Driving Record Check: Mitigate Risk and Hire Safely

Why Access Comprehensive DMV Driving Records?

Motor vehicle records (MVRs) are an excellent way to evaluate job applicants and review the status of current employees by identifying those with unsafe driving records. This type of employee screening is critical for all employees who will drive vehicles or operate equipment as part of their job duties, because it can lower the company’s liability risks.

MVR reports can also provide information that might be missed in a traditional background check . Employee driving license verification can show vital information, for example, in some states, convictions for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are documented in the driving history report, not the criminal court record. In these states, a criminal record check alone will not provide complete or accurate information about the driver.

Annual MVR records are also required on all employees of companies regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

What Are the Benefits of Using Motor Vehicle Records?

As an employer, you are legally and financially responsible for the actions of your employees that occur while they perform assigned job duties. Workplace accidents can cost your company thousands to millions of dollars in:

Increased insurance rates
Litigation and settlements
Worker’s compensation costs
Lost work hours
Damage repair/lost inventory

For these reasons, you need to know that the people you hire will be responsible when operating vehicles and equipment — to check the driving record of an employee is the best way to accomplish this. In addition, driving record checks can help you:

Obtain complete and accurate information on potential employees.
Gain insight into candidate/employee character by identifying drug and excessive alcohol usage issues.
Reduce liability and risk for company drivers.
Manage DOT compliance.

What Information Will You Receive?

Every state has a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Secretary of State office that issues driver’s licenses to state residents. The DMV manages the records of each driver including the type and status of the license, and a compilation of all traffic infractions the driver has incurred. A DMV background check accesses these records and provides important information about the driver, which may include the following:

Full (legal) name
Current address
Date of birth
Date of issue
Date of expiration
Class (operator, CDL, etc.)
Status (valid, suspended, expired, etc.)
Restrictions (no night driving, only with visual aids, etc.)
Endorsements (double/triple trailers, tank vehicle, etc.)
Accidents
Violations/tickets
Points (when applicable)
Revocations, suspensions and insurance cancellations
DUIs

Advantages of Professional MVR Screening Services

Professional motor vehicle record (MVR) screening provides employers with far more than a simple snapshot of a driver’s history. Experienced providers like Global Verification Network deliver fast, multi-state access to driving data and apply expert review to interpret complex violations and licensing actions. Rather than relying on fragmented searches, employers receive a verified driver record that reflects accurate, role-relevant insight drawn from authoritative sources. This expertise is especially important when evaluating regulated or safety-sensitive positions where precision matters.

A key advantage of professional screening is continuous monitoring. Instead of relying on a one-time record request during hiring, employers can receive alerts when new violations or status changes occur. This proactive approach helps organizations respond quickly to emerging risk, protecting fleets, brand reputation and public safety. Research supports this model: the FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) has been shown to reduce crash rates by 8% and out-of-service violations by 17%, underscoring the value of timely, verified data.

Professional providers also understand how to contextualize different types of data. A single accident report or crash report does not tell the whole story without understanding fault, severity or frequency. Trained analysts evaluate record information in context, distinguishing between administrative issues and patterns of risky behavior. This prevents overreaction to minor infractions while ensuring serious concerns are not overlooked.

Equally important is responsible data handling. Driving records often include sensitive personal information such as a social security number or identification details tied to a driver license or state-issued ID card. Professional screening partners follow strict compliance standards when accessing a public record, ensuring privacy protections and lawful use at every stage. Employers can also combine MVR checks with other employment screenings through a single workflow, streamlining compliance and reducing administrative burden. Together, these capabilities turn MVR screening into a strategic risk-management tool rather than a transactional checkbox.

Industry Use Cases for Driving Record Checks

Transportation & Logistics

Driving record checks play a critical role across a wide range of industries where vehicle operation is central to job duties. Transportation, logistics and delivery companies depend on accurate screening to ensure drivers meet regulatory requirements and operate safely. In these sectors, commercial operators must often satisfy additional licensing standards, maintain up-to-date vehicle registration and comply with federal and state regulations tied to heavy or specialized vehicles.

Construction & Home Healthcare

Construction and home healthcare organizations also rely on MVR checks, even when driving is not the primary job function. Employees who transport equipment, travel between job sites or visit clients’ homes still present liability exposure. Periodic reviews help identify changes in driving behavior that could increase organizational risk, even among occasional drivers in corporate fleets.

Gig Economy & Social Commerce

Gig economy and social commerce platforms face unique challenges. These businesses must verify driver quality quickly while maintaining user trust. Continuous monitoring has become increasingly common, with many rideshare companies now tracking violations in near real time to maintain safety compliance. This approach allows platforms to intervene promptly when new issues arise, rather than waiting for annual reviews.

Certain records provide added context during evaluations. Completion of traffic school, for example, may indicate remediation after a violation, while a lifetime driving record can reveal long-term patterns that short lookback periods may miss. In regulated environments, employers may require a certified record to satisfy audit or insurance requirements, ensuring the information has been formally validated by the issuing authority.

Across all industries, the goal is the same: informed decision-making that supports operational continuity and reduces liability. By tailoring the scope and frequency of driving record checks to job duties and risk exposure, organizations can protect their workforce and the customers and communities they serve.

Why Global Verification Network?

At Global Verification Network, we have the expertise and skills to acquire the comprehensive reports you need to accurately interpret the information, which saves you both time and money. We have access to the DMVs in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, so it doesn’t matter if your job candidate lived in the next city or across the country. Global Verification Network guarantees that its motor vehicle driving background checks are in compliance with the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) and DOT regulations.

In addition, our motor vehicles records check services include:

Fast response times
Capacity to process multiple record-check requests
Experienced customer service
Report interpretation
You will receive complete and actionable information that can be used to make compliant hiring decisions and manage corporate liability responsibly.

Please give us a call at 877-695-1179

Frequently Asked Questions About DMV Records Searches

How long does the process normally take?

In many cases, requesting a driving record for an individual can take a day or two. This is because most states have fully digitized their MVR databases. However, requests for certified paper copies of the reports will add a few days to the turnaround time.

Does an MVR record cover a person’s lifetime, or only a certain timeframe?

It should be noted that the length of time a DMV keeps MRV information varies from state to state. In some states, it may only reach back three years, while in others it can provide details for a period of seven years. It also bears noting that some records may include incidents that occurred before the person in question obtained his or her license in that state.

Are there any potential issues with checking motor vehicle records?

The often-complex nature of DMV recordkeeping — especially those involving multiple states — can introduce some wrinkles employers should keep in mind. For instance, tracking records across more than one state means the potential for mistakes and missing information becomes higher. There is also the inherent risk of unexpected delays holding up the hiring process. Employers that want to use this information should be prepared for these circumstances and understand they could introduce complications.