West Virginia Driving Record
Your West Virginia driving record is a complete account of your time on state roads from when you were first licensed—you can buy an official copy for $7.50.
Table of Contents
- What is a driving record?
- How do I access my driving record in West Virginia?
- Where else can I find my driving record in West Virginia?
- What is on my record?
- Point system in West Virginia
- How can my driving record affect me?
- What is the difference between driving records in each state?
Load full table of contents
Your driving record is a publicly available history of your time on West Virginia's roads since you were originally licensed to drive in the state. In The Mountain State, you can order a copy of your driving record online or by mail for $7.50, or for $8.50 if you don’t know your driver’s license number.
Whether you are aware or not, your driving record can have a serious impact on your life both on and off the road—and that includes your
car insurance
premiums. If you ever notice an error or discrepancy on your driving record, contact the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles to set the record (and your record) straight. With that in mind, we've together everything you’ll need to know about your West Virginia driving record all in one spot, including what information is on your driving record, how to get a copy, and how it can impact your life.
What is a driving record?
A driving record is a public document of your history as a driver. While driving records in each state are slightly different, each one will include basic information from your driving history, such as:
- Any accidents
- Any tickets
- Any license suspensions
- Any citations
How do I access my driving record in West Virginia?
You can access a copy of your West Virginia driving record online through the
West Virginia DMV Online Service
, in-person at any West Virginia DMV branch, or by mail.To order by mail, you will need the following items:
- A completedDriving Record Request Form
- A copy of your driver’s license or other state-issued identification
- A $7.50 processing fee with your name and driver’s license number included
- If you do not know your driver’s license number, include an $8.50 fee along with your name, date of birth, and Social Security number
Mail the documents and fees listed above to the West Virginia DMV at the following address:
WV Division of Motor Vehicles
Driving Records Section
PO Box 17020
Charleston, WV 25317
Requesting a driving record for someone else
To request the driving record of another individual (the same fees apply as above), you’ll have to do the following:
- Fill out aDriving Record Request Form
- Have the subject of the information fill out aDriving Record Request Authorization (DMV-101-PS2) Form
- Include a copy of the requested individual’s driver’s license or another piece of government-issued identification
- Send all documents and fees to:
WV Division of Motor Vehicles
Driving Records Section
PO Box 17020
Charleston, WV 25317
Where else can I find my driving record in West Virginia?
You can also request your West Virginia driving record from auto insurance providers or online third-party vendors. However, you might have to pay more for a copy of your record than you would if you purchased it directly from the West Virginia DMV.
Car insurance agents
As insurers vet you when assessing your insurance risk, they will have access to your state driving record. They can provide you with a copy of it, but know that this copy of your driving record will not be considered official.
Online third-party vendors
If you’re in a bind, you can go to an online third-party vendor and order a copy of your driving record from them. However, not all third-party vendors have the most accurate version of your driving record. Be sure to ask before ordering if the vendor has access to an official and up-to-date copy of your driving record.
What is on my record?
Your West Virginia driving record contains the following information:
- Your personal information including name, address, and date of birth
- Your driver’s license number
- Accident details
- Traffic ticket details
- Any suspensions
- Any violations
- Any convictions
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Point system in West Virginia
In West Virginia, demerit points are added to your record based on the type of driving infraction you commit. You can view a full list of the
point schedule
on the West Virginia DMV website.Common violations with fewer points include:
- Failing to use your turn signal—2 points
- Following another vehicle too closely—2 points
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street—3 points
- Littering—3 points
- Failing to stop at a stop sign—3 points
- Failing to obey traffic lights—3 points
- A third offense using a cellular phone (texting or talking) while you drive—3 points
- Speeding 11 to 14 miles per hour over the posted speed limit—3 points
Violations with more points include:
- Driving 15 to 19 miles per hour over the speed limit—5 points
- Driving 20 miles or more over the speed limit—6 points
- Fleeing the scene of an accident—6 points
- Reckless or careless driving—6 points
- Fleeing law enforcement—8 points
Offenses with a higher amount of points may require a visit to traffic court.
Points will remain on your record for two years, although the infraction itself will remain on your record for five years.
If you successfully complete a defensive driving course, you can get three points taken off your record and avoid a license suspension. You’re eligible to take a defensive driving course once every 12 months.
How can my driving record affect me?
Your insurance premiums, driver’s license, credit history, and employment prospects can all be affected by a poor driving record.
Your insurance premiums
With a spotty driving record, it's not just the DMV that takes notice—insurers will too. Drivers with poor driving records are considered high-risk by insurers and face much higher premiums than drivers with clean records do.
Your ability to drive
If you have 12 points or more on your driving record, your driver’s license will be suspended. Depending on the point total, here’s how long you’ll be barred from the road:
- 12 to 13 points—30-day suspension
- 14 to 15 points—45-day suspension
- 16 to 17 points—60-day suspension
- 18 to 19 points—90-day suspension
- 20+ points—license suspended until point total is reduced to 11 or fewer
- DUI—automatic suspension (and potentially other penalties as well) until the necessary steps for reinstatement have been completed
Your credit rating
While your credit rating won’t be directly affected by your driving record, unpaid tickets or traffic fines can end up hurting you if the municipality or state where the infractions occurred dispatches a collection agency to secure the money you owe them. If this happens, your credit rating will take a tumble.
Your job prospects
If you have a less-than-stellar driving record, this could hurt your chances of landing a job, especially if that job requires a lot of driving. If you want to work for the police or fire department, your poor job record may dash any hope of landing this kind of employment.
Key Takeaway: Keep your driving record clean to avoid negative impacts on various parts of your life.
What is the difference between driving records in each state?
If you are licensed to drive in West Virginia, that is where your driving record will reside. However, if you commit traffic infractions out-of-state, those infractions will be brought to the West Virginia DMV, and they will be added to your driving record.
Most U.S. states, including West Virginia, are signatories to what is called the Driver License Compact (DLC), an agreement facilitating the sharing of information between states for license suspensions and traffic violations.
If you break the law in another state, the WV DMV will know about it, and you may be charged.
Which states don’t share driving records?
There are only five states that are not a party to the DLC. They are:
Still, these states can use other agreements to share information.
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