Your driving record is a mirror that reflects your habits behind the wheel. If you’re a safe driver, you probably have a clean record, unless an error has been made. But if you’re reckless or treat the highway like a NASCAR racetrack, you’ve probably been nailed for at least one violation, and that means you most likely have a less-than-stellar driving record.
To understand why you should order your Oklahoma driving record, it’s important to know how violations affect the status of your driver’s license.
The Point System
In Oklahoma, every driver starts out with a clean driving record that contains exactly zero points. That’s a good thing, because when it comes to your driving history, points are bad things that won’t win you any prizes.
When you get busted for traffic violations, between one and four points are added to your license, depending on the infraction. If you earn ten points over the course of five years, you’d better pump up your bike tires, because your license will be suspended for a month. The second time you get your license suspended due to points, it’ll be for three months. The third time it happens, you’re looking at six months, and after that, you won’t be allowed behind the wheel for an entire year. But hopefully, you’ll learn your lesson the first time and change your maniacal ways.
You can read your Oklahoma Driver’s Manual for a list of violations and the number of points each one earns.
The Types of Driving Record in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) is maintained and updated by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) Records Management Division. They issue two types of MVRs: the non-certified and the certified driving record.
Both non-certified and certified driving records will include information from the last 3 years of your driving history, including:
- traffic violations
- convictions
- accidents you got involved in
Both non-certified and certified driving records can be accessed by your insurance company if they need to adjust your insurance premiums.
If you’re on a job hunt, your potential employers can also access them to conduct pre-employment screenings or background checks.
What’s more, government agencies, courts, and anyone who needs the data for statistics and research can get their hands on your driving record.
All purposes for requesting copies of your driving record should be included in the list of authorized uses found on the Records Request and Consent to Release Form or the Form DPS 303RM. Otherwise, they won’t be able to request your record.
How to Order Your Driving Record
You can order your Oklahoma driving record in person or through the mail.
The Department of Public Safety doesn’t offer an online service to obtain your record, but you can go through a third-party provider to get it over the Internet and save money on stamps or gas.
To order by mail or in person, you’ll need to fill out Form DPS 303RM 0097 and get a cashier’s check, certified check, or money order in the amount of $25. If you’re getting your record in person, you can use cash. Personal checks are not accepted.
If you’re using the United States Postal Service, mail the form along with your payment to:
Department of Public Safety
Records Management Division
P.O. Box 11415
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415
If you’re using UPS, FedEx, or another carrier, send the form and payment to:
Department of Public Safety
Records Management Division
3600 North Martin Luther King Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
To get your record in person, go to the Department of Public Safety, located in Room 206 at 3600 North Martin Luther King Avenue, which is at the southeast corner of Northeast 36th and Martin Luther King Avenue.
Why Order Your Oklahoma Driving Record?
Here’s the deal. Your driving record isn’t private information. Insurance companies use it to determine your auto insurance premium. Employers use it to conduct a background check, and if your job requires driving, your record had better be clean or you probably won’t get offered the position. Courts can obtain your driving record for any number of reasons.
Knowing where you stand in terms of points earned and checking your Oklahoma driving record for accuracy is a good idea so that you can either breathe easy knowing you’re a great driver, or shore up your driving skills and stop getting pulled over already. Points can add up fast, depending on the violations, and staying on top of your driving history may help motivate you to stop for that red light even though you’re late for work again.
If you find an error on your driving record, contact the Department of Public Safety by phone at 405-425-2262.
How to Get Points Removed
Luckily, points on your license don’t stay there forever. For every 12-month period during which you earn no points, two points will be removed from your license.
After three consecutive years of clean driving after your last violation, the slate is wiped clean and you go back to zero points.
You can get two points taken off your license by attending traffic school, but unless you’re a truly awful driver, need a clean record for a job, or you’re up to your eyeballs in points, I wouldn’t recommend that route, because it can be expensive, not to mention one of the longest days of your life.
If you decide to attend traffic school, I’d recommend taking it online for convenience and affordability. However, make sure to seek permission from your court handler first before you enroll.
If so, you can check out the courses offered by GoToTrafficSchool and iDriveSafely.
GoToTrafficSchool offers the most affordable course and is also approved by the state of Oklahoma. They’ve recently updated their course material and the UI of their platform to include updated animations and videos to their well-researched lesson.
DriveSafely’s course is also state-approved. They offer options for text-based or video-based learning, so you can choose which one suits your learning style.
Hardship License
Depending on the violations in question and your circumstances, you may be able to get a hardship license that will allow you to get to and from work, church, or drug or alcohol treatment. The caveat is that you can only drive during daylight hours, and only to the places that are officially approved. These places won’t include the new X-Men premier or the bar, but at least you won’t have to get up an extra hour early every day to take the bus to work.
How to Order Your Driving Record
You can order your Oklahoma driving record in person or through the mail. The Department of Public Safety doesn’t offer an online service to obtain your record, but you can go through a third-party provider to get it over the Internet and save money on stamps or gas.
To order by mail or in person, you’ll need to fill out Form DPS 303RM 0097 and get a cashier’s check, certified check, or money order in the amount of $25. If you’re getting your record in person, you can use cash. Personal checks are not accepted.
If you’re using the United States Postal Service, mail the form along with your payment to:
Department of Public Safety
Records Management Division
P.O. Box 11415
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415
If you’re using UPS, FedEx, or another carrier, send the form and payment to:
Department of Public Safety
Records Management Division
3600 North Martin Luther King Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
To get your record in person, go to the Department of Public Safety, located in Room 206 at 3600 North Martin Luther King Avenue, which is at the southeast corner of Northeast 36th and Martin Luther King Avenue.