Need to get hold of your Georgia driving record?
Don’t know where to go?
We’re here to help.
Today, we’re going to talk about how to get a Georgia driving record. We’re going to give you a complete guide on how to get it online, in person, and through the mail.
Not only that, but we’ll also talk a bit more about the driving record itself — the different types available, how to improve it, and more.
So let’s get started right away!
Types of Driving Records in Georgia
Georgia has 2 primary types of driving records – certified and non-certified.
The secondary types vary on the duration covered, e.g., 3-year, 7-year, and lifetime.
Certified Driving Record
A certified driving record is a record verified and stamped by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). It contains your full driving record from the date your license was given. It also has your personal information and license status.
Because this driving record is an official record, you cannot get this copy from other offices and third parties. Likewise, you can’t view it online.
Instead, you need to request this directly to the Georgia DDS.
Certified driving records are used in investigations, employment, government agencies, and other official businesses.
Non-Certified Driving Record
A non-certified driving record is used for personal documentation or if you just want to know how many points or violations you’ve incurred.
You still have to request this from the Georgia DDS, but you can access it from the convenience of your home. You can directly print it from the Georgia DDS website.
However, since it is not certified, you cannot use it for employment or legal purposes.
How to Get My Driving Record in Georgia
Now that you know which type of driving record you need, let’s go through the steps on how to get it.
As we mentioned above, you can get your driving record:
- Online
- In-person
- By mail
Let’s go through these channels one by one.
How to Get Your GA Driving Record Online
Getting your driving record has never been easier!
You simply need to:
- Visit the Georgia DDS Online Services website
- Select ‘Purchase Driving History (MVR)’ under Motor Vehicle Report
- Create an account (if you don’t already have one)
- Choose which type of MVR you want to get (3-year, 7-year, certified, or non-certified)
- Pay online using a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover). The fee is $6 for 3-year records and $8 for 7-year records.
- View your driving record
As easy and convenient as that!
For even more convenience, you can request your driving record in the Georgia DDS mobile app. Simply download the DDS 2 GO mobile app available for Android and iOS and follow the same steps above.
Note: if you request a certified driving record online, you cannot view it. You have to wait for it to be mailed to your address.
How to Get Your GA Driving Record In-Person
What if you want to get your lifetime driving record?
Or, say you need immediate access to your certified driving record.
Well, the fastest way to get that is to go to a DDS Customer Service Center.
If so, then here are the steps you need to follow:
- Fill up the Motor Vehicle Request Form. You may do this in advance or you can fill this up in the office. NOTE: only original copies are allowed.
- Provide your full name, date of birth, and your Georgia license number
- Choose which type of MVR you want
- Pay at the office using credit/debit cards or cash. The fees are $6 for 3 years and $8 for 7 years and lifetime. NOTE: checks are not allowed.
After that, you will receive your GA driving record.
How to Get Your GA Driving Record by Mail
If you are unable to visit an office for whatever reason, then you can request a certified and lifetime driving record through the mail.
Here is how to order your GA driving record by mail:
- Fill up the Motor Vehicle Request Form. Choose either a 3-year, 7-year, or lifetime copy of your driving record.
- Include your name as it appears on your Georgia driver’s license, your license number, date of birth, and complete mailing address.
- Pay via check and address it to the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Remember, it costs $6 for a 3-year record, while 7-year and lifetime records cost $8.
- Send a stamped envelope with the form and check inside to:
Georgia Department of Driver Services
MVR Request
Post Office Box 80447
Conyers, Georgia 30013
- Wait for your driving record to arrive via mail
How to Get Someone Else’s Driving Record in Georgia
If you want to get someone else’s GA driving record, then the steps are similar.
Only, this time, you need to bring identification and have an authorization letter that you are authorized by the person to get their record.
Since a driving record holds personal and confidential information about a person’s driving history, the DDS will not release your driving record to someone else without proper authorization. So no worries there.
How to Improve Your Georgia Driving Record
So you’ve just seen your driving record…
And let’s say it isn’t the cleanest.
Is there a way to improve it?
There is actually!
Every 5 years, you can request to get points reduced from your record. You can reduce a maximum of 7 points.
However, when requesting for point reduction, you need to do the following:
- Complete a Driver Improvement or Defensive Driving Course
- Bring your original Certificate of Completion to the DDS Customer Service Center
You can also request a point reduction by mail. You simply have to send the Certificate of Completion to this address:
Georgia Department of Driver Services
MVR Request
Post Office Box 80447
Conyers, Georgia 30013
Click here for all the state-approved Driver Improvement providers.
You might be asking, “Why do people want to improve their driving record?”
Well, more points equal higher insurance payments. Points can also affect your employment opportunities. Not to mention, if you accumulate 15 points, your driver’s license will get suspended.
Conclusion
Need to get hold of your GA driving record?
You now know what to get, where to get it, and how to get it.
To recap:
- You can get either a 3-year record, 7-year record, or lifetime record.
- You can get a certified record for legal and official purposes or a non-certified record for personal use
- You can only purchase a 3-year and 7-year record online.
- You cannot view a certified record online, but you can purchase it from the DDS website.
- A 3-year record costs $6, while a 7-year and lifetime record costs $8.
- For even more convenience, you can purchase your record from the DDS 2 GO mobile app
- If you can’t go to a DDS office and you need a lifetime record, then you can request it through the mail.
- If you need to improve your driving record, you can apply for point reduction by completing a Driver Improvement course.
So there you have it!
Your complete guide on how to get a Georgia driving record.