If you need an official driving record for employment purposes or information regarding points on your license or license status, you can order driving records directly from the California DMV.

However, if you are looking for publicly available driving history information such as convictions, court records, or tickets, please continue below and our partner TruthFinder may serve your needs.

When you apply for an original California DL, you must present acceptable documents establishing your identity/birthdate, residency, and provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if eligible. When a document is required, with the exception of proof of residency, adhere to the following requirements. This number is an 8 or 10 digit alphanumeric number located in the lower-right corner of your license, permit, or non-driver ID, or on the back if it was produced after January 28, 2014. The document number begins after IDUSA. Do not include IDUSA as part of the document number. See the examples below for help in locating the document number. A California driver license 'number' is one alpha followed by seven numeric (e.g., A1234567). You can find the format for each state's driver license number at State Driver's License Format - National Traffic Safety Institute. Applying for a driver’s license or ID to allow time for arrival data processing. Most states and territories use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program to determine a non-citizen’s eligibility for many public benefits, including the issuance of a driver’s license. Renew your CA driver's license by calling (916) 657-6525. Renewals for Non-U.S. If you are a non-U.S. Citizen with a temporary CA driver's license, you'll need to provide updated birth date and legal presence documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

Search Driving History & More

Instantly access all types of publicly available information in one place in just a few seconds.Search almost anyone at any time with this background check subscription service to obtain information on:

• Convictions, court records, and in many cases tickets
• Unlimited access to public records

Disclaimer: Truth Finder cannot be used for employment or tenant screening. Truth Finder is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

• Online using the DMV's Driver Record Request page.
• By mail or in person with the DMV.

What Are Driving Records?

Your driving record shows your driving history in the state. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) refers to these records as driver license records and DMV records.

People often obtain copies of their driving records to:

• Ensure the information is correct, especially since your driving record may be used to determine your car insurance rates.
• Monitor for identity theft.
• Submit to an employer (see Employer, Insurance & Attorney Requests below).
• Submit to a court when requested.

Types of CA Driver License Records

The CA DMV provides the following types of driving records to perform a California license check:

• Unofficial: This is the copy you'll see if you order online.
• Official: You can request this copy in person or by mail.

California also provides instructions on how to request a copy of your own or someone else's National Driver Register (NDR) record check. (See “National Driver Register Records' below for details.)

Info Shown on Your CA Driver Record

Your CA driving record includes information regarding:

• Traffic tickets and convictions, including DUI.
• Your driver license status, including whether:
  • Your license is or was ever suspended, revoked, or canceled.
  • You owe any license reinstatement fees.
• The DMV Point System (See “DMV Points' below).

Your driver record also includes the same kinds of personal information associated with your driver's license, including your:

• Name and age.
• Address.
• Social Security number.

DMV Points

You accumulate driving record points for each driving- and vehicle-related violation. Most offenses stay on your record for either 3 years or 10 years.

3 years:

• Convictions worth 1 point.
  • These include minor traffic violations or faulty equipment.
• Car accidents.
  • These stay on for 3 years from the date of the accident.
• License suspension and revocation.

10 years:

• Convictions worth 2 points.
  • Examples include DUI and reckless driving.
• DUI “failure to appear' offenses.
  • All other “failure to appear' or 'failure to pay' offenses stay on your record for 5 years.

Learn more about the California Point System at our DMV Point System in California section.

Employer, Insurance & Attorney Requests

While you may want to view your CA driver license record for personal reasons, your driving record might also be requested by an employer, an insurance company, or a court/attorney:

• Employers – Employers often want to see driving histories of potential employees or those who are required to drive on the job.
• Insurance companies – Your driving history can be factored into your insurance premiums.
• Attorneys – Courts or attorneys may request your driving records, especially in­­­­­­ the case of a traffic violation.

DMV Records & Your Car Insurance

Did you know car insurance companies check your driver history when determining your rates?

A less-than-perfect driving history doesn't mean you have to settle for sky-high auto insurance rates. You may be able to keep points off your record by attending a defensive driving course.

Ordering a California Driving Record

Online

You can order an online driver record, but understand online driving records aren't official documents. If you need an official document, order in person or by mail.

To order your unofficial record online:

• Visit the state's Driver Record Request page.
• Provide the required information.
• Pay the applicable fee. (See “Fees for Your CA Driver License Record' below.)

NOTE: You must be a Certified User to use this option. That just means you have to register, which you can do via the state's Certified User Registration page.

In Person

To order your CA driving record in person:

• Visit your local DMV office.
  • The DMV recommends making an appointment for faster service.
• Complete the Request for Your Own Driver License Information Record (Form INF 1125).
• Show identification.
• Pay the required fee. (See “Fees for Your CA Driver License Record' below.)

By Mail

To order your driving record by mail:

• Complete the Request for Your Own Driver License Information Record (Form INF 1125).
  OR
  
• Complete a written request that includes your:
  • Name.
  • Date of birth.
  • Social Security number.
  • CA driver license number.
  • Signature.
• Provide a check or money order for the $5 fee.

Mail your request to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Information Release Unit G199
P. O. BOX 944247
Sacramento, California 94244

NOTE: Make sure to write “Certified Driver Record' at the top of the application or written request IF you are requesting an official copy.

Ordering Another Person's Record

California considers driving records public information, but that doesn't mean just anybody can order one for just any reason. You can request the driving history, and the DMV will determine whether you receive it.

Begin the process by completing the Request for Record Information (Form INF 70) and mailing it to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Information Release Unit G199
P.O. Box 944247
Sacramento, CA 94244

Include a check or money order for the appropriate fee. (See “Fees for CA Driver License Records' below).

NOTE: Typically, the DMV does not reveal personal and sensitive information on these records; information such as the person's address and Social Security number will be blacked out. Exceptions might be made in legal situations.

Fees for CA Driver License Records

Fees for driver records in CA are:

• Online: $2.
• By mail: $5.
• In person: $5.

Accepted Methods of Payment

The types of payment accepted will vary based on how you request your record.

Online:

California Driver's License Lookup

If paying online, you'll need to use either:

• A major credit/debit card.
• The system's eCheck feature.

By Mail:

If requesting your CA drivers record by mail, you'll send a check or money order with your request.

In Person:

Your local DMV office accepts:

• Cash.
• Check.
• Money orders.
• Major ATM/debit cards.
  • Credit cards are NOT accepted.

National Driver Register Records

Essentially, the National Driver Register (NDR) is a national database of “problem drivers'—drivers who've had license suspensions or serious traffic convictions, such as DUI.

NDR drivers records include information from every state that's issued you a driver's license, as long as that state has reported the information to the NDR.

You can order your own NDR driving record check or that of an employee, if you're an employer.

When you order an NDR drivers record check via California's application process, the information goes back 3 years from the inquiry date.

Typically, drivers who've ever had suspensions, revocations, or other serious license issues order NDR driving record checks to make sure the information is correct before applying for a license in another state or interviews for jobs that require driving.

Your Own Record

You do not need a request form to order your own record.

Just submit a notarized written request to the Department of Transportation's National Driver Register at:

National Driver Register
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Your request must include your:

Lost Driver's License California

• Full legal name and date of birth.
• State and driver's license number.
• Sex, height, weight, and eye color.

Your Social Security number is optional.

Your NDR driving record check is free of charge.

Employer Requests

To order a request for the drivers record of a current or prospective employee:

• Complete a Request for NDR Record Check (Form INF 1301A). Read all of the instructions carefully, but pay special attention to:
  • Having the driver authorize the record check with a signature.
  • Making sure the driver certifies his identity by having the signature notarized.
  • Making the request in the state where the driver is currently licensed.

Mail the form and a check or money order for the $5 fee to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Information Release Unit G199
P.O. Box 944247
Sacramento, CA 94244

Fixing Errors on Your CA Driving Record

You can request to fix incorrect information regarding traffic violations, convictions, and accidents on your driving record in California.

Traffic Violations and Convictions

Complete and submit the Driver License Record Correction Request (Form DL 207).

Ca Driver's License Renewal

You also must include appropriate court documents to prove you weren't convicted of the violation:

Document Number On Driver's License California Fornia Online

• The DMV requests a Court Abstract/Document Error (Form DL 157).
• An original signed or certified letter from the court on official letterhead.

You can get both from the court that handled your case.

Mail the Correction Request and applicable documents to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Mandatory Actions Unit, Mail Station J233
P.O. Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290

Traffic Accidents

Complete and submit a Traffic Accident Record Correction Request (Form DL 208).

Be sure to include the original traffic accident report, along with an amended report or correction explanation on official letterhead. You can get these documents from the law enforcement agency that handled the accident.

Mail all forms and documents to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Mandatory Actions Unit, Mail Station J233
P.O. Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290

Filing a Complaint of Illegal Record Access

If someone has accessed your driver's license record illegally, you can make a complaint to the DMV by completing the Complaint Form (INF 1164) and mailing to the address on the form.

Forms

Document Number On Driver's License California

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

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Section 6 of 28

Obtaining a Driver License

When you apply for an original California DL, you must present acceptable documents establishing your identity/birthdate, residency, and provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if eligible. When a document is required, with the exception of proof of residency, adhere to the following requirements:

• Provide a certified copy, or an unexpired original document..
• Provide a document containing an impressed seal or original stamped impression, if applicable..
• Do not provide a photocopy. A photocopy is acceptable for residency documents..
• Do not present self-laminated cards or documents; however, DMV may accept laminated or metal SSN cards..

If you present a limited term identity document, your DL/ID card may expire on the same date as your identity document. If the name on your document is different from the name on your Driver License & ID Card Application, you must also bring an acceptable true full name document. Your fingerprint, signature, and photograph will also be taken (refer to the “Application Requirements for a Basic Class C Driver License” section below). For any other DL/ID card transaction, you must present photo identification.

• Examples of acceptable identity documents include: U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, U.S. Armed Forces ID Cards, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card, or a foreign passport with a valid I-94. The I-94 expiration date must be more than 2 months from the date you visit the field office.
• Examples of true full name verification documents include: adoption documents containing your legal name as a result of the adoption, name change documents containing your legal name both before and after, a marriage certificate, a certificate or registration document verifying the formation of a domestic partnership, or a dissolution of marriage document containing your legal name as a result of the court order.
• Examples of acceptable residency documents include: home utility bill (including cell phone), insurance documents, California title or registration for a vehicle or vessel, or record of a financial institution. A parent, legal guardian, or child may use a birth certificate, and a spouse or domestic partner may use a marriage license or domestic partner registration certificate to trace their relationship to the individual to whom the acceptable residency documents were addressed.

Document Number On Driver's License California 2 Forms Of Identification

A complete list of acceptable documents is available at www.dmv.ca.gov.

REAL ID Act

How the REAL ID Act Impacts Californians

Beginning October 1, 2020, the federal government will require your DL/ID card to be REAL ID Compliant if you wish to use it as ID to board an airplane for domestic flights or enter military bases and most federal facilities.

If you have a U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, or another form of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved ID, these documents will still be accepted to board an airplane. The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 was passed in response to the events of 9/11. For more on the REAL ID Act, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website at www.dhs.gov.

Do I Need a REAL ID?

The federal compliant REAL ID DL/ID card is optional.

If you have a valid U.S. passport or passport card, military ID, or other federally approved ID, you may use this as your form of ID to pass a TSA checkpoint at airports nationwide and visit a secure federal building or military installation at any time.

If you know you will not be boarding a domestic flight or visiting a secure federal facility or military base, you do not need a REAL ID Compliant DL/ID card.

You do not need a REAL ID Compliant DL/ID card to do any of the following:

• Drive.
• Vote.
• Apply for or receive federal benefits (Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration (SSA), etc.).
• Enter a federal facility that does not require ID (i.e., a post office).
• Visit a hospital or receive life-saving services.

How Do I Prepare to Apply for a REAL ID Card?

To apply for a REAL ID card, you must do the following:

• Provide proof of identity, such as your certified birth certificate or passport.
• Provide 2 California residency documents.
• Present proof of your SSN, if eligible..
  • You can request a replacement social security card online at www.ssa.gov.

Refer to the DMV website for a complete list of acceptable REAL ID Compliant documents.

Married, Divorced, or Name Change?

You may need to provide a name change document.

A name change document(s), such as a marriage license, may be required to issue a REAL ID Compliant DL/ID card in your true full name. If the name on your identity document is different from the name you provided on your application, you must submit a document that establishes your true full name. For example:

• Adoption documents that contain the legal names as a result of adoption.
• A name change document that contains the legal name both before and after the name change.
• A marriage certificate.
• A certificate, declaration, or registration document verifying the formation of a domestic partnership.
• A dissolution of marriage/domestic partnership document that contains the legal name as a result of the court action.

Application Requirements For A Basic Class C Driver License

To apply for a Class C DL, you must:

• Submit a completed and signed Driver License & ID Card Application (DL 44/eDL 44) form. The eDL44 can be completed online in advance. Signing this form means you agree to submit to a chemical test to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood when requested by a peace officer. If you refuse to sign this statement, DMV will not issue a permit or DL.
• Present an acceptable document(s) establishing your identity and birthdate.
• Provide your true full name.
• Present an acceptable residency document(s) if you have never had a California DL/ID card.
• Provide your SSN, if eligible, which will be electronically verified with the SSA.
• Pay a nonrefundable application fee. The fee is good for 12 months. (If all requirements are not met within 12 months, the application will no longer be valid and you must reapply.)
  • Allows you 3 attempts to pass each of the required knowledge tests. (If you fail the knowledge test 3 times, the application will no longer be valid and you must reapply.)
  • Allows you 3 attempts at the driving test.

If you fail the driving test, you must pay a $7 retest fee for subsequent test(s) and schedule the driving test for another day. If you fail the driving test 3 times, the application will no longer be valid and you must reapply.

• Pass a vision test. You must be able to pass a vision test, with or without corrective lenses, with visual acuity better than 20/200 in at least one eye without the use of a bioptic telescopic lens or similar bioptic device to meet the minimum vision acuity standard (CVC §12805(b)).
• Have your photograph taken.
• Give a fingerprint scan.
• Sign your name.