Driving Records

Check Your Driver's License Status

When applying for a job as a commercial driver or considering a new car insurance provider, it is a good idea to check out your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), the log of your time on the road that includes traffic convictions from the last five years and subsequent points. This record will help you gauge your eligibility in either situation, as well as give you a chance to correct any mistakes that mar your driving history by contacting the MVD directly.

Your prospective employer or insurer will also want to see your MVR, so it is fortunate that there is only one form for all inquiries.

There are restrictions on who can request your MVR, as it contains your driver license number and photo, Social Security number, address, and medical/disability information. The Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (or DPPA) and the Arizona Revised Statutes outline those who have "permissible use" to obtain your MVR:

• You.

• Those who have gotten your permission to request your MVR via a signed and notarized copy of the Consent to Release Motor Vehicle Record.

• Members of the local, state, or federal government utilizing the MVR to complete the duties of the agency.

• An attorney using the MVR for a civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral court proceeding.

• An employer or prospective employer who needs to investigate your capabilities as a commercial driver

• A representative from an insurance company.

There are others who can access your MVR, but they will not receive the complete listing of your personal information.

The cost of an MVR depends on whether it is an uncertified three-year record ($3) or certified five-year record ($5). If you are applying for the record by mail, your signature on the form must be notarized. If you are requesting it in person from a local MVD office, the MVD agent's presence will suffice for identity verification purposes.

Driving records may also be purchased through independent third-party companies that expedite your request for a fee.

National Driver Register Check

An employer may also seek your name on the National Driver Register (NDR), which lists those who have been turned down for a driver license, have been suspended from driving, have had their driver license revoked, or who have been found guilty of a major offense.

The record holds three years of information and, like the MVR, can be requested by you or an employer. To request your own NDR check, you must contact the MVD by phone at (602) 255-0072 (Phoenix), (520) 629-9808 (Tucson), or (800) 251-5866 (remaining parts of Arizona).

Employers can download the form and mail it in to the address provided on the form. The fee is $5.

Driver License Motor Vehicle Record Online

Individuals can now view and print a copy of their own driver license record online. The 39-month record costs $3. Payment is by valid Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit/debit/check card. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for scheduled maintenance periods. For more information, visit Service Arizona and click on Motor Vehicle Record.