or fax it to you. Expect a two- to five-day response time.

Other Records

The New York DMV can also supply you with records related to your vehicle registrations and titles. Visit the DMV site for more information about your DMV records.