The California H6 driver record is the DMV printout of your full reportable driving history: convictions, accidents, suspensions, and license actions, with entries that stay visible for three, seven, or ten years depending on severity. You can order it online for $2 or request a certified copy by mail or in person for $5 using Form INF 1125.1California DMV. Online Driver Record Request The DMV retired the “H6” label in March 2019, so what you receive today is a single standardized record governed by California Vehicle Code §1808, no matter which name you use when you ask for it.
What Your Record Shows
California Vehicle Code §1808 sets three reporting windows based on the seriousness of each entry.2California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 1808
- Ten years: DUI convictions under Vehicle Code §23152, DUI causing injury under §23153, and underage DUI under §23140. These are the entries that made the old H6 printout so much longer than a standard three-year record, and they still appear for the full decade from the date of the offense.
- Seven years: two-point violations under Vehicle Code §12810, such as reckless driving or hit-and-run, except where a DUI already falls under the ten-year rule.
- Three years: all other violations and all accidents, regardless of fault.
Suspensions and revocations stay visible for as long as the action is in effect, plus three years after the suspension ends or your driving privilege is reinstated.2California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 1808 The record also lists your license status, class, and expiration date, along with basic identifying information.
One point that surprises people: accidents appear whether or not you were at fault. The DMV logs every reportable accident, and the three-year clock runs from the accident date regardless of who caused it.
Request It Online for $2
The fastest and cheapest way to pull your record is through the DMV’s online portal. The fee is $2, and you can print the record as soon as payment clears.1California DMV. Online Driver Record Request
- Create a DMV online account if you don’t already have one.
- Pay the $2 fee by credit card, debit card, or direct bank transfer. Card payments add a 1.95 percent processing fee; bank transfers do not.
- Print the record right away. You get one chance to view and print it. Close the confirmation page without printing and you’ll have to pay again.
Your home address only prints if you specifically request it and the address you enter matches what the DMV has on file. It never appears on the on-screen version.1California DMV. Online Driver Record Request You can only pull your own record through the online system; it won’t let you look up anyone else.
Important limitation: the online copy is a printout from your own printer, not a stamped certified copy. Many employers, insurers, and courts require certification, so check what the requesting party will accept before you pay for the cheaper version.
Request a Certified Copy With Form INF 1125
If you need a stamped certified copy, use Form INF 1125, “Request for Your Own Driver License/Identification Card or Vehicle/Vessel Registration Information Record.” The fee is $5 whether you file in person or by mail.3Cornell Law Institute. Cal Code Regs Tit 13, 350.44 – Cost of Information
Filling Out the Form
INF 1125 asks for your full legal name as it appears in DMV records, your California driver license or ID card number, and your date of birth.4California Department of Motor Vehicles. Request for Own Driver License/Identification Card or Vehicle/Vessel Registration Information Record It does not ask for your Social Security number. You can download the form from the DMV website or pick one up at any field office. Check the box for a driver license record, fill in the identifying fields, and attach your $5 payment.
In Person at a Field Office
A field office visit gets you a certified copy the same day. Scheduling an appointment through the DMV’s online portal cuts the wait substantially compared to walking in. Bring a valid photo ID so the clerk can verify your identity before releasing the record.
By Mail
Send the completed INF 1125 and your $5 payment to DMV Headquarters at the address printed on the form. The current address listed on the DMV’s online portal is Department of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 944247, MS G199, Sacramento, CA 94244-2470.1California DMV. Online Driver Record Request Confirm the address on the version of the form you download, because older printed copies may show a different mail stop code. Mailed requests take several weeks; the DMV verifies the form and payment before sending the certified record to the address on file.
Fix Errors Before Someone Else Sees Them
Pulling your own record before an employer or insurer does is the point of ordering one proactively. If an entry looks wrong, like an accident you weren’t involved in, a conviction that should have dropped off, or incorrect personal information, you can ask the DMV to review and correct it. For disputed accident entries, the DMV has a specific review process. Contact your local field office or reach the DMV by phone to start a dispute, and bring supporting documentation like court dismissal paperwork or a corrected police report. Fixing an error before a background check runs is far easier than explaining the discrepancy afterward.
Quick Reference
- Online fee: $2, printed by you, not certified.
- Mail or in person: $5, certified stamped copy.
- Form: INF 1125 for mail and in-person requests.
- Information needed: full legal name, California driver license or ID number, date of birth.
- DUI entries: visible for 10 years from the offense date.
- Two-point violations: visible for 7 years.
- Accidents and minor violations: visible for 3 years.
- Suspensions and revocations: visible while active plus 3 years after reinstatement.