Driving History (MVR Reports)
Motor Vehicle Records from all 50 states and Canadian provinces — helping employers make safe, informed decisions about drivers.
Comprehensive MVR Screening
A Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report provides a detailed look at a candidate's driving history — an essential tool for any organization where employees operate vehicles on behalf of the company. Whether you call it a driving history check, driving record, or MVR, it’s the same thing: an official report from the state DMV showing a candidate’s license status, violations, and driving history.
Research Services retrieves MVR reports from all 50 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, giving you a complete picture of a candidate's driving record wherever they've held a license.
- Coverage from all 50 states and Canadian provinces
- 3–7 year history depending on state reporting rules
- Essential for transportation, delivery, and fleet employers
- DOT-compliant reporting available
Turnaround Time
Most MVR reports are returned the same business day the order is placed.
Exceptions:
- Guam — approximately 30 days
- Puerto Rico — approximately 8 weeks
- U.S. Virgin Islands — approximately 30 days
Same Day (most states)
What's Included in an MVR Report
License validity & current status
License class & endorsements
Medical certifications (CDL)
Moving violations & citations
License suspensions & revocations
Points accumulated on record
Why MVR Screening Matters
For employers whose staff drive company vehicles, make deliveries, or transport clients, an MVR check is a critical component of any background screening program.
The risk is not hypothetical. A single accident involving an unqualified driver can expose your organization to:
- Direct liability under negligent entrustment doctrine — a principle also recognized under Connecticut law — which holds employers responsible when they allow someone with a known poor driving record to drive for work
- Insurance consequences including denied coverage for at-fault accidents, dropped commercial policies, or significant premium increases
- Regulatory penalties for DOT-regulated industries that fail to maintain current MVRs on file
- Reputational damage when an employee accident makes the news
Running an MVR at hire and monitoring it throughout employment is the most defensible way to prove due diligence and protect the business.
Ongoing Driving History Monitoring
Pre-hire checks tell you who a driver was when you hired them. Ongoing monitoring tells you who they are now. When an employee receives a new violation, suspension, or DUI after hire, you find out automatically — without waiting for their next renewal cycle.
Research Services supports continuous MVR monitoring programs for fleets of all sizes. Set the frequency that fits your risk profile and we handle the rest — no contracts, no minimums.
Industries That Rely on Driving History Reports
Healthcare & Home CareDriving records for home health aides, companion care workers, and medical transport staff.
Municipal & GovernmentVolunteer firefighters, public works crews, and town employees operating municipal vehicles.
Staffing AgenciesCustom driving history packages for transport, delivery, and field placement candidates.
Sales & Field RepresentativesAny role where employees drive personal or company vehicles to clients or job sites.
Common Questions
How quickly are driving history reports returned?
Most driving history reports are returned the same business day the order is placed. Exceptions include Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (~30 days each) and Puerto Rico (~8 weeks). For the vast majority of U.S. states, including Connecticut, results come back same day.
How far back does a driving history report go?
Typically 3–7 years depending on the state’s reporting rules. In Connecticut, the standard lookback is 3 years for most violations. However, more serious offenses — DUI, Evading Responsibility, and Driving Under Suspension — are reported for 7 years on Connecticut driving records.
How is a driving history report different from a criminal background check?
A driving history report pulls from the state DMV and shows license status, violations, suspensions, and driving-related offenses. A
criminal background check pulls from court records and covers all criminal offenses — not just driving-related ones. A DUI may appear on both. For any role involving driving, most employers run both.
What is the DPPA and does it affect ordering driving records?
The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) restricts access to DMV records. Employers ordering driving history reports for employment screening have a permissible use under the DPPA, but must obtain written authorization from the applicant before ordering. This is handled as part of your standard FCRA disclosure and consent process.
Can I order driving records from multiple states?
Yes. Research Services can pull driving history records from all 50 states and Canadian provinces. A license number from the issuing state is required — blind searches aren’t available. In practice, most searches are run on the candidate’s current license. If a candidate has held licenses in other states and you have those license numbers, we can pull those records too.
Do you offer continuous driving record monitoring?
Yes. Ongoing monitoring alerts you automatically when a current employee’s driving record changes — a new violation, suspension, or DUI — without waiting for their next scheduled check. Contact us to set up a monitoring program for your fleet or workforce.
Hiring drivers in Connecticut? Connecticut reports pull directly from CT DMV and follow state-specific rules around CDL classes, endorsements, and violation point tiers. Most Connecticut driving history reports are returned the same business day.
From home health aides and school bus drivers to municipal employees and delivery crews, Connecticut employers across every industry rely on driving records as part of their standard screening. For a full breakdown of CT CDL classes, violation tiers, endorsements, and what employers should flag, see our Connecticut driver history guide.