A Maryland driving record is a collection of all records of you as a driver. You can get a certified copy for $12 from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.

Written by Jason Tushinski

Reviewed by Jessica Barrett

Updated on Sep 8, 2023

Table of Contents

What’s a driving record?
How to get a copy of your MD driving record
Can I request my MD driving record anywhere else?
What is on my MD driving record?
How can my MD driving record affect my life?
Is there a difference between driving records from different states?

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Your driving history, or driving report, is a collection of all available public records of you as a driver. In Maryland, you can get a copy of your driving record online for $12 for a certified copy or $9 for an unofficial copy.

Your driving record can have a significant impact on your life, including on your

Maryland car insurance

rates. It is a good idea to keep your record as clean as possible. If you notice any errors or discrepancies on your record, get in touch with the MVA (or your state’s DMV) to rectify the situation.

Below, we've compiled everything you need to know about your Maryland driving record—including what is on it, how it can affect your life, and how to get a copy of yours.

What’s a driving record?

Your driving record is a public collection of information about you that specifically pertains to your history as a driver, starting from when you first got your driver’s license. Your record includes information like:

Accidents

License suspensions

Tickets

Citations

How to get a copy of your MD driving record

The easiest way to get a certified copy ($12) or an uncertified copy ($9) of your Maryland driving record is online. You can also access your record in person or via mail.

For the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to mail a copy of your driving record to your address, you’ll need to do the following:

Fill out the online form

Pay the fee with a credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover Card, or MasterCard) or electronic check

You can also access a copy of your driving record by filling out an

MVA Request for Record (form #DR-057)

at a local MVA branch. You’ll need to present valid photo ID and payment with the form.

Alternatively, you can download a copy of the MVA Request for Record (form #DR-057), fill it out, and it submit via mail. Be sure to include the following:

A check or money order made payable to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

Your driver’s license number and home and work phone numbers on the check

Requesting a MD driving record for another person

If you need to request the Maryland driving record on another person’s behalf, it can be done with the following:

A letter of authorization signed by the driver or vehicle owner whose record you are requesting—it must state that you have their permission to request their driving record

Power of Attorney—which must mention the person making the driving record request

An employment application from the requester

A credit application from the requester

A subpoena or court order

A request letter on a Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)-authorized entity’s letterhead, signed by an authorized agent or representative of that entity

A business card from a DPPA-authorized entity (in person only)—including names of the entity and requester, a valid piece of ID, and a check with the DPPA-authorized entity name

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Can I request my MD driving record anywhere else?

You can make a request for your driving record from a couple of other parties.

Car insurance agents

When you are applying for an insurance policy, an insurer will check your driving record as part of the vetting process. If you request a copy of your driving record from an insurer, they will most likely hand a copy over to you.

Note that a copy of your driving record from an insurance company will not be considered official.

Online 3rd party vendors

If you’re in a time crunch, an online vendor can hand over a copy of your driving record—but it will likely cost more than it would if ordering one from the MVA.

Be warned that a driving record from an online vendor may not be as accurate as your official MVA driving record. Ask the vendor if they are able to get an official report for you before paying them.

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What is on my MD driving record?

Your Maryland driving record contains a specific record for the last three years and your complete driving history, including:

Your name and address

Driver’s license information

Accident details

License suspensions

Tickets

Citations

Violations

Convictions

Driving courses passed

MD's MVA points system

Maryland’s system is quite strict, as points can remain on your record for years depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is your first or subsequent offense.

In Maryland, your record will be expunged after 31 days if you have a recent conviction but:

Have never had your driver’s license suspended for any driver-related safety reasons

Have never had your license revoked

Have zero moving violations on your record

Your record will be expunged three years after your most recent conviction if:

You’ve had no license suspensions for driving-related safety reasons

Your license has never been suspended

You have a moving violation on your record

Your record will be expunged five years after your most recent conviction if:

Your license has been suspended one time for driver-safety reasons

Your license has never been revoked

Your record will be expunged 10 years after your most recent moving violation, conviction, or being granted probation ahead of any judgments involving specific cases if you are a driver with:

More than one license suspension

Your license has been previously revoked

Your record will be ineligible for expungement if it includes any of the following:

An active or pending license suspension

A suspension related to a fatal accident

Any alcohol-related violations

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How can my MD driving record affect my life?

If you think your driving record can’t impact your life in Maryland—well, you’re wrong. If you plead guilty or are convicted of a moving violation, points can be added to your record.

If points are added to your Maryland driving record within a two-year period, here’s how your life as a driver will be affected:

3 points: You’ll receive a sternly-sternly worded warning letter from the MVA

5–7 points: You’ll be required to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program

8–11 points: Your license will be suspended

12+ points: Your license will be revoked

For drivers of commercial vehicles with a Maryland driver’s license, points can bring even more severe penalties.

Your insurance rate

Your driving record plays a vital role in determining your insurance premium. If you have a spotty record, you will be deemed high-risk by your insurer, and your rate will likely be far higher than a driver with a clean record.

Your driving privileges

Driving is just that—a privilege, not a right. And if you are convicted of a DUI or reckless driving charge, your license will likely be suspended. Accruing too many points on your driving record can lead to suspensions, as well.

Your credit rating

Your credit rating won’t be directly affected by your driving record. However, if you accrue a slew of traffic tickets and don’t pay them, you can be hit by late fees.

If you still don’t pay your tickets, then a collection agency will come after you—and that’s when you’ll see your credit rating take a significant hit.

Your employment prospects

If you’re looking to work in a job that has a lot of driving involved—police officer, delivery driver, firefighter—a poor driving record will almost certainly disqualify you from being hired.

Is there a difference between driving records from different states?

Your driving record is located in the state where you reside and hold your driver’s license. If you live in Maryland, that means your driving record is in Maryland as well.

However, this doesn’t mean you’ll get away scot-free if you commit a violation in a neighboring state.

Most U.S. states are signatories to what is called the Driver’s License Compact (DLC), an agreement that facilitates the sharing of information between states regarding license suspensions and traffic offenses.

This means that if you break the law in another state, it will be reported to the DMV in the state where you live—and you can be charged.

There are only five states that are not part of the DLC. They are:

Still, these states can use other agreements to share information.

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