Driving record for insurance
Your insurer reads your driving record every time it prices your policy. You can read it too.
Updated 13 November 2026
What the insurer does
When you ask for a quote or your policy comes up for renewal, the insurer orders your record from the state. Convictions for moving violations and at-fault crashes in the last three to five years are what usually move the price.
Why check it yourself
- To find out why a premium went up
- To make sure an old ticket has dropped off before you shop around
- To catch an entry that is not yours
You cannot hand your own copy to an insurer to get a better price. They order their own. Checking yours tells you what they will find.
The other report insurers read
Claims are recorded separately, in a CLUE report, which you can get free once a year. See driving record or CLUE report.
Which record to order
The standard one, usually three years, covers what most insurers look at.
See your own record
Your record shows exactly what is on file for you. Pick the state that issued your license.
Related
- CLUE report or driving record
Your driving record comes from the state and lists violations. A CLUE report comes from an insurance database and lists claims. Insurers use both.
- How long do accidents stay on your record?
Usually three to five years on your driving record, depending on the state. Insurers also keep their own claims history for up to seven years.
- How many points is a speeding ticket?
Usually 2 to 4 points, and more the faster you were going. It depends on your state, and some states do not use points at all.
- Check your driving record
How to check your driving record: what you will see, when it is worth checking, and how to order a copy of your own record from any state.