California driver record — how to get yours & what it shows

What’s on your driver record

Your California driver record is the DMV’s official history of your driving privilege. It lists your license or ID status, convictions (traffic violations), departmental actions such as suspensions or revocations, and accidents — kept on the record for 3, 7, or 10 years depending on the item.

Most of this is public record under Vehicle Code §1808, with one important exception: your residence address is confidential (§1808.21) and is released only to courts, law enforcement, and a few narrowly authorized parties.

Official vs unofficial copies

There are two versions of the same record:

• Non-certified ($2, online) — you view and print it yourself through MyDMV. Perfect for checking your own status, points, or whether a suspension is on file.
• Certified ($5, by mail or in person) — an official copy the DMV certifies. This is the one employers, courts, and insurers typically require. Request it with form INF 1125.

If someone has asked you for an “official” driving record, they almost always mean the certified copy.

How to get your own record

• Online — sign in to your free MyDMV account, request your driver record, and pay $2. You can view and print it immediately (non-certified).
• By mail — complete form INF 1125 (“Request for Your Own…Record”) and mail it with the $5 fee to DMV headquarters; a certified copy is mailed back.
• In person — request a certified copy at a DMV field office for $5.

Getting someone else’s record

You can’t pull just anyone’s driving record. Requesting another person’s record uses form INF 70 and requires a permissible purpose under Vehicle Code §1808.22 — for example, an insurer handling a claim, or an attorney in a case that directly involves the vehicle. Residence addresses stay confidential, the information may be used only for the stated purpose, and misuse carries civil penalties and misdemeanor liability.

Employers of drivers use a separate channel — the Employer Pull-Notice (EPN) program — which delivers automatic record updates for enrolled employees who have authorized it.