The #8 Ways on How To Clean Your Driving Record

Have you ever heard about driving record and clean driving record? In this article, I am going to show you what a clean record is and how to clean your driving record.

Follow reading to know about it.

What is The Driving Record?

A driving record, which is also known as a motor vehicle report, is the collection of all public records related to you as a driver and driving history. 

This includes information about accidents, traffic violations, license suspensions, tickets, mailing addresses, speeding tickets, and driving-related offenses.

Driving-related offenses include eluding the police, driving without insurance, and driving under the influence.

Your driving record will not contain information about non-moving violations nor non-driving related criminal history.

At the moment you get your driving license, and then you have a driving record.

Some states have a point system to keep track of driving infractions.

When you reach a certain number of points, your license could be suspended or revoked. 

This differs from a state to another so you need to take a look at your state’s law.

What is a Clean Driving Record?

A clean driving record is the one that is free of accidents, moving violations, or even one of these mentioned above.

You need to put into consideration that having a clean driving record is one of the requirements when applying for many companies for a driver’s job.

Here are some ways for how to clean your driving record? Continue reading.

How to Clean Your Driving Record?

There are several different ways for how to clean your driving record, read the following list:

1. Be more aware while driving on the road

The first thing you can do is to have a clean driving record is to follow good driving habits.

Every time you drive on the road, you need to stay alert and cautious and cut out any reckless driving.

If you follow good driving habits and make an effort to drive safely, you’ll avoid tickets in the first place. 

When being a safe driver, some insurance companies offer you incentives. 

For example, if you have been accident-free and violation-free for three to five years, there will be a good driver discount for you. 

So to avoid speeding tickets, be certain to leave earlier, drive at the speed limit, take a deep breath, and be patient.

2. Contest driving tickets

According to the National Motorists Association, there is only one driver out of 20 contests a ticket. Fighting tickets may be worth it.

Even if you’re guilty of an infraction, you may convince the judge with some reasons such as you were riding too late to pick up your child from school, this could be enough to reduce your penalties or even dismiss them.

Also when you think that you were wrongfully ticketed, then you should fight it.

On the other hand, if you ignore this ticket and do not fix the problem within the allotted time, then it will become a permanent violation. 

Once this happens, your insurance company will discover this and you will come up with high premiums.

In some situations, you need to call your attorney, as attorneys can take to remove violations off of your record. So try to resolve the tickets as soon as possible.

3. Don’t keep your fines unpaid

Don’t leave fines and penalties because things can get worse if you leave them. 

Talking about fine costs it depends from state to another.

For example, California speeding fines start at $35, while in San Diego can you are expected to pay $235 or more for a simple speeding ticket besides penalty assessments, court fees, and surcharges. 

So keep your fines paid and your record cleaned.

4. Wait for points to expire

In some states, points are removed from your driving record after a certain period, so it’s just a matter of waiting for it to be removed.

For example, small incidents like a speeding ticket stay on a driving record for three years.

On the other hand, driving under influence can stay on your record for a decade or more which depends on the state.

5. Keep checking you driving record

You need to check your record to see if your record is doing well or not, so it is always worth checking.

To check your driving record you can request an official copy of it from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

Depending on your state, there are many ways to ask for a copy, you can request a copy in person, online, or by mail.

6. Take a driver safety course: 

Do you know that completing a state-approved defensive driving course may lead to remove the points in your record or even get tickets dismissed?

It depends on your violation, it is possible with minor mistakes such as moderate speeding, but it won’t be possible for a criminal moving violation such as driving under influence.

This course can help you gain good driving habits.

Some insurance companies offer a discount on the course and others provide a discount on your premium after you’ve taken the class. 

Before attending the course, make sure your state allows it and only take a course from a state-authorized school. 

Some states including Florida and North Dakota require you to make this option at the time you pay the ticket.

Other states only allow you to make this option once during a specified period, for example, one year.

You may be required to complete the course online or to attend a class, it depends on the state.

7. Ask for deleting your record points

Instead of waiting for the points of your record to expire, in some states, you can request cleaning your record.

For example, in Maryland, you can expunge some violations after three years, unless you haven’t committed any moving violations or your license was suspended.

8. Keep your driving record clean for a certain period

The longer you go on the road without getting a traffic ticket the better for you.

Some violations will stay on your record for a few years and others will clear sooner. 

If you get a ticket, the best thing you can do at the time is to avoid getting another one. 

If you get too many tickets in succession, it may end up with you getting your license revoked.

Do You Need a Clean Driving Record to Get a CDL?

You may ask if not having a clean driving record may end up not getting my CDL.

Having a clean driving record is one of the requirements for obtaining a CDL. Besides, there are state and federal requirements for you as a driver to maintain a clean driving record to keep your CDL.

What are the Benefits of a Good Driving Record?

Here are the most benefits of having a clean driving record:

1. Lower vehicle insurance rates

Insurance companies consider many factors when setting premiums including the vehicle’s safety.

If you have avoided accidents, serious infractions, and moving violations, you will receive a good driver or claim-free discounts.

2. Improve your job prospects

Having a clean driving record may seem to be a key criterion for many driving jobs that you will apply to.

3. Avoid financial expenses 

Drivers with clean driving records are not involved in many accidents. 

That means that you will not pay for your truck repairs due to an accident, or incurring fees for moving vehicle violations. Continuous good driving can save you a lot of money.

4. Better overall health

Drivers with clean driving records are usually free from any unnecessary stress that reckless drivers have to deal with because of accidents or traffic citations. 

Finally, I think you know how to clean your driving record. So keep it clean and go ahead on the road.