To check your driving record in Georgia, order a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) online, by mail, or in person. Reports start at $6, and online requests take only a few minutes.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Get an MVR – Driving History Report
Pick the Report Length and Format First
Before you order, decide two things: how far back you need the record to go, and whether it needs to be certified.
DDS offers three lengths. The 3-year report costs $6 and covers most personal checks and insurance questions. The 7-year report costs $8 and is what transportation and delivery employers usually want. The lifetime report also costs $8 and captures everything ever recorded under your license number.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms for Georgia Driver Services
Each length comes in two formats. A non-certified record can be viewed on screen and printed, but carries no official DDS stamp. A certified record is stamped and signed by DDS and is what you’ll need for court filings, employer background checks, and insurance disputes. If someone has asked you for a “certified MVR,” the non-certified version won’t do.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Get an MVR – Driving History Report
Prices are the same whether you order online, by mail, or in person, and the same for certified and non-certified versions.
Order Online Through the DDS Portal
The website is the fastest option. Create an account at the DDS online portal and choose your report length. Online ordering handles 3-year and 7-year reports in either certified or non-certified form. Lifetime reports are not available online; you’ll need to request one by mail or in person.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Get an MVR – Driving History Report
A non-certified report opens on your screen and stays viewable for 30 days after you request it. You can print it, but you cannot download the file. A certified report ordered online gets printed and mailed to the address you specify, so it won’t appear on screen. You can also have a certified copy sent directly to a third party like an employer or an insurance company.
Payment requires a credit or debit card. DDS accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
Order by Mail
Mail is the route for lifetime reports and for anyone who prefers paper. You can either download Form DDS-18 from the DDS website or send a plain letter. Whichever you use, include:
- Your full name exactly as it appears on your license
- Your Georgia driver’s license number
- Your date of birth
- Your complete mailing address
Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want a certified copy mailed back, along with a check or money order payable to the Department of Driver Services. Send the packet to:1Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Get an MVR – Driving History Report
Georgia Department of Driver Services
MVR Request
Post Office Box 80447
Conyers, Georgia 30013
Allow at least a couple of weeks for processing and return delivery.
Order in Person for Same-Day Pickup
Any DDS customer service center can hand you a certified driving record the same day. This is the option to use when you’re up against a deadline for a job application or a court date.
Bring a valid ID such as your Georgia driver’s license or state-issued ID card. You’ll fill out Form DDS-18 at the counter, and DDS requires an original completed form. Photocopies and faxed versions are not accepted.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Get an MVR – Driving History Report
Customer service centers take cash, credit cards, and debit cards. Check the DDS website for locations and hours before you go.
What Your Record Will Show
A Georgia MVR opens with your identifying information: name, date of birth, address, license number, license type and class, any endorsements or restrictions, expiration date, and current status. The status field tells you whether your license is active, suspended, or revoked.3Georgia.gov. Motor Vehicle Reports
Below that, the report lists each traffic conviction with its date, the offense description, and the number of points assessed. Accident involvement appears with dates, and any past suspensions or revocations show up with the dates those actions took effect.
One thing your Georgia MVR will not show is problems from other states. The federal National Driver Register tracks drivers whose licenses have been revoked, suspended, canceled, or denied elsewhere, and Georgia checks that database when you apply or renew. If you’ve held a license in another state and there’s any chance of an unresolved issue there, ask DDS directly whether any National Driver Register flags exist under your name.4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. National Driver Register (NDR)
Fixing an Error on Your Record
Mistakes do happen: a conviction recorded under the wrong license number, a disposition that never got updated after a court ruling, or a suspension that should have been cleared. If you spot something wrong, contact DDS by mail at the Conyers address, in person at a customer service center, or by phone. Bring supporting documentation such as court dispositions or dismissal orders. For more complex disputes, DDS accepts formal record correction requests through its legal office. Act quickly, because an uncorrected error can affect your insurance rates, your employment eligibility, or even trigger a suspension you don’t deserve.
Who Else Can Pull Your Record
Your MVR is not entirely private. The federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act sets the rules on who can access personal information in state motor vehicle records. Government agencies, courts, and law enforcement can obtain your record for their functions, and businesses can access limited information to verify details you’ve submitted or to prevent fraud.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2721 – Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information From State Motor Vehicle Records
In Georgia, you can pull your own record through the normal MVR process and authorize others to do the same. Attorneys, public officials, and anyone the driver hasn’t authorized generally need a subpoena or court order, served on DDS Legal at 2201 Eastview Parkway, Conyers, GA 30013, along with the applicable fee.6Georgia Department of Driver Services. Open Records
In practice, employers in driving-related jobs will ask you to authorize an MVR pull during hiring, and insurers routinely check your record when setting premiums. If you know a check is coming, pulling your own copy first is the simplest way to catch any surprises before someone else does.