Texas doesn’t put points on driving records anymore, so there’s no point total to check. What you can pull is your full driving history from the Texas Department of Public Safety, which lists every traffic conviction and crash on file. The online order takes a few minutes and costs $7 to $10, depending on which record type you choose. That record is how you check your standing in Texas now that points are gone.
Why There Are No Points to Check
The legislature repealed the Driver Responsibility Program on September 1, 2019. DPS confirmed it no longer assesses points for moving violations and that all previously assigned points have been removed from driver records.1Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver Responsibility Program Surcharge Repeal FAQs House Bill 2048 also forgave every outstanding surcharge and reinstated licenses that had been suspended solely for unpaid DRP surcharges.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver Responsibility Program Repealed
The convictions themselves stayed on records. Texas just stopped counting them as points and started counting them as convictions.
What Your Record Now Shows Instead
DPS tracks raw conviction counts to flag dangerous drivers. You’re classified as a habitual violator with four or more moving-violation convictions from separate incidents within any 12-month window, or seven or more within 24 months, and either threshold gives DPS authority to suspend your license.3Department of Public Safety. Traffic Offenses Certain weight-limit violations and seatbelt tickets don’t count toward these totals.4State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code TRANSP 521.292
Some offenses can suspend a license on their own without any conviction count in play, including DWI, driving without insurance, and leaving the scene of an accident. So when you pull your record, what matters is the list of convictions and crashes, and how they fit those thresholds.
What to Have Ready Before You Order
- Driver license or ID number: the eight-digit number on your Texas license or identification card
- Audit number: printed on the front of your most recently issued card
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Credit card for online orders (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express)
The audit number is what trips people up. Look along the bottom of your card’s front side or printed vertically near your photo. If you’ve renewed or replaced your license recently, use the audit number from the newest card. DPS won’t accept an old one.5Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record
Ordering Your Record Online
The fastest way is through the DPS online portal. Go to the driver record ordering page, enter your license number, audit number, date of birth, and last four of your SSN, then select the record type you want. After payment you can print the record immediately or have it emailed.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Licensee Driver Records
For a personal review of your own history, the $7 Type 3 record is usually the right pick. It lists every crash and violation on file. If you need the record for a defensive driving course or to submit to a court, you have to order the $10 certified Type 3A instead. The non-certified Type 3 will not be accepted for those purposes.5Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record
Ordering by Mail
If you’d rather not order online, download Form DR-1 from the DPS website, fill it out, and mail it with a check or money order payable to the Texas Department of Public Safety to:
Texas Department of Public Safety
PO Box 149008
Austin, Texas 78714-9008
Allow about three weeks from the date DPS receives your request.5Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record DPS offices don’t take in-person requests for driving records, so online and mail are your only options.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Licensee Driver Records
Which Record Type to Choose
DPS offers four record types at different price points and levels of detail:
- Type 1, status record, $4. Shows date of birth, license status, home address, and the date you first applied for a Texas license. No violation history.
- Type 2, three-year history, $6. Everything in Type 1 plus crashes where a ticket was issued and all moving violations from the past three years.
- Type 3, complete history, $7. All crashes (even without a ticket) and every moving and non-moving violation on file, regardless of age. Available only to the license holder. Cannot be used for a defensive driving course.
- Type 3A, certified complete history, $10. A certified version of Type 3. Available only to the license holder. This is the only type accepted for a defensive driving course.
The Type 3A requirement catches people off guard. If you order a Type 3 and then try to use it for court, you’ll have to pay again for the 3A.5Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record
How Long Entries Stay on Your Record
Not everything ages off at the same rate. DWI convictions and convictions for driving without liability insurance stay on a Texas driving record permanently.7Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Enforcement Actions An insurer or employer pulling your full history could see a 15-year-old DWI alongside a recent ticket.
Other moving violations appear on the complete Type 3 record indefinitely as well. The Type 2 record only displays the most recent three years, which is why insurers who order the shorter version see less. Insurance companies typically review at least three years of driving history when setting premiums, and some look back further for serious offenses. Violations that feel old can still affect what you pay.
Fixing an Error on Your Record
If your record shows a violation you don’t recognize or contains incorrect information, email DPS at DriverLicenseErrors@dps.texas.gov with a brief description of the error and your contact details. DPS says to expect a response within two to three business days.8Texas Department of Public Safety. Section 6 – Reporting an Error on a Driver License or Identification Card
If the problem traces back to a court reporting incorrect information to DPS, you’ll likely need to contact the court in the county where the citation was originally issued. The court has to correct its own records before DPS can update yours. If you suspect someone used your identity, that’s a separate process and worth discussing with an attorney who handles traffic or identity-theft cases.