How to Clean Your Driving Record

Auto accidents, speeding tickets, moving violations and other driving mishaps can tarnish your good driving record. And a bad driving record can mean your car insurance may get more expensive. Plus, enough marks against you could mean you lose your driver’s license.

Here’s what to know about your driving record and how to improve it.

What Is a Good Driving Record? 

A good driving record is one without accidents, driving-related convictions, moving violations or points. 

Points are notations on your driving record that show you’ve violated a law. They vary among states, and not all states use them. 

Most states assign a smaller number of points to a more minor violation, like not following directions when someone is controlling traffic. A serious violation, like speeding well over the limit in a work zone, will penalize you with more points.

If you get too many points — the amount varies by state — you may need to take a test to keep your license, report for an administrative hearing or even have your license suspended.

How Long Do Violations Stay on Your Driving Record? 

How long something stays on your driving record also varies by state, and some states don’t disclose how long things stay on your record. But most insurance companies look back over the last three to five years. Old violations on your driving record won’t affect your car insurance premiums after the time period for your insurance company has passed.

Of course, your best strategy is to keep your driving record clean by driving safely. But even the best drivers may occasionally drive a little bit too fast, coast through a stop sign or fail to yield. Here are some ways to recover.

How to Remove Violations From Your Driving Record

Check Your Record for Accuracy

If you have any questions about your driving record, look it up. In many states, you can go to your state’s DMV website and enter your license number, name and a few other details to see your driving record (specifics vary by state). 

In some states, you may need to mail in a form or go to a DMV office in person. And some states give you a copy of your driving record for free while others charge a small fee. 

Dispute Errors on Your Driving Record

So, the copy of your driving record shows something you disagree with. Maybe you appealed a speeding ticket and won, but you see it’s still listed. What can you do?

You should be able to file a dispute through your state’s DMV or insurance department. You’ll probably have to fill out a form with your name, license number, car registration and any relevant details about your dispute. It may take a while for your state to review your dispute and reach a decision.

Contest a Ticket

If you receive a ticket for speeding or another moving violation, review it carefully to make sure it’s accurate and you understand the details. You’ll have a period of time where you can either pay the fine (and admit that you were responsible) or request a review or a hearing. Follow the instructions for requesting a hearing.

Gather any evidence that supports your claim, such as photos, statements from witnesses or GPS records. You may want to get a copy of your driving record if it’s clean otherwise.

When you present all of your evidence, you might get the ticket dropped or changed to a different type with a lower penalty.

Take a Defensive Driving Course

In some states, you can take a defensive driving course or driver improvement class to help clean up your driving record. Your state may remove points from your record after you finish the course. You can also check with your insurance company — they might lower your rates if you take a class, even if your driving record is the same.

Some people also take a driving class before they appeal a ticket, as a sign that they are changing their behavior. Of course, whether this strategy works or not depends on the specific situation and the people involved.

Expunge Your Driving Record

Not all states allow you to expunge your record, and some that do only allow you to expunge criminal violations. Contact your DMV to find out what they permit and what the requirements are. You may need to take a driver safety course, let a certain amount of time pass with no moving violations or criminal driving offenses and not have your license suspended or revoked.

If you meet the requirements, you can submit a request form to your DMV to have your record expunged. You may need to pay a fee.

Don’t Overpay for Your Car Insurance

Keeping your driving record clean helps keep your auto insurance rates low, but that’s not all you can do. Reach out to a Farm Bureau insurance agent to learn about other ways you can lower your premium.