Is your insurance company asking for a copy of your CT driving record?
Are you wondering how many points you’ve accumulated?
Are you required to submit your driving record to court?
There are many reasons why you’d need to obtain your driving record.
This is why, today, we’re going to give you a complete guide on how to get your Connecticut driving record.
We won’t leave out any detail, so you know exactly how to do it.
Plus, we’ll also talk about how you can improve your record, as well as discuss the Connecticut point system.
So are you ready?
Let’s begin!
Types of Driving Records in Connecticut
Unlike other states, Connecticut only has one type of driving record. However, this can contain several legal information about your license, such as:
- Personal Information
- License Information
- Driver History
Let’s take a quick look at each of these.
Personal Information
This section of your driving record contains the information verifying your identity. These include your name, contact details, address, and security details.
When you get hold of your record, make sure that these are accurate, especially if you know that there have been recent changes in your info. For example, you may have changed your name because you got married or had a change in address because of a recent move.
License Information
This section details all information connected to your driver’s license. It tells you your license number and license classification.
You’ll also see when it was issued and the expiration date. If you have any endorsements and restrictions, these should also appear in this section.
Driver History
You’ll find traffic points and violations in this segment (if you have any). You must check it and ensure it reflects accurate information.
When a prospective employer checks your driving record, this is where they focus their attention. It’s also what insurance companies review before finalizing your policy premium.
How Can You Get Your Driving Record in Connecticut?
You can request a copy of your Connecticut driving records in 3 ways — online, in person, or through the mail.
Let’s go through the steps for each one.
Online
Yes, you can request your driving record from the comfort of your home. Note that it has to be yours. If you want someone else’s, you’ll have to do it through the mail.
That out of the way, here’s what you need to do:
- Prepare the following information. You’ll need to encode this during your request. Here is what to prepare:
- Your complete name as it appears on your driver’s license
- Your date of birth
- Your street address
- Your driver’s license number
- Your Social Security number
- A debit or credit card
- Go to the DMV’s online portal to request your driving record. Most drivers in Connecticut have an online account. If you don’t have one, you can still proceed with the process by clicking on Continue as Guest.
- Follow the prompts on the site. You will have to pay a $20 fee.
- Once you’ve completed the process, you’ll have access to your driving record for 30 days. You can download it and have it printed to save it.
In-Person
Your second option is to request your driving history in person. It’s not as efficient as an online transaction, but it might be the only option if you don’t have access to the internet.
And again, you can only use this if requesting for YOUR record. If you’re requesting someone else’s, you have to do it through the mail.
To get your driving record in person, do the following:
- Make an appointment through the DMV website. It should be in one of these locations since they release certified copies of driving records:
- Stamford DMV Office
- Milford Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
- North Haven Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
- Norwalk Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
- Participating AAA Office
Note: You may need to pay an additional fee if you go to a Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union or an AAA office.
- Prepare the necessary documents below:
- A Completed hard copy of the Copy Records Request Form.
- Put a check on Driving History and indicate whether it’s for a regular license or a CDL.
- Fill in Section 1 on the lower portion of the form.
- Write the necessary information in the Applicant section.
- An ID with your photo
- Go to your scheduled appointment and get a certified copy of your driving record. Remember that you have to pay a $20 fee.
The third option is to request your driving records by mail. This is mostly used for individuals that want to get someone else’s record.
Here’s what you should do:
- Complete a physical copy of the Copy Records Request Form.
- Check the box requesting a copy of a driving record.
- Fill in section 1 with the necessary details.
- In the Request section, indicate the applicable code for your request. You can find the complete list on page two.
- Complete the Applicant section with the needed information.
- Enclose it in an envelope along with the following
- A $20 check payable to the DMV
- A photocopy of a requestor’s ID
- Mail all documents to this address:
Department of Motor Vehicles
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Attention: Copy Records
- You’ll receive a certified copy of the driving record in your mail.
So those were the 3 ways to get your Connecticut driving record.
Pretty easy, right?
How to Improve Your Connecticut Driving Record
Say you have your driving record in your hand and you see that you’ve accumulated a lot of points.
Oh no!
How can you improve it?
Unfortunately, Connecticut does not have a point reduction program. Any points on your license will remain on your record for 24 months.
However, there are things you can do to avoid adding points to it, which we’ll talk about now.
Attend a Defensive Driving Course
Let’s be clear. Completing traffic school or a defensive driving course will not remove a point from your record.
However, it might help you get your ticket dismissed. The operative word is might. State law doesn’t guarantee it.
Judges and courts may allow a dismissal, but it’s on a case-to-case basis. Be sure to request permission from the court handling your case.
Besides a possible ticket dismissal, a defensive driving course may also qualify you for a car insurance discount. Although the amount would vary between insurers, you’ll probably get anything between 5% and 20%.
Deal with Penalties Responsibly
If you’ve committed a violation, the best thing is to face the consequences and bear the responsibility that comes with it.
Pay your penalties on time. And if you need to appear in court, don’t skip it.
A no-show is an automatic admission of guilt, which means you’ll get a conviction. An appearance gives you a chance to say your side of the story.
Avoid Repeat Offenses
Not having a clean driving record has consequences. Even if it isn’t a severe driving violation, such as a DUI, you’ll still experience repercussions.
You’ll need to pay fines and get points on your license. And it gets worse if you commit the same offense.
Fines are higher, and there are more consequences. These may include license suspensions and possible jail time.
If you want to improve your driving record, avoiding repeat offenses is crucial. The points on your license remain for some time, and if you keep committing the same mistakes on the road, it means your record never becomes clean.
Practice Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means being more mindful of your driving habits and being more aware of other drivers’ behavior on the road. It lowers the chances of getting into a collision or any other untoward incidents.
Its core lies in having a high level of awareness. Spotting potential hazards early give you more time to react.
You can’t assume that others will be on their best behavior. Ensure you have a three-second gap between you and the car in front of you. This way, if it suddenly stops, you have a chance of avoiding a crash.
Communicate your intentions to other drivers and pedestrians. Use your horn and signal lights for this.
Rid yourself of distractions like gadgets, loud music, or food.
And don’t forget to wear your seatbelt!
Understanding the Point System in Connecticut
Each time you commit a violation, you get points on your record. Here’s a list of Connecticut’s point system:
| Points | Violations |
| 1 | Speeding, illegal turn, illegal lane usage, failure to signal, using a cellphone, wrong way on a one-way street, failure to give proper signal, improper backing or starting |
| 2 | Child restraint violation, work zone violation, impeding traffic, disobeying a traffic officer, turning from the wrong lane, sign violations (i.e. railroad crossing) |
| 3 | Improper passing, failure to grant right-of-way (either to another vehicle or a pedestrian), driving while impaired |
| 4 | Tailgating, passing a stopped bus, racing, driving with the intent to harass |
| 5 | School bus speeding, negligent homicide |
Knowing how many points you have on your license is vital. This is because the DMV will take action when you accumulate a specific number of points. These are as follows:
- 6 points — You’ll receive a warning from the DMV. It’ll state potential consequences if you continue to commit violations.
- 10 or more points — The DMV suspends your license.
- 10 or more points after a 30-day license suspension — Your license will remain suspended until you have less than 10 points. Remember, points are removed only after 24 months.
The Wrap Up
Your driving record is a crucial document, so remember to check it regularly to ensure you’re updated.
Not only that, there are times when you’ll be asked to present it to, say, your insurance provider or the court.
Whatever the case, you can request it in 3 ways:
- Online
- In-person
- By mail
This gives you the convenience to choose whichever will suit YOU best.
And, no matter what channel you choose, it’s crucial to do your best to keep it clean. If your driving record is less than ideal, you can do several things to improve it. These include completing a defensive driving course, avoiding repeat offenses, and practicing defensive driving.
Don’t forget about Connecticut’s point system. Understanding it can help you avoid having your license suspended.