Published: 11/15/2024By: Toby Jacob
When you’re applying for certain jobs you might have to go through something called a driving record check. This is a process where your driving records are examined for any issues or inconsistencies in your driving record. Whether you pass or fail one of these checks can determine if you get hired for a job or not.
Furthermore, every driving check is different depending on the role and what you’re applying for, so preparing for a driving record check isn’t always easy. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
In this article, we take you through what a driving check is, how you can prepare for one, and everything else you need to know. Read on to learn more below.
What Is a Driving Record?
Your driving record is a collection of information about your driving history. As you drive, a record is compiled based on how well you do that.
Tickets, or citations, will appear on your record if they’re issued to you, especially for moving violations. These end up on your record and can impact your ability to work certain jobs. For this reason, it’s important to know what’s on your driving record.
It’s also important to note that a driving record may also contain positive notes. For example, if you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you can expect that to show up on your driving record.
Ultimately, anything that involves driving will show up on your driving record, whether it’s positive or negative.
What Is a Driving Record Check?
Driving record checks are background checks but for driving records. Businesses will use your driving records to make decisions before they hire a candidate. The purpose of these checks is to check someone’s motor vehicle report (MVR) to see if their record is clean.
Companies run these types of checks to determine if someone is a good fit for a job that requires driving. Examples include working in the following industries:
- Taxi driving
- Driving for companies including Uber and Lyft
- Working for a bus company
- Transporting goods
- Long-haul trucking
- Operating heavy machinery including forklifts, cranes, and more
These driving record checks ensure that everyone who is working in these industries is qualified to do so. This protects the driver and others around them due to the dangers of driving large vehicles.
What Are Red Flags on a Driving Record?
Whether you’re hiring a candidate or applying for a job, it’s a good idea to check for red flags on a driving record. Knowing what these red flags are can help you prepare for driving record checks. Common red flags to watch for include:
- Suspended licenses
- DUI
- Violations or infractions
- Too many points on a license
- Commercial licenses being suspended
- Not having a commercial license for a job that requires one
- Unpaid tickets, including parking tickets
These are only some red flags that can impact a driving record, but they’re the most common and a good place to start. Clearing up their red flags will improve your chances of being hired.
Types of Driving Records Checks
There are several types of driving record checks depending on the type of job, what you’ll be doing, and the organization running the check. This gets even more complicated when it comes to jobs that can cross state or even country lines. Learn more about the various types of driving record checks below.
Motor Vehicle Records Checks
The most basic type of driving records check is an MVR check. This driving records check pulls information about someone’s driving history from state and local Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices. When checking someone’s MVR a lot of information can become available.
People may run these checks if they will be working on vehicles, driving heavy machinery, or working in industries that require driving vehicles. However, they’re not as in-depth as some other types of driving records checks and usually only reveal information from one state.
You’ll have to run multiple types of MVR checks if you want to collect someone’s records in every state or use a more comprehensive database search tool like US People Search.
MVR checks tend to show the following:
- Name of the driver
- Driving infractions or moving violations
- Driving under the influence (DUI) for drugs and alcohol
- When a driving incident happened
- How many points someone has on their license
- The status of a license; if it’s suspended or revoked
Depending on the applicant’s record, more or less information may be available, so if nothing shows up that shouldn’t automatically raise alarms.
Commercial MVR Checks
A commercial MVR check is similar to a basic MVR check, but this time the focus is on someone’s commercial driving record.
The purpose of these checks is to verify someone’s commercial driving license (CDL). These licenses are necessary for driving large trucks and other big machines. Some industries have niche licensing requirements, so more complex commercial MVR checks may be necessary.
Most commercial MVR checks will show the same information as your average MVR report, along with information about someone’s commercial license. The status of a CDL and when it was received will be available.
International MVR Checks
Last but not least, we have international MVR checks. These checks are common in industries where drivers will have to cross national borders, but also for people who claim to have a license from another country. Each country has different rules and regulations, so what’s included in each check will vary by country.
That said, you can expect to find similar information to what you find in a traditional MVR report. There is also another commercial aspect of this check as well, which is similar to commercial MVR checks done in the United States.
How to Check Your Driving Record
Before you apply for a position that will have you go through a driving record check, it’s a good idea to check your driving record.
While the process may seem complicated, it doesn’t have to be, and there are plenty of ways to view your driving record in person, over the phone, and even online. Learn about some of the best methods to find your driving record below.
US People Search
When you want to find your driving record one of the best places to start is US People Search. We can help you find your driving records once you enter your first and last name, state, and city into our people search tool. This tool makes it easy to find anything that’s publicly available, which includes your driving record.
What makes our search tool the best place to start is how it works. We comb through millions of public databases around the United States to make sure the information we deliver is high-quality, accurate, and current. So, you never have to worry about coming up empty-handed, checking additional databases, or having the wrong information.
Aside from helping you find your driving record, we can also help you check additional records. Since most employers run more comprehensive background checks, like NACI background checks if you’re driving for the government, knowing what will show up on a background check is useful. We can help you find:
- Criminal records
- Sex offender status
- Social media accounts
- Dating profiles
- Civil court records
- Address information
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
Ultimately, if it’s available online, we can help you find it. Even if we can’t show you everything, we can point you in the right direction.
Contact the Department of Motor Vehicle
The Department of Motor Vehicles is another great way to find your driving records. It’s one of the few state resources that has access to all of your driving records, so you should be able to collect everything you need to know. The DMV also offers a few ways for you to get your records, but this depends on the state.
In most states, you can walk into a DMV and request your driving records. You’ll have to wait for an appointment and stand in line, but it’s a viable option if you have a few hours to kill one day.
Other states allow you to request your records via mail, and you’ll find that some states even have an online portal where you can download your driving records. If you’re someone who prefers a phone call, some DMVs even allow you to request this information over the phone.
Depending on the state, some or all of these options may be available to you. That said, you will need to bring with you or show proof of identity and have the necessary forms in your state to obtain your record.
Prepare for a Driving Record Check Today!
Driving record checks are an important part of the background check process when you’re applying for jobs that require you to drive people, transport goods, or move heavy machinery. For these reasons, you always need to be prepared for driving record checks.
Unfortunately, even if you think you have a spotless record, sometimes things take longer than you think to fall off your record. Or, you may have forgotten about a parking ticket a couple of years ago that’s now coming back to bite you.
Regardless of why you need to go through a driving record check, we always recommend starting your search with US People Search. We can help you check your records for discrepancies and make sure you’re prepared for your next driving records check. We can also help you look up criminal arrest records and anything else that’s publicly available.
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