California DMV Driving Record

Let’s face it – driving in California isn’t cheap. From high gas prices to the cost of insuring your car, you can really drain your wallet if you’re not careful. One way to keep your driving costs low is to periodically check your California driving record. It might not seem like it, but knowing what’s on your record can save you hundreds of dollars by helping you make sure that you don’t have any unpaid fines or lingering violation points. Getting your California DMV driving record is actually a fairly easy task. Here’s how it’s done.

What’s On Your California Driving Record

Your California driving record contains a complete history of your driving – in other words, it’s a document of all traffic violations (and accompanying points) that you may have racked up. Insurance companies will view it to help determine your premiums – and some employers may want to see it as part of a job application. Although technology and automation help to reduce errors, it’s important to know what’s on it. Perhaps you’ve forgotten about that parking ticket you got when visiting Yosemite National Park last year, or you didn’t make sure that you received credit for taking a traffic school course. Reviewing your CA DMV driving record can help avoid potentially uncomfortable situations.

Ordering Your California Driving Record Online

You can order your California driving record directly from the CA DMV website. To do so, you must be a registered user – you can register on the website itself when ordering your record, and it only takes a couple of minutes. There are two versions of your California driving record: an “unofficial” copy and an official, certified one. When you order your driving record online at the DMV website, you’ll be printing out an uncertified copy. In some cases, you’ll need to have a certified copy. You can only get those by mail or in person at a DMV office.

Ordering Your Certified California Driving Record

To get a certified copy of your CA driving record by mail, you’ll need to complete DMV Form INF 1125 and mail it – along with a $5 fee – to the DMV Headquarters address on the form. On the top of the form, the DMV asks that you write that you are requesting a “certified driver record”. It may take a few weeks to get this copy, so if you need it quickly, you can print out, complete and bring the form to your local DMV office.