Unfortunately, there are few ways to obtain a comprehensive free driving record report. However, you can get reports with various types of information about your driving history for free or cheap. The report that you choose depends entirely on the type of information you are seeking, the purpose of your inquiry and how much you are willing to spend.
Visit Your Local DMV
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If your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides free reports, go there first. The report it provides is an official government record and will be the most accurate. Every office where driver's license services are offered can print out a copy of your official driving record. If you are paying a fine for a citation, the DMV often will give you your report along with your payment receipt.
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Some offices will simply print your report for you for free upon request. Others charge a fee. Fees vary from state to state and county to county, but they're usually minimal and can vary depending upon how many years of history you request.
Call your local office to find out what its policies are. In general, getting one of these reports is your best bet. Not only are you assured of the accuracy of information, the cost is often nothing.
Contact Your Car Insurance Carrier
Ask your car insurance carrier to provide you with a copy of your free driving record. When you sign up for a policy, the company obtains a report of your driving history to help determine the rates you'll be charged. Because the company pays for this report, it may not be too keen on sharing it, but some companies will.
If you have access to online services with your carrier, log in and search the site for your record. It may be right there waiting for you. If not, give the company a call and ask.
Request a CLUE Report
A recent amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides for the right to obtain free information about insurance claims, which includes both personal property claims and auto claims. This report is available online at the LexisNexis Personal Reports website as a free Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report. The driving record that is generated will only include incidents related to insurance claims and those that went to court.
Search Online Driving Record Services
You may be able to check a driving record online. Some reports will come from government agencies; others are generated by private companies. If you need to obtain a report for employment purposes, the condensed information offered by many companies found online is usually sufficient.
You can sometimes obtain these reports free of charge, but they won't necessarily be thorough. Use this system for the basics.
Different Forms of Reports
Decide which option for obtaining a driving report works best for your needs and order the report. Usually the process is instantaneous, but you may have to wait a few days to receive your report. Depending upon where you obtain the report, you will receive an email copy, a hard copy by mail or a hard copy printed out for you at the website. Make sure to get multiple copies for future use.
When you receive your report, check it carefully for any mistakes. If you have a common name, this is especially important.