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Do car dealerships run your driving record?

I’m looking to buy a new car, but I have a speeding ticket I haven’t yet paid off. Will this be a problem? Do car dealerships run your driving record?

avatar
Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Although you should pay speeding tickets on time, you don’t have to worry about it when it comes to
car shopping
—car dealerships do not run your driving record when you’re buying a car. In terms of background checks, they will typically only run your driver’s license and make sure your name is not on any lists held by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
If you’re about to buy a car, the dealer will run your driver’s license only to ensure that you are legally allowed to drive. If you’re not, the DMV won’t allow the dealer to sell you the vehicle, and you won’t be able to
title the car
either.
The dealership will also check with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). You’re forgiven if this sounds like the beginnings of a spy novel, but car dealers do run a check to ensure that you are not on any OFAC lists before selling you a vehicle.
OFAC lists contain the names of people or entities who are part of or suspected to be part of:
  • A targeted regime
  • A banned terrorist group
  • International narcotics trafficking rings
  • Illegal manufacturing or smuggling of weapons of mass destruction
In this case, a car dealership is looking out for everyone’s safety, not judging you for every detail on your driving record.
If you’re buying a car, the dealership will want to know that you’re properly insured. Protect your new vehicle with the best car insurance policy at the lowest price by using the
Jerry
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