✓Your California driver record is your official driving history — license status, convictions, departmental actions (suspensions), and accidents, kept for 3, 7, or 10 years.
✓Get your own record online through MyDMV for $2 (view and print), or a certified copy by mail or in person for $5 (form INF 1125).
✓The online copy is non-certified; employers, courts, and legal matters usually need the certified ($5) version.
✓You can't pull just anyone's record — requesting another person's (form INF 70) requires a permissible purpose under the Vehicle Code.
Online$2non-certified, via MyDMV
Mail / in person$5certified (INF 1125)
Your own recordINF 1125
Another's recordINF 70 + reason
AccountMyDMV (online)
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.
Cost
Online (non-certified)
View and print through your MyDMV account.
$2
By mail or in person (certified)
Official certified copy — request with form INF 1125.
$5
Fee amounts are set by the California Code of Regulations, Title 13, §350.44 (Vehicle Code §1811 is the underlying authority). See the full DMV fee schedule.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a California driver record cost?
$2 for a non-certified record online through MyDMV, or $5 for a certified copy by mail or in person (form INF 1125). The amounts are set by California Code of Regulations, Title 13, §350.44. See the fee schedule.
Is this the same as the old 'H6' or 'K4' record?
Those are legacy terms — the internal 'H6' ("10-year record") was discontinued in March 2019, and 'K4' isn't current DMV wording either. Today it's simply your driver record, available as a certified or non-certified copy.
What's the difference between an official and unofficial driving record?
An official record is certified by the DMV (the $5 copy by mail or in person) and is what employers, courts, and insurers typically require. The $2 online copy is non-certified — fine for checking your own record, but not certified for official use.
Can I get someone else's driving record?
Not freely. Requesting another person's record (form INF 70) requires a permissible purpose under Vehicle Code §1808.22 — for example, an insurer handling a claim or an attorney in a related case. Residence addresses are confidential (§1808.21), and misusing record information carries civil and criminal penalties.
How do I check if my license is suspended?
Order your driver record — any suspension or revocation shows up under "departmental actions." There's no separate suspension-only lookup. See license suspensions for what to do next.
How long do convictions stay on my California driver record?
Depending on the offense, reportable items remain for 3, 7, or 10 years. More serious violations (and DUIs) stay on longer.
Can my employer check my driving record?
Employers of drivers can enroll in the DMV's Employer Pull-Notice (EPN) program, which sends them automatic updates when an enrolled employee's record changes — but only with the driver's authorization and an assigned requester code.