Vehicle Driving Record In Maryland State
Your driving record and auto insurance rates can greatly impact your life. It's best to keep your record as clean as possible. If you notice any errors or discrepancies on your record, contact the MVA (or your state's DMV) to have them corrected.
Maryland Driver History Report (MVR) provides driving histories such as license status and type, suspensions, revocations, accidents, traffic violations, restrictions, and commercial driver information. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges and other potential substance abuse issues may be indicated by the Maryland MVR report. MVRs are obtained directly from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) and are up to date in real-time.
What Are Driving Record
Your driving record is a public collection of information about your driving history, beginning with when you first obtained your driver's license. Your file contains information such as:
- Accidents
- License suspensions
- Tickets
- Citations
There are two (2) types of driving records in Maryland:
- The 3-year driving record
- The Probation Before Judgement (PBJ)
Your 3-year driving record includes traffic violation convictions, suspensions, car accidents, and the status and date of your driver's license issue.
Meanwhile, your Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) driving record contains all that information and any assigned probation instead of a guilty verdict. You can get a certified or uncertified copy of either type of driving record. Employers, the court, insurance companies, and other legal third parties frequently request certified driving records.
What To Do With Your Maryland Driving Record
For starters, ensure that all information is correct and up to date. Any incorrect information should be reported as soon as possible so your driving record can be updated.
Check your license points as well. Knowing how many points you have allows you to be more cautious about traffic violations. Furthermore, driving records can be used for additional identification, auto theft, court proceedings, and other purposes.
How To Get Your Maryland Driving Record
You can request a driving record in Maryland in person, by mail, or online.
In-Person
The first step is printing, filling, and returning the MVA Request for Record (Form #DR-057). Then, please take it to your local Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) office. Remember to bring a valid ID and the $9 or $12 fee.
By Mail
If you don't need a copy of your driving record right away, you can mail the MVA Request for Record (
Form DR-057). Send the completed form, along with the required fee and return address, to:
Motor Vehicle Administration
Driver Records Unit
Room 145
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
Online
To make an online request, go to the
Maryland transaction page. To send you a downloadable driving record, you must provide your driver's license, routing number, date of birth, and email address. Your request will be approved in a matter of minutes, and you will be able to access your driving record.
If you are a third-party entity requesting another person's driving record or making a bulk request, you will be asked to provide additional documents.
Other Request For Maryland Driving Record
If you need to request a Maryland driving record on behalf of someone else, do the following:
- A letter of authorization signed by the driver or vehicle owner whose driving record you want. It must state that you have their permission to request their driving record.
- Power of Attorney must include the name of the person requesting the driving record.
- A requester's application for employment
- The requester's credit application
- A summons or a court order
- A request letter on the letterhead of a Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)-authorized entity, signed by an authorized agent or representative of that entity.
- A business card from a DPPA-authorized entity (in person only)—including the entity and requester's names, a valid piece of ID, and a check made payable to the DPPA-authorized entity.
The Maryland Point System
You earn points on your driving record when you commit a violation while driving. Your driver's license may be suspended or revoked if you have 8 to 12 points on your record.
High points on your driving record will also result in higher auto insurance rates. Alternatively, your potential employer may check your driving record, jeopardizing your opportunity. The following are the Maryland driving record points:
- 12 Points
- Using a cell phone that causes serious injury or death
- Unauthorized use or illegal possession of a motor vehicle
- Making a false oath affidavit
- Running away from a police officer.
- Any felony committed while operating a vehicle
- Driving while impaired by alcohol
- Impaired by a dangerous illegal substance
- In a vehicle, there is homicide or a life-threatening injury.
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license
- Failure to stop after an accident causes injury or death.
- 8 Points
- Failure to stop in the aftermath of an accident that caused property or vehicle damage
- Turning off vehicle lights to avoid identification
- 6 Points
- 5 Points
- Driving aggressively
- Speeding
- On the highway, racing
- Driving while your registration and license are suspended
- 3 Points
- Any infraction that contributed to the accident
- 2 Points
- Operating a limousine while in violation
- Failure to come to a complete stop at a red light
- Pedestrian infraction
- Passing an ambulance or a police car
- Too closely following a vehicle.
- Speeding by at least ten miles per hour
- 1 Point
- Any other moving violation that is not listed
Maryland's system is quite strict, with points on your record for years depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is your first or second offense.
If you have a recent conviction in Maryland, your record will be deleted after 31 days if you:
- You have never had your driver's license suspended for any reason related to driver safety.
- You've never had your license revoked before.
- It would be best if you had no moving violations on your record.
Three years after your most recent conviction, your record will be deleted if:
- You've never had your license suspended for driving safety reasons.
- Your driver's license has never been suspended.
- There is a moving violation on your record.
Your record will be deleted five years after your most recent conviction if you meet the following criteria:
- Your license has been suspended once for reasons of driver safety.
- Your license has never been suspended.
Your record will be deleted 10 years after your most recent moving violation, conviction, or being granted probation ahead of any judgments involving specific cases if you are a driver with:
- Multiple license suspensions
- Your license has previously been revoked.
If your record contains any of the following, it will be ineligible for expungement:
- A license suspension that is active or pending
- Suspension as a result of a fatal accident
- Any alcohol-related offenses
Improve Your Driving Record
If certain criteria are met, the MVA will automatically remove driving record points three years after the conviction. This includes the following:
- During the three years, no other moving vehicle or criminal violations involving a vehicle were committed.
- Your driving privileges were never revoked or suspended.
- You were never convicted or given probation before being sentenced for:
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence
- Leaving the scene of an accident that has resulted in serious injury or death
If you do not meet those criteria, you may file an Expungement Request with MVA. The MVA will notify you whether or not your request has been granted.
Taking a driver improvement course is another way to improve your driving record. Typically, the MVA or court handler will not allow a driver improvement course to be used to remove points or dismiss citations. But, hey, you have a slim chance, so why not take it?
