There you are driving home from a wonderful dinner with your wife when the police pull you over for speeding. Frustrated, but relaxed, you hand the officer your ID and registration and speak with him in a polite manner. The next thing you know, the officer is asking you to step out of the car. The officer politely informs you that you are under arrest for driving on a suspend license.
You’re shocked and embarrassed. How did this happen? You can end up with a suspended license for a number of reasons. And you would have known exactly why that kind officer was placing you under arrest if you checked your driving record from time to time. Obtaining your Delaware driving record is the best, and in some cases the only way to avoid situations like this one.
What is on My Delaware Driving Record?
Your Delaware driving record is a running log of any and all incidents you were involved in with your motor vehicle. The average driving record contains information about speeding tickets, parking tickets, traffic violations, license status (suspended, revoked, void, or valid), accidents, convictions stemming from traffic violations or accidents, and Failure to Appear notices. The length of time that these blemishes remain on record can vary from one state to the next as well as the specific offense, but the average violation on a Delaware driving record remains on the record for three years.
Who Can Access My Delaware Driving Record?
There are a number of entities that can access your driving record. Government agencies, law enforcement, insurance providers, and even employers can access your driving record. Of course, you can also access your driving record to keep track of incidents listed on your record and make sure there aren’t any false reports. Employers may check your driving record to verify information provided in an application, or to examine your driving record as it regards an application for a commercial driving position.
Insurance agencies routinely check your driving record to examine the risk of providing coverage to you and your vehicle. If your driving record has numerous violations, insurance providers could raise your rates or refuse to cover you altogether. Clearing up inaccuracies on your driving record could save you money, making it all the more important to keep track of your driving record.
How Can I Access My Delaware Driving Record?
You can obtain a copy of your Delaware driving record in one of three ways: online, in the mail, or in person. If you so choose to stand in line for hours and deal with the irritable individuals employed at the average DMV location, you can locate the nearest Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles office by visiting the department’s office-finder page.
If you’d prefer to skip dealing with those fine folks at the DMV, and are in no particular rush to obtain a copy of your record, you can also apply for a copy to be sent to you via snail mail. In order to get a copy in the mail (or in person at the DMV), you must print out and complete a Personal Information Release Form from the State of Delaware website. After you have printed out and completed this form, you can mail it to the following address:
Division of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Driver License Administration
P.O. Box 698
Dover, DE 19903
Additionally, if you already possess a MyDMV online account in the state of Delaware you can obtain a copy of your driving record online. This process is entirely computerized and offers a swift resolution to your quest. Simply login on the Online Services page of the Delaware DMV website and you will find the automated steps to follow to obtain a copy of your Delaware driving record.
All requests for a copy of your Delaware driving record come with processing fees. The fee for obtaining a 3-year, 5-year, or full copy of your records for the DMV, via the mail, or online, is $25.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are obtaining a copy via the mail, keep in mind that the Personal Information Release Form must be notarized before being mailed to the DMV. This does not apply to in-person or online requests.
The last way you can obtain a driving record online is through a 3rd party service, such as this one.
What Information do I Provide?
In order to obtain a copy of your Delaware driving record, you need to be able to prove that you have the right to view those records. Delaware laws state that you must provide a photo ID, name, address, and driver’s license number in order to access your driving record. You’ll need to list all of this information on your Personal Information Release Form, so have your driver’s license handy when filling out the form.
Requesting a copy of your driving record is a good idea, even if you believe there are no blemishes on your record. We all like to think our credit score is neat and tidy, but the reality is that certain things pop up on these reports without us knowing. Checking your Delaware driving record is the best way to avoid embarrassment should you ever have an encounter with local law enforcement.
Delaware DMV Point System
When you make a traffic violation in the state of Delaware, you’ll be issued a traffic ticket, which will later reflect on your driving record and history. And while you think that a simple ticket couldn’t affect you, you may want to think again. (Even the smallest number of points on your record can end up costing you a lot more than you realize.)
Like all states, Delaware traffic violations come with a designated amount of points. The most common violations often committed by Delaware license holders are as follows:
- Speeding (less than 10 MPH over the limit) – 2 points
- Ignoring a stop sign or traffic signal – 3 points
- Speeding (10 – 14 MPH over the limit) – 4 points
- Speeding (15 + MPH over the limit) – 5 points
- Passing a school bus – 6 points
- Reckless and/or aggressive driving – 6 points
Several of these violations — such as multiple speeding tickets and reckless driving — come with other fines and penalties that you may have to answer to. Traffic ticket fines may vary by court, but reinstatement, DUI, and Surcharge fees are entirely different issues.
If your license gets suspended, you’re required to pay a fee of $50 to get it reinstated. On the other hand, if your license was completely revoked, you’ll need to pay $200. You’ll also have to attend a defensive driving course.
Fines and penalties for DUIs, on the other hand, cost around $500 to $1500 for the first offense and around $750 to $2500 for second and subsequent offenses.