Get in-depth information on driving records.
What is a driving record?
It's a history of violations, convictions, collisions, and actions received by a driver over a period of time. The record is called an Abstract of Driving Record (ADR) or driving record.
Types of driving records available:
| Type of driving record | Who can get a copy | What the record includes |
|---|---|---|
Full
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Insurance*
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3 year history of:
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Employment
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Alcohol and Drug Treatment
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*These records don't show violations and collisions for law enforcement officers, firefighters, tow trucks or Washington State Patrol officers that occurred while on duty, driving official vehicles.
How long will it take to get a copy of a driving record?
- Online through License eXpress: You can print a copy within 24 hours.
- By mail: Fill out and mail in a Driving Record Request (English, Español, Русский, and more) form. Please allow 10–14 days.
Can employers or insurance companies tell anyone what's on my driving record?
No. Driving records are confidential and are provided only to those authorized by law. Insurance companies, employers, transit authorities, volunteer organizations, and school districts who get a copy of your driving record may not reveal your information to a third party.
What information does a driving record show?
| Type of information | How long |
|---|---|
| Convictions and violations—Most convictions, forfeitures of bail, or court findings stating an infraction was committed | 5 years from conviction or adjudication date |
| Departmental actions, such as suspensions, revocations, or disqualifications | 5 years from final release date. Major withdrawals for commercial operators remain on for life. |
| Collisions—Shows involvement, not fault, number of vehicles involved, whether they were legally parked or moving, whether the vehicles were occupied at the time of the collision, and whether the collision resulted in any injury or fatality |
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| Failure to appear or respond to a traffic citation or notice of infraction (FTA) | Until the FTA is resolved, or 10 years from the date the court notifies us about it, whichever is earlier (Note: The court may resubmit an unresolved FTA after the 10-year period. When the FTA is resolved, only the original ticket remains on the driving record.) |
| Alcohol-related convictions | Life |
| Vehicular Assault and Vehicular Homicide convictions | Life |
| Deferred Prosecutions | Life |
Will my record show the original date my WA driver license was issued?
Only if your first license was issued after May 1, 1964. If it was issued before May 1, 1964, you may call us at 360-902-3900 (TTY: call 711) to request a status letter showing the original issue date.
