As you drive out to Cape Cod for a wonderful weekend at the beach, the last thing you want to see in your rearview mirror are the flashing lights of the Massachusetts State Police. There is never a good time to get pulled over, but the situation can get ugly if there are hidden blemishes on your driving record. If you live in Massachusetts, you should routinely obtain a copy of your driving record to ensure there are never any surprises that catch up with you at the wrong time.
Your driving record contains information about accidents, violations, and the status of your license. Knowing the information on your record, before it becomes a problem, is helpful.
What’s On My Massachusetts Driving Record?
The state of Massachusetts maintains a variety of data on your driving record. The information included on your Massachusetts driving record includes full name, driver’s license number, date of birth, past traffic violations, at-fault traffic accidents, and out-of-state driving history (when applicable).
Who Can Access My Massachusetts Driving Record?
Your Massachusetts driving record is available to employers, insurance companies, government agencies, and other drivers in the state. Employers can use your driving record as part of a pre-employment background check. This can occur in a variety of career fields, but is particularly important if you are applying for a position as a commercial driver. Insurance companies use your driving record to assess the risk involved with providing coverage to you, as well as establishing appropriate monthly premiums.
Government agencies can also access your driving record. DMV officials use the information to verify your identity when renewing your driver’s license or processing fines associated with traffic violations. The court can also provide access to your driving record to lawyers should you be involved in litigation stemming from a traffic incident.
How Can I Access My Massachusetts Driving Record?
You can obtain a copy of your Massachusetts driving record in person, by mail, over the phone, and online. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), Merit Rating Board manages driving records in the state. The board maintains two types of driving records: unattested and true, attested driving records. Either version of your driving record can be obtained through any of the four means of accessing your files.
How To Get your Massachusetts Driving Record Online
If you’d like an instant copy of your driving record, you can access it online at the Massachusetts RMV records request website. You’ll need to provide your driver’s license number, first and last name, date of birth, and Social Security number in order to access your file. Your non-certified driving record will be provided in a PDF format, but your certified driving record can only be provided via the mail.
The cost to obtain your Massachusetts Driving Record online is $8.
Click Here To Get Your Massachusetts Driving Record Online
How To Get Your Massachusetts Driving Record By Mail
To obtain a copy of your Massachusetts driving record through the mail, you’ll need to provide your personal information, a letter of request, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You can mail that information to the RMV at the following address:
Attn: Driving Records
Registry of Motor Vehicles
Court Records Department
PO Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205-5896
How To Get Your Massachusetts Driving Record By Phone
You can also contact the RMV directly by ordering your driving record over the phone or visiting a local RMV office. You can request your record over the phone by calling (857) 368-8000 from within the state of Massachusetts, or (800) 858-3926. Customer service specialists are available by phone from 9am-5pm EST, Monday-Friday only.
How To Get Your Massachussets Driving Record In-Person
If you have the patience to stand in line and deal with the cheery folks at the RMV office, you can locate your nearest Massachusetts RMV office and bring your driver’s license along with a form of payment.
Your unattested driving record can be provided to you immediately when you make a request for your form. True and attested driving records require 10 business days when requested in the mail, by phone, and online. You can only obtain a true and attested copy of your driving record at the Chinatown/Boston Branch of the RMV at 630 Washington St, Boston, MA.
Massachusetts Driving Record Cost
The fee for receiving a copy of your driving record is $20 for a certified version and $8 for a non-certified version.
When ordering online or by phone, you may only pay with a credit or debit card. Checks and money orders made out to “MassDOT” are the only ways to pay for mailed requests. When requesting your records in person, you can pay the fees with cash, checks, money orders, or credit/debit cards.
How To Clear Your Massachusetts Driving Record
In some cases, you may be able to take a Massachusetts Defensive Driving Course to clear tickets or driving points from your driving record. You may also be able to take a traffic school to lower your car insurance premiums.
In the state of Massachusetts, you must receive special permission to take a defensive driving school to dismiss a traffic ticket, but if you do receive permission, here are some of the best online courses to go with.
Top 4 Best Online Traffic Schools
Knowing What’s On Your Massachusetts Driving Record Is Important
When you know the information on your driving record, you can avoid embarrassing encounters with the police, larger fines, and potential jail time. Inaccuracies on your Massachusetts driving record can cost you a lot of money. If you notice inaccuracies on your record, you can report those to the state at your nearest RMV location.