Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs), also known as driving records, can be a valuable screening tool. They can be downright essential for some job positions. If the applicant’s duties involve driving a motor vehicle, using company cars or operating machinery, you may decide to incorporate driving records in your screening protocol for those positions.
An MVR from any state contains four basic categories of information:
- Driver License Status – The status indicates the type or class of license issued, what kinds of vehicles can be
operated, what materials can be hauled, and any special conditions placed on the license. These permissions and limitations are known as endorsements and restrictions. - Traffic Violations and Accidents – The core of the driving record is a list of traffic tickets for which there has been a conviction. Typical information includes date of issue, date of conviction, points assessed, type of court and court location. Accident involvement is also reported, but reporting who is at fault is spotty at best.
- Administrative Actions – The most common actions are suspensions, revocations, disqualifications or withdrawals taken against the individual’s driving privilege by a court or motor vehicle department.
- Personal Information about the Driver – This information includes the licensee’s address, height, weight, date of birth, license
number, photograph and in some states, medical information.
General driving record information is typically able to be reported for three years on the Motor Vehicle Report. After 3 years passed, the violations were no longer reported. However, the information found on MVRs can no longer be reliably classified as 3-year information.
Many states have passed laws that alcohol violations remain on the record for 10 years. Some states show even regular moving violations for 10 years if the violator is a CDL holder. Other states just mess up the whole scheme. For example, Texas reports moving violations for 5 years.
DWI, no insurance and drug-related violations are reported indefinitely, while SR judgments are reported for 11 years. Accidents aren’t always reported on MVRs. In some states, accidents will never show up.
In other states, whether the accident shows up depends on fault, dollar damage (regardless of fault), or if a citation was issued. Another factor is whether the accident occurred within the state the driver is licensed. While most states will show most accidents that occurred within their own state (that meet their criteria), interstate accident reporting is spotty at best.
If you have questions about Motor Vehicle Reports, or would like to add Motor Vehicle Reports to your package, please reach out to us.
