How to Get a Copy of Your Virginia Driving Record
Obtaining Your Virginia DMV Driving Record
In many situations where you receive a traffic ticket, it makes sense to obtain a copy of your Virginia DMV driving record before going to court.
If you have a good driving record, it can significantly help you at your court hearing and with the judge.
Sometimes, it can even mean the difference between a conviction for a traffic violation and a reduction or dismissal of the charge.
If you are charged with a traffic violation in Virginia, it is important to know how you can get a copy of your Virginia driving record for your case.
At Flusche & Fitzgerald, Attorneys at Law, we advise our clients on a number of legal traffic issues and are here to help.
VA Driving Record: Answers to Your Questions
Jump-to the information you need:
What Are The Different Types of VA Driving Records?
VA Driving records document your history behind the wheel over a certain period of time.
It includes complete details about your driving history, including personal information, traffic convictions, traffic accidents, driver’s license suspensions, revocations, and cancellations.
It also contains the status of your Virginia driver’s license and any points you may have on your license.
An accident or traffic conviction will appear on your Virginia DMV driving record for sixty months after the accident or sixty months after the reinstatement of your driver’s license if the accident resulted in its suspension or revocation.
Federal and state laws dictate what records are kept by the state in regard to your driving and vehicles. It’s important to know what is kept in order to request the correct record for your needs.
In Virginia, the types of records or transcripts of your driving record include the following:
- Driver – Personal Use: Up to eleven years of driving history, issued to driver only
- Driver – Employment, School, Military: Up to seven years of driving history, may be issued to an employer, school, or branch of the armed forces with driver’s written authorization
- Driver – TNC: Up to seven years of driver history, only issued to Transportation Network Companies for the purpose of employment
- Driver – Insurance: Up to five years of driving history, contains a summary of the driving record for insurance purposes
- Driver – Habitual Offender Restoration: Up to eleven years of driver history, used for the restoration of a driver’s license
- Vehicle – Personal Use
How to Get a Copy of Your Virginia Driving Record
We can get a copy of your driving record through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in one of three ways: online, in person, or by mail. You can request the records online through a service portal provided by the DMV.
You can also request a copy of the records in person by visiting a DMV customer service center and presenting valid photo identification.
You may also request a copy of your driving record through the mail by submitting a written request and proper documentation.
The forms sent in by mail must contain your full name, address, Social Security number, and the reason for wanting a copy of your Virginia driving record.
The fee for a copy of your driving record is eight dollars, with an extra five-dollar charge for every certified copy.
There is no charge for a copy of your driving record if it is requested by the federal, state, or local government agencies, volunteer fire company or rescue squad, or special court-appointed advocate programs.
There is a reduced fee for a copy of the driving record if you have applied with one of the following programs: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Compeer, or are a volunteer vehicle operator with the American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, or Faith in Action.
What Are The Benefits of Getting a Copy of Your VA DMV Driving Record?
There are many benefits to getting a copy of your VA driving record, especially if your record reflects that you have been a good driver for the documented period of years.
In situations where you have been cited for a traffic violation, your driving record can go a long way as evidence in the court of your good driving habits.
This may convince a judge to reduce or even dismiss a traffic violation because of your driving history. A copy of your DMV record in VA is also helpful when dealing with insurance companies because of a car accident or other issues with your vehicle.
Showing an insurer that you have a history of good driving may prevent the company from raising your rates or denying you coverage.
A good driving record can also mean the difference between getting a job and being unemployed. For certain professions, it is necessary that you prove you have a good driving record before getting hired.
Commercial truck drivers, school bus drivers, driver’s education instructors, and any other job where you are routinely behind the wheel may make this a prerequisite for employment.
By getting a copy of your driving record, you can present evidence of your good driving along with an application for employment.
For drivers that do not have a perfect driving record, it is also in your best interest to get a copy of your records, as well.
It is important to know what an employer, school, armed forces, and the court is reviewing when you driving records are requested.
Knowing what the record says gives you an opportunity to explain any issues and mitigate any problems that may arise from what is on your driving records.
Contact Our Virginia Traffic Attorneys Today To Discuss Your Case
If you have been charged with a traffic violation or have questions regarding your driving record, our office in Fredericksburg may be able to help.
If you hire us for your traffic case, we will obtain your driving record for you, so you don’t have to.
Contact Flusche & Fitzgerald, Attorneys at Lawtoday to schedule a review of your traffic case.
