Americans are used to the fact that their lives are categorized in a series of records. You get a birth certificate when you’re born and a social security number before you start working. Your home address, employment information, and tax filings are all in a database somewhere. Even in school, you were always threatened by teachers that any disciplinary action would go on your “permanent record.”
Well, there’s also a record that is kept of your driving mishaps. More specifically, your driving record keeps track of all of the moving violations, license points, and auto accidents that you have accumulated in recent years. And as a Californian, you have the right to see what’s in this all-important document.
Why You Need Your Driving Record
You might be wondering: why would you need to examine your driving record? Well, outside of basic curiosity, here are some possible reasons:
• You need to demonstrate that you have a clean driving record for an employer (who may want you to drive a company vehicle as part of your duties)
• You may want to know how many points you have on your record — and how much margin of error you have before your license in suspended
• You may want to see how good or bad your record is before you start getting auto insurance quotes from other companies
How to Get Your Driving Record
Thankfully, obtaining your driving record in California isn’t a cumbersome process. All you have to do is make a formal request to see your record. The simplest way to do this is from the very computer you’re using right now. It will only cost you $5, and you can pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check from this website (which requires a free user account). You can print it out for an extra $2 if you wish. Just make sure your printer is ready, because you’ll only get one chance to print it; you cannot save it to a hard drive.
If you opt for the online record, you only receive a “copy” of the official document. To obtain your “official” record (which may be required in some instances), you can fill out a request form for your driving record and mail it in to the California Department of Motor Vehicles Public Operations, G 199 at P.O. Box 944247, Sacramento, CA 94244-2470. Or you can go to your nearest DMV office and request the record in person. Either way, the cost is $5.
Fixing Driving Record Mistakes in California
The state government is a bureaucracy; and sometimes, bureaucracies make mistakes. That’s another reason why you might want to view your driving record. But the DMV gives you an avenue for correcting any errors on your record that you may discover.
If the state says that you were involved in a traffic accident, or were at fault in an accident when that was not the case, you can fill out this form. In addition to the date and city/county of the “accident” in question, you will need to provide any supporting documentation for your assertion along with the form. You’ll still mail this paperwork to the DMV, but the division will be the Mandatory Actions Unit, M/S J-233; the post office box will be 942890, and the Zip + 4 number is 0001 instead of 2470.
The same process can be completed if your record displays an erroneous traffic violation or citation. The only difference is that you will use this form instead of the one for accidents. In either case, the process of removing the incorrect item can take between four and six weeks. Questions about the status of your request can be answered by calling (916) 657-6525.
As you can see, dealing with the DMV regarding your driving record isn’t all that difficult. And getting a free, no-obligation quote on a California auto insurance policy is even easier! Just visit the Auto Insurance Specialists website and obtain multiple coverage quotes within minutes!
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. Nor is it intended to effect coverage under any policy. Auto Insurance Specialists, LLC makes no guarantees of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.
