Whether you’re cautious behind the wheel or you drive like a NASCAR racer, it’s important to check your driving history periodically. Your Wisconsin DMV driving record contains information about moving violations and traffic accidents from the past five years, and drug- and alcohol-related violations stay on it for 55 years. Ensuring that your driving history is accurate is essential for your peace of mind for several reasons.
Car Insurance Rate Calculations
Your auto insurance company will order your Wisconsin driving record to determine your risk level and calculate your premium. If you drive like a bat out of hell and your driving record shows it, you’re going to be paying a much higher premium than you’d like.
Employment Opportunities
Potential employers use your Wisconsin DMV driving record as part of a standard background check to verify your personal information and to determine whether you’re too high of a risk for using the company car or driving your own car on company business. They won’t want to be liable if your driving habits are on the reckless side, so you may lose job opportunities if you’re a risky driver or if your record contains mistakes, such as incorrect personal information or points that shouldn’t be there.
Points Can Lead to Suspension
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation adds points to your driver’s license when you’re convicted of a moving traffic violation. Different violations carry different points. Reckless driving will earn you six points, while failure to yield will get you four. Going the wrong way on a one-way street is worth three points, and obstructing traffic is worth two.
The points are assessed when you’re convicted, but they date back to the time of the violation. Earning 12 or more points in 12 months results in a mandatory license suspension for at least 60 days. If you have a provisional license, points for each violation are doubled.
You can view the list of the violations that earn points to see how many points each is worth.
Wisconsin Driving Record Types
There are three types of driving records in Wisconsin:
- Certified Driving Record
- Non-certified Driving Record
- Online Driving Record Abstract
A Certified Driving Record is used for official purposes such as government agencies and court proceedings. This record isn’t available for request online.
Non-certified Driving Records are available for personal use, while Online Driving Record Abstract can be requested online.
Ordering Your Wisconsin DMV Driving Record
The state doesn’t provide for in-person driving record orders, but you can get your Wisconsin driving record online, through the mail, or over the phone. Certified copies must be ordered through the mail, and the online options allow you to view your current driving record status online or get a downloadable PDF version that you can print.
Online Status Check of Your Wisconsin Driving Record
To check your current driving record status online, go to the Driver License Status Check page and enter the required information, which includes your driver’s license number, full name and date of birth, and your social security number. You’ll be able to view your driving record, but you won’t be able to download or print it.
Order a Downloadable Version Online
If you need a physical copy of your driving record, go to the Driver Record Abstract page and fill out the information. You’ll need your driver’s license number, the last four digits of your social security number, and your date of birth. The fee is $5.50, which includes a 50-cent convenience fee. You can pay with your Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card, or use your bank debit card. You’ll get a PDF version of your driving history, which you can save to your computer and print.
Order by Mail
You can order your driving record through the mail. Simply download, print, and fill out the Driver Record Information Request Form MV2896. Enclose a $7 check, payable to Registration Fee Trust, and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail all three items to:
Driver Records
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 7995
Madison, WI 53707-7995.
Allow at least two weeks to receive your driving record in the mail.
Order a Certified Copy by Mail
If you need a certified copy of your Wisconsin DMV driving history, your only option is to mail in the request. Fill out the Driver Record Information Request Form MV2896 and check the box that indicates that you want a certified copy. Enclose a check or money order in the amount of $12, payable to Registration Fee Trust, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail the form, check, and SASE to:
Driver Records
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 7917
Madison, WI 53707-7917
Allow at least two weeks to receive your certified copy in the mail.
Get Your Driving Record Over the Phone
You can check the status of your driving history by phone any time of the day or night. You’ll just need your social security number and date of birth. Call 608-264-7133, follow the prompts, and have a pen and paper handy to jot down the details you’ve given.
What Happens After I Get My Wisconsin Driving Record?
Every time you get a traffic ticket in Wisconsin, you accumulate a certain number of points on your driver’s license.
With this in mind, the first thing that you should do is check if the points have been added correctly to your driving record. This is because getting too many points can cause trouble for you. And if the information is inaccurate, you’re being punished for something you are not guilty of.
You’ll face the possibility of getting your license suspended, or getting rejected from an employment opportunity. Worse, your insurance cost can increase and you have to pay for it!
Now, if you find any inaccurate data on your record, contact the Wisconsin DMV immediately to have it corrected. You can contact them online through the WI DMV’s Online Services portal or call them at (608) 264-7447.
The other thing you can do is spot opportunities to improve your record. If you are facing the possibility of getting your license suspended, you can take traffic safety courses from online traffic schools such as GoToTrafficSchool and IDriveSafely to fulfill a traffic violation court order, reduce traffic points, or get a ticket dismissed.
As an added perk for completing the course, you can also get an insurance discount and learn something new to boost your defensive driving skills and WI traffic law knowledge.