Do you need to present your Arkansas driving record to your auto insurance company or a potential employer?
Do you want to know how many points you’ve accumulated?
Do you want to see if your driving record info is accurate?
Whatever the case, you’ll need to get your hand on your driving record.
But how can you get it?
We’re going to answer that in this article.
We’ll tell you how to get your Arkansas driving record – whether that’s online, in-person, or through the mail.
We’ll also mention the different types of Arkansas driving records, as well as how to improve them.
So let’s get started!
Types of Driving Records in Arkansas
There are 3 types of driving records in Arkansas:
- Insurance driving record
- Commercial driving record
- History driving record
Each of these serves a specific purpose. Let’s explore each one further.
Insurance Driving Record
Drivers in Arkansas are required to carry proof of insurance. When you purchase a policy, insurers want to know how risky you are to cover. It’s the reason why they check your driving record.
The more violations, points, and DUIs you have, the more they consider you high-risk. As a result, you’ll get charged a more expensive auto insurance premium.
An insurance driving record covers 3 years.
Commercial Driving Record
As the name suggests, this type of driving record is typically requested by those applying as commercial drivers. This record shows any violations involving a commercial vehicle, such as suspensions and revocations.
How long the violation stays on your record will depend on its gravity. You’ll see major violations for 55 years from your conviction date. Railroad crossing and Out-of-Service violations remain for 15 years.
Serious violations appear for 4 years, while everything else stays for 3 years.
History Driving Record
This driving record shows your ENTIRE driving history, regardless of how long you’ve had a license. Unlike other driving record types, you can only request it through restricted channels.
The 3 Ways to Get Your Arkansas Driving Record
Depending on what type of driving record you need, you can request a copy through multiple channels. The table below shows your options for each one.
| Type of Driving Record | Requesting Channel | ||
| In-Person | Online | ||
| Insurance Driving Record | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial Driving Record | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| History Driving Record | Yes* | Yes |
* Must be done at the Driving Records Office in Little Rock
Let’s get into the details for each one.
Requesting in Person
You can use this option for all types of driving records. However, you can only request a copy of your History Driving Record at:
Driving Records Office
1900 W. 7th St.
Room 1070
Little Rock, AR 72201
For Insurance and Commercial Driving Records, you can head down to your local Arkansas Revenue Office.
Once there, you need to fill out the Arkansas Driving Record Request Form and pay a fee. History and Insurance records cost $8.50 each, while a commercial record is $10.
Requesting Through Mail
Another option is to request it through the mail. Unlike in-person requests, this channel has no restrictions, regardless of which type you need.
All you need to do is accomplish the request form and send it, along with the fee, to this address:
Department of Finance and Administration
P.O. Box 1272 Room 1130
Little Rock, AR 72203-1272
Requesting Online
These days, it’s possible to request your driving record online.
Simply go to the AR DFA website, fill out an online form, and choose which type of record you’re requesting.
You’ll notice that there isn’t an option for History records because you can only purchase these in-person or through the mail.
Another thing you should note is that online fees are a bit higher. Insurance records cost $11.50, while the Commercial one is $13.
How to Improve Your Arkansas Driving Record
So you’ve now got your hands on your Arkansas driving record.
But let’s say it isn’t the cleanest record out there.
How can you improve it?
Is there a way to remove the points?
Unfortunately, no, there isn’t a way to remove points. You just have to wait for it to expire. It takes around 3 years for points to go away.
However, there is a way to AVOID points from being added to your record.
If you receive a ticket, you can get it dismissed by attending a defensive driving course. You can even complete it online from providers such as GoToTrafficSchool. Just make sure you ask permission from your court handler.
With this, points won’t make it to your record at all.
And, if you’ve accumulated a lot of points but don’t want high auto insurance premiums, you can attend online schools such as iDriveSafely and MyImprov.
These schools have defensive driving programs that come with insurance discounts. Again, make sure you ask permission from your auto insurance provider first.
Understanding the Point System in Arkansas
It’s best to understand Arkansas’ point system clearly, so you know what to expect. If you’re not careful, you may encounter some avoidable consequences that you didn’t foresee.
Violations in Arkansas and Corresponding Points
Each time you commit a moving violation, you get a specific number of points on your record. Use our table below as reference:
| Moving Violation | Points |
| At-fault accident, Unlisted moving violations, Speeding (10 miles or less over the limit) | 3 points |
| Speeding (11 to 20 miles over the limit) | 4 points |
| Speeding (21 to 30 miles over the limit) | 5 points |
| Speeding (31 miles or more over the limit), Leaving the scene of an accident, Reckless driving, Failure to stop for a school bus, Fleeing or eluding an officer, Racing | 8 points |
| Driving Under the Influence | 14 points |
How Many Points is Too Much?
Drivers with 13 points or less are likely to get off with a warning.
However, that doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. Any violation on your record automatically increases your insurance premium.
For example, a driver in Arkansas with a clean driving record pays an average of $1,189 each year. An at-fault accident increases it to $1,799, while having a DUI makes it $2,113.
If you accumulate 14 points or more within 3 years, there will be more drastic consequences. The Office of Driver Services sends you a notice of suspension, including the date of your administrative hearing’s schedule.
Make sure you attend it. Failing to show up automatically results in a license suspension. It may still get suspended if you appear, but at least you’ll have a chance to tell your side.
Your license can be suspended anywhere from less than 3 months to a year. It depends on the number of points on your record:
- 14 to 17 points — Up to 3 months
- 18 to 23 points — Up to 6 months
- 24 points or more — Up to 1 year
Remember that you cannot drive in Arkansas without a valid license. You may incur additional penalties, including fines and possible jail time if you do.
The Wrap Up
So that was how to get your Arkansas driving record.
Remember, you can get it in person, through the mail, or online — but make sure you know which channels work with the different types of driving records.
And also, now it’s clear why it’s crucial to check your driving record and understand how it can affect you and your driving privileges.
So it’s best to check your record regularly. It’ll keep you updated on how many points you have (if any) and allows you to ensure everything is accurate.