Can You Look Up Someone’s Driving Record? Exceptions and Rules

You can look up someone’s driving record only if your reason fits one of the narrow exceptions in the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. The default is that state motor vehicle departments cannot release the personal information tied to a driving record to anyone but the driver.¹ The most common way non-drivers get access is by asking the driver to sign a consent form.

The Default Rule: DMVs Keep Records Private

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, enacted in 1994 and codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 2721–2725, is the federal statute that controls who can see the personal information in a state motor vehicle record. Unless a specific statutory exception applies, a state DMV is prohibited from disclosing that information to a private requester.¹

“Personal information” under the DPPA means identifying details like name, home address, Social Security number, photograph, telephone number, and medical or disability information. It does not include data about driving violations, accidents, or license status.² The violation history gets some practical protection because it sits inside the same record, but states set their own rules on how much of that non-personal data they restrict. Some states sell de-identified traffic violation data; others lock the entire record down.

A subset called “highly restricted personal information” gets even tighter treatment. Photographs, Social Security numbers, and medical or disability information generally require the driver’s express consent to release, even when other pieces of the record might be available under a permissible use.²

The Exceptions That Let You Access Someone Else’s Record

The DPPA lists fourteen permissible uses. These are the ones ordinary requesters actually run into:

Written consent from the driver. If the person signs an authorization naming you or your organization, you can request the record. This is how most employment-related driving checks work in practice.¹
Government use. Federal, state, and local agencies, including courts and law enforcement, can obtain records to carry out official functions. Private contractors acting on behalf of a government agency also qualify.¹
Insurance. Insurers and their agents can access records for claims investigation, fraud prevention, rating, and underwriting. Your own auto insurer checking your violation history at renewal falls here.¹
Legal proceedings. Records can be disclosed for use in civil, criminal, or administrative cases, including pre-litigation investigation and service of process.¹
Licensed private investigators. A licensed PI or security service can access records for any purpose that would itself be permissible under the statute.¹
Commercial driver verification. Employers can access records to obtain or verify information about a commercial driver’s license holder, as required by federal commercial vehicle regulations.¹

The statute also permits disclosure for motor vehicle safety and recall notifications, research that doesn’t identify individuals, and notice to owners of towed or impounded vehicles.¹

Casual curiosity is not on the list. Neither is checking out a new neighbor, a person you met online, or a family member you’re worried about. If none of the permissible uses fit and the person will not sign a consent form, you cannot lawfully pull the record.

The Employer Exception Is Narrower Than It Sounds

The DPPA’s employer provision is limited to commercial driver’s license verification. It does not create a general right for any employer to pull any applicant’s driving record. Employers hiring for non-CDL positions almost always get the record by having the applicant sign a consent form, which triggers the written-consent exception instead. When an employer uses a third-party screening company, the Fair Credit Reporting Act also applies: the employer must give you a copy of the report and follow specific steps before taking any adverse action based on what it shows.

The “Legitimate Business” Exception Is Also Narrower Than It Sounds

There is a permissible use for legitimate businesses, but it only allows a business to verify the accuracy of personal information you already gave them, and to obtain correct information for preventing fraud, pursuing legal remedies, or recovering a debt.¹ A business cannot pull your driving record for a general commercial reason.

How to Actually Request the Record

If your purpose fits a permissible use, the request goes through the state motor vehicle department where the driver is licensed. Most states call it the DMV, but some use different names: Department of Revenue, Secretary of State, or Motor Vehicle Division. Search the state’s name plus “driving record request” to find the official page.

You will need the driver’s full legal name, date of birth, and driver’s license number. You will also need to identify the legal basis for your request, and states typically require you to certify that basis under penalty of perjury. Documentation supporting your eligibility may be required up front or on request.

Online requests are fastest and often produce an immediate PDF. Mail and in-person requests take from a few business days to a couple of weeks. State fees for a standard record generally range from about $2 to $25, with certified copies for court or legal use costing more.

For employment screening, the practical route is a third-party background check company that handles the DMV request. Those companies must comply with both the DPPA and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which gives the subject the right to see what was pulled and to dispute inaccurate information before an adverse decision is made.

What Happens If You Pull a Record You Weren’t Entitled To

The DPPA has teeth. Anyone whose personal information is obtained, disclosed, or used in violation of the statute can sue in federal district court. Available remedies include actual damages with a floor of $2,500 in liquidated damages per violation, punitive damages for willful or reckless conduct, and reasonable attorney’s fees.³ Anyone who knowingly violates the DPPA can also face a federal criminal fine.⁴

That $2,500 floor is what makes the statute more than a formality. In cases involving bulk unauthorized access, damages multiply quickly because they apply per person whose record was improperly obtained. The exposure runs to anyone in the chain who obtains, discloses, or uses the information without a permissible purpose, not just the DMV.

Looking Up Your Own Record

None of the above restricts you from pulling your own driving record. Every state lets you request a copy, sometimes called a motor vehicle report or driver history, and most offer an online portal that delivers it immediately. Mail and in-person requests are also available and take longer.

Checking your own record periodically is worth the effort. Errors show up, and an inaccurate violation or status entry can raise your insurance premiums or surface during a background check without you knowing. If you are applying for a job that involves driving, the prospective employer will almost certainly pull the record with your consent, so it helps to see what is on it first.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2721 – Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information From State Motor Vehicle Records
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2725 – Definitions
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2724 – Civil Action
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2723 – Penalties