You can check your Texas driving record online through the Texas Department of Public Safety portal in a few minutes, or by mailing Form DR-1 to TxDPS and waiting about three weeks for a paper copy. Fees run from $4 for a basic status check to $20 for the most complete certified abstract. The right choice depends on why you need the record, so start there.
Pick the Right Record Type First
TxDPS issues six record types, and ordering the wrong one is the most common mistake. If a court has ordered you to take a defensive driving course to dismiss a ticket, only a Type 3A will satisfy the requirement. If you just want to confirm your license is valid, the $4 option is enough.
- Type 1 — Status Record ($4): name, date of birth, license status, address, and the date you first applied for a Texas license.
- Type 2 — 3-Year History ($6): everything in Type 1 plus crashes where you received a citation and all moving violations from the past three years.
- Type 2A — Certified 3-Year History ($10): a certified Type 2. Accepted by courts and employers, but not valid for defensive driving.
- Type 3 — Complete History ($7): everything in Type 1 plus all crashes on file (even those without a citation) and every moving and non-moving violation ever recorded. Available only to the record holder.
- Type 3A — Certified Complete History ($10): the certified version of Type 3, and the only record type accepted for a defensive driving course. Available only to the record holder.
- Type AR — Certified Abstract ($20): everything in Type 3 plus all suspensions. The most thorough record TxDPS issues.
A Type 2A or a plain Type 3 will not be accepted by the court if the judge ordered defensive driving. Get the 3A.1Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record
What to Have Ready
Before you start the order, pull out your license and gather:
- Your Texas driver license or ID card number.
- Your date of birth.
- The audit number printed on the card itself, usually near the bottom. TxDPS uses it as an identity check.
If you can’t find the audit number and you’re up against a court deadline, contact TxDPS directly to ask about alternatives.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Section 5 – Issuing a Driver Record
Ordering Online
Go to the driver record request page on Texas.gov, enter your license number, date of birth, and audit number, choose the record type, and pay by credit card. The record is usually available to view, print, or email right after payment.
Non-certified records (Types 1, 2, and 3) cost the same online as by mail: $4, $6, and $7. Certified records cost $2 more online, so a Type 2A or Type 3A ordered online is $12 rather than $10.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Frequently Asked Questions – Texas Driver Record Service
Ordering by Mail
Download Form DR-1 (Request for Driver Record) from the TxDPS 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
Expect about three weeks from the date TxDPS receives your request. TxDPS does not issue driver records in person at any office, so online and mail are the only two options.1Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record
What Your Record Will Show
Traffic violations list the offense date, the violation type, and how the case was resolved. Crashes show the date and basic details, though only Type 3 and above include accidents where no citation was issued. Your license status appears as active, suspended, or revoked, with the reason for any restriction.
You may also see entries from the Driver Responsibility Program, which assessed surcharges based on points from traffic convictions. Texas repealed that program effective September 1, 2019. Old DRP entries can still appear on a complete record but carry no ongoing financial obligation.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver Responsibility Program Repealed
How Long Violations Stay Visible
It depends on which record someone pulls. A Type 2 shows only moving violations and crashes from the past three years, so an old speeding ticket eventually drops off that snapshot. A Type 3 or Type AR shows your complete history with no time limit, meaning every violation TxDPS has ever recorded stays on the full record permanently.
Most auto insurers look back three to five years when setting premiums, so a minor ticket from six years ago is unlikely to affect your rates even though it remains on a complete pull. A DWI conviction is different: it does not age off your Texas driving record on its own, regardless of how much time has passed. Texas allows some first-offense DWI convictions to be sealed through an order of nondisclosure, but eligibility is narrow.5Texas Courts. An Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure
Fixing an Error on Your Record
The fix depends on what kind of mistake you found.
Wrong Personal Information
For a misspelled name, wrong address, or incorrect details like date of birth or eye color, email DriverLicenseErrors@dps.texas.gov with a short explanation and your contact information. TxDPS typically responds within two to three business days.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Reporting an Error on a Driver License or Identification Card
Incorrect Crash
Crash data comes from the Texas Department of Transportation, not TxDPS. To dispute a crash mistakenly attributed to you, contact TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System at (800) 558-9368.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Section 5 – Issuing a Driver Record
Wrong Conviction
TxDPS cannot remove a conviction on its own. Contact the court that filed the original report and ask for a correction, with documentation if the court requires it. Once TxDPS receives the official correction notice, allow 21 business days for your record to update.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Section 5 – Issuing a Driver Record
Who Else Can Pull Your Record
Type 3 and Type 3A records are restricted to the person the record belongs to. An employer or insurer cannot order those types directly.1Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record
Employers hiring for driving positions routinely check applicants’ records. The standard approach is to get written consent before pulling a motor vehicle record, or to require the applicant to obtain a certified copy themselves as a condition of the application.7Texas Workforce Commission. Uninsurable Drivers – Texas Guidebook for Employers Companies that want to order records in bulk can email TxDPS at e.commerce@dps.texas.gov to set up a commercial account.1Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Order a Driver Record