How to Order Your North Carolina Driving Record
Driving records in North Carolina are kept by the state Department of Transporation (DOT) for all residents who have a valid NC drivers license. Thus, motorists who wish to know the content of their NC driving record can find all the necessary information about these reports and how to obtain them below.
What is on my North Carolina driving record?
Depending on the type of driving record and where you purchase it, your North Carolina DMV driving record may provide either a partial or complete outline of your personal NC driving history. If you order your driving record directly from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, it will contain:
- Driver’s personal information, such as:
- Name
- Address
- Drivers license number
- Status of the driver’s license (active, suspended, revoked or canceled)
- Date when the driver’s license expires
- Any driving violation convictions
- Any traffic accidents
- Demerit points for violations
- DUI reports
Did you know? Your personal driving history is a public record. Potential employers, insurance providers, and courts of law can all request a copy of your driving history.
What do points on my North Carolina driving record mean?
In North Carolina, points on driving records that are issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles reflect traffic convictions and the number of demerit points they hold. Accumulating 12 points on your Division of Motor Vehicles driving history within three years will result in your driving privileges being suspended by the DMV. Infractions and point values that can be found on a driving record from the North Carolina DMV include:
- Reckless driving: 5 points
- Following too closely: 4 points
- Speeding at more than 55 miles per hour: 3 points
- Not having the proper liability insurance: 3 points
- Failure to properly place a child in a car seat/seat belt: 2 points
If you have any incorrect points on your driving history report, fix them by contacting your local NC DOT office. Taking a traffic school course can remove points off your record.
How do points against my North Carolina license affect me?
Seven or more of demerit points assigned to your North Carolina driving history will result in a driver’s license suspension. Points on your NC driving record can cause you to lose your driving privileges and may also result in higher insurance rates.
These points may interfere with your job search, especially if you are looking for a position that involves driving, as traffic infractions and/or accidents will dissuade companies from hiring you.
How do I remove drivers license points from my North Carolina record?
An available option to remove points from driving records maintained by the Division of Motor Vehicles is by taking a driver improvement course. The state of North Carolina allows drivers to remove points from their DMV driving record once every five years. Complete one of these classes to get a full three points off of your driver’s license.
To get started, find a traffic school nearest you by clicking here.
How long do points stay on my North Carolina driving record?
Points on your Division of Motor Vehicles personal driving history can remain documented for up to three years in the state of North Carolina. The only way to have points removed from your NC driving record is to enroll in a driver improvement clinic. Driver improvement courses will remove three points from your personal driving record in NC.
North Carolina DUI Records
Ordering a personal North Carolina driving history report from the Division of Motor Vehicles will give you access to DUI records. These records only apply to drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence. You may need to provide your DUI arrest record in order to attend traffic school or to check that an older incident has been removed from your records.
How do I know if my North Carolina driving license is suspended?
By obtaining a copy of your North Carolina driving record, a driver can determine their drivers license status. Your personal driving history will inform you the status of your license, including whether or not it is suspended and the duration of time left on the suspension.
Previous Traffic Violations in North Carolina
To find out what traffic violations you have been cited for throughout your years as a North Carolina driver, check driving record documentation with DMV.com. Once you obtain driving record documents, you will gain access to information about previous violations, citations (paid and unpaid) and more.
Why do I need a copy of my North Carolina driving record?
Ordering a copy of your North Carolina driving record will provide you with information about your driving infractions. By obtaining an NC DMV driving record, you will be prepared for several different scenarios such as applying for a job as a commercial driver and improving your auto insurance rates.
Check for Points in North Carolina
Residents in North Carolina have the option to order online Division of Motor Vehicles driving records to check the number of points that may have been accumulated. Seven points or more will result in a driving license suspension.
Ordering a copy of your driving record can help you avoid a drivers license suspension by helping you determine how many points you have accumulated.
Applying for a Commercial Driver Position in North Carolina
A commercial vehicle operator in the state of North Carolina must have a clean personal North Carolina driving record. A clean driving record provides potential commercial drivers the opportunity to apply for a position that entails driving a company’s vehicle.
Obtain driving record documentation to see if there are any violations that you can remove from your record and know whether you need to enroll in a driver improvement course.
Lower North Carolina Car Insurance Premiums
A personal driving history in North Carolina plays an integral role in determining your car insurance premiums. If you have various violations and/or accidents on your drivers record, you can expect higher insurance rates.
However, if you have a clean NC driving record, or you enroll in a driver improvement clinic to clean your record, you can negotiate with insurance companies for lower insurance rates.
Take North Carolina Traffic School to Prevent Points
If you have been given a driver’s license suspension because you have accumulated seven or more points on your NC Division of Motor Vehicles driving record, you will be required to take a driver improvement course. Completing this course will help you remove three points from this record.
In addition, you can also register for this course out of your own volition in the event you simply want to reduce the number of points on your Division of Motor Vehicles drivers record. These courses can be taken once every five years for point-reduction purposes.
Why do employers check your North Carolina driving record?
Employers use driving records to make sure that potential employees do not present any risk to the company. A bad driving record in North Carolina can decrease your chances of becoming a commercial driver.
Take the necessary measures to clean up your Division of Motor Vehicles record by obtaining a copy of your driving history report and correcting any mistakes ahead of time.
Different Types of North Carolina Driving Records
Two different kinds of driving records are issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles: the certified driving record and the non-certified drivers record. Learn more about each type of NC driving record in the sections below.
North Carolina Certified Driving Record
A North Carolina certified driving history report issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles contains the personal details of the driver as well as his or her license status, license expiration date, driving convictions, suspensions, and any accidents he or she has been involved in.
Additionally, a certified North Carolina driving record is mainly used for official purposes related to local, state and federal courts.
North Carolina Non-Certified Driving Record
A non-certified personal driving history provided by the Division of Motor Vehicles features the same information as the certified record. The only difference is that this document is primarily used for more general purposes. An NC non-certified driving record is a document that insurance companies and potential employers use when making a decision about a candidate.
How do I fix a mistake on a North Carolina drivers history report?
If you order a copy of driving record and find that an error has been made within your history, contact the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. Provide as many details as possible to the proper representative to ensure that your request is fulfilled.
What is not included on my North Carolina driving record report?
Certain important pieces of information are not included in your NC DMV driving record. DMV.com has taken the time to put together a list of resources that you can access for every job interview, car insurance application and more:
- Background checks
- VIN number checks
- DMV police reports
North Carolina Vehicle Registration History
If you would like to access information about previous traffic violations or your current North Carolina drivers license status, check your driving record. However, if you want to get information about all of the vehicles that you have registered and owned throughout the years, then you have to request a different kind of document, which is known as the vehicle registration history report.
This report, which features registration and ownership details, will come in handy if the Division of Motor Vehicles ever asks you to prove that a vehicle belongs to you.
Driving Record Fees in North Carolina
A certified driving record in North Carolina costs $14.
Driving Record Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Driving Records from NCDOT.gov