The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains various records about your driving history. Each of these records has a different purpose. Your DMV records could impact your current traffic law case and other aspects of your life. Accordingly, we encourage you to learn what’s included in the different types of driving records and how to get a copy of your DMV record.
Six Types of VA DMV Driver Records
The Virginia DMV maintains the following types of driver records:
- Personal Use Records. These records contain information for up to 11 years of your most recent driving history, and they are for your personal use only.
- Employment/School/Military Records. These records contain up to seven years of your most recent driving history. The DMV may provide these records to you for your personal use. Additionally, the DMV may provide these records to employers, schools, or the armed services if you sign a written release authorizing the DMV to release the records.
- Transportation Network Companies (TNC). TNC records, like other DMV driver employment records, contain up to seven years of your driving history. These records may only be requested by and issued to TNC for employment purposes.
- Insurance. Your DMV insurance records may be requested for purposes of obtaining motor vehicle insurance. Insurance records contain information for up to five years of your most recent driving history.
- Habitual Offender Restoration. This type of DMV record is only used to petition the court for restoration of your driver’s license. The court will be provided with information of up to 11 years of your driving record.
- Mandatory Record Monitoring Programs. State law requires the DMV to maintain these records for public school bus drivers, public and private school driver education instructors, and commercial driving school instructors. If you work any of these jobs and your driver’s license is suspended, revoked, or disqualified, or if you are convicted of drunk or reckless driving, then the DMV will provide your driving record to your employer. Additionally, driving instructors with more than six demerit points will have their employers notified.
Additionally, the DMV may have records about your participation in driving voluntary record monitoring programs and records about your vehicle.
How to Get a Copy of Your Virginia DMV Record
You have three options for obtaining a copy of your DMV record. You may:
- Request a copy online.
- Mail a written request that contains all of the required information. The easiest way to do this is to submit Form CRD-93 and mail it to the Virginia DMV in Richmond.
- Visit a DMV Customer Service Center in person. These centers are located throughout the state, including Fairfax, Fair Oaks Mall, and Tysons Corner.
Regardless of how you request your record, you will need to provide:
- Your full legal name, address, and Social Security number. This basic information will ensure that you receive the right record.
- The reason for your record request. Your stated reason will provide you with the right type of record.
- The required fee. The Commonwealth of Virginia maintains a fee schedule for record requests. However, there may be no charge for certain employment records.
Your Driving Record May Be Relevant to Your Traffic Law Case
If you face reckless driving charges, DUI charges, or other criminal traffic violations, your case will be decided on the unique facts of the specific incident that resulted in criminal charges. However, your driving record may be relevant to your plea bargain or potential sentence.
Accordingly, you and your Fairfax traffic law attorney will want to know what is on your record. As our legal team prepares your defense, we will make sure to review your driving record and present you in the best possible light to the court.
Criminal traffic violations may significantly impact your life. We encourage you to contact us if you’ve been ticketed or charged with a traffic crime in Virginia so that we can represent you and make sure that you are treated fairly. Call us, start an online chat, or complete our online contact form today to learn more.
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