There are times when you need to get hold of your Maryland driving record.
Say your auto insurance company is asking for it. Maybe it’s your prospective employee or the court.
Or maybe you just want to check your points and violations.
In these times, articles like this are a great help.
This is because, here, we’re going to give you a complete guide on how to get a Maryland driving record. We won’t leave out any details, including different channels, fees, forms, and record types.
This way, you know exactly what to do.
So shall we?
Types of Maryland Driving Records
A driving record is a record of all your violations, infractions, accidents, and suspensions on your license. This record also has the basic information about your driver’s license.
Now, in Maryland, there are two types of driving records:
- 3-year driving record
- Complete driving history
- Vehicle registration record
- Probation Before Judgment (PBJ)
NOTE: you can request for your driving record to be certified. The contents of a certified copy are the same as an uncertified one, but the former has the MVA stamp. This makes it an official document recognized by the courts.
3-Year Driving Record
The 3-year driving record is exactly what it says –- it’s a record of your violations, suspensions, accidents, and infractions from the last 3 years from the date of your request. It will also include your driver’s license status.
Having a 3-year driving record will show you the points on your license. In turn, this will help you understand why your insurance premiums increase or stay the same. Remember, the more convictions or violations on your record, the higher the insurance fees are.
Complete Driving History
This is the same as the 3-year driving record. The only difference is, instead of just 3 years, you get a record of your complete driving history — from the moment you were issued your driver’s license.
Vehicle Registration Record
As the name suggests, this record is more about your vehicle registration than your driver’s license. So if you need information on that, then this is the record to get.
Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) Record
A Probation Before Judgment is a scenario in which you are placed on probation while waiting for a sentence given by the judge. Most of the time, your attorney will help you get this status if it is your first time getting a violation.
Keep in mind that a PBJ status is earned and not automatically given. If violations end up with accidents, getting a PBJ is almost impossible.
As for the PBJ record, this is simply a record of all past probations you’ve been given.
How to Get My Driving Record in Maryland
Now that you know the different types of driving records in the state, let’s see how we can get hold of these.
There are three ways you can do that:
- Online
- By mail
- In-person
Let’s look at each one in detail.
How to Get a Maryland Driving Record Online
The easiest way to get your driving record is by requesting it online from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA).
If so, here are the steps:
- Click ‘Driver Services’, then ‘Request Driving Record’
- Log in or create an account.
- Choose whether you want a certified or non-certified copy.
- Pay the $12 fee (certified copy) or $9 (uncertified copy) by credit/debit card or electronic check.
- Wait for the driving record to be mailed to you.
It’s that easy!
How to Get a Maryland Driving Record By Mail
If you don’t have ready access to the internet, another option is to request it by mail.
Here are the steps:
- Print and fill up the Request for Motor Vehicle Administration Record (form DR-057).
- Place it in an envelope with a fee (remember, it is $12 for certified and $9 for uncertified). You can choose to pay by check or money order made payable to the MVA. Also, you have to include your name and driver’s license number at the back of the check.
- Mail the request to the MDOT MVA:
MVA
Driver Records Unit
Room 145
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
- Wait for your record to arrive via mail.
How to Get a Maryland Driving Record In Person
Even if going to an MDOT MVA office is inconvenient, the process of getting a driving record is still very simple.
Plus, through this channel, you can get hold of the record right away — so it’s perfect if you need it immediately.
Here are the steps:
- Show a valid ID and your driver’s license.
- Pay the appropriate fee of $12 for certified and $9 for uncertified.
- Get your Maryland driving record.
How to Get Someone Else’s Driving Record in Maryland
If you’re getting someone else’s driving record, you have to go to the MDOT MVA office. You can’t request these documents online or by mail because you need to show one of these documents:
- Letter of authorization signed by the driver or vehicle’s owner. The letter should state that the owner of the driving record is allowing the person to get his records.
- Power of attorney
- Employment application from the customer
- Credit application from the customer
- Subpoena or court order
- A request letter from an authorized entity’s letterhead. The authorized representative should sign the request.
These are additional documents you need to bring when requesting for someone else’s driving record in person. Of course, you still have to follow the steps on how to get a Maryland driving record in person (see above).
Understanding the Point System in Maryland
Since the point system is closely related to your driving record, it’s a good idea to understand it a bit more.
Similar to most states, Maryland gives points on your driving record for violations and convictions.
If you accumulate up to 8 points, your driver’s license could be suspended. If you reach 12 points, your driver’s license will be taken away.
Of course, the points given will depend on the moving violation you were convicted of.
After you’ve been convicted, the court will notify the MDOT MVA and the points will be added to your record.
How to Improve Your Maryland Driving Record
Nobody wants a license suspension.
So if you see that your driving record has accumulated some points, you will want to find ways to improve it.
Well, the MVA is active in helping you reduce your points, as well as reminding you to avoid adding any more points to your record.
They even give notices on the status of your points:
- 3 to 4 points – you will get a warning letter
- 5 to 7 points – you will be required to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program (DIP).
- 8 to 11 points – they will mail you a notice of license suspension
However, the only way you can reduce points on your driving record is when the MVA expunges it. Before 2017, you have to request for these points to get expunged, but today, the MVA already does this automatically.
If you don’t accumulate any more moving violations, your points will be automatically expunged in three years.
Conclusion
And that’s how you get a Maryland driving record.
Pretty simple, right?
It’s not often you need to get hold of one, but when you do, you now know what you need to do. And, you can pick which channel is best for you.