What is a clean driving record?

What people usually mean

When an employer or an insurer says "clean", they generally mean that the record shows none of these within the period they look at:

• Convictions for moving violations, such as speeding or running a red light
• At-fault crashes
• License suspensions or revocations
• Serious offenses such as driving under the influence or reckless driving

Parking tickets do not count. They are not moving violations and do not normally appear on a driving record.

How far back they look

That depends on who is asking. Insurers commonly look at the last three to five years. Employers often ask for three to seven. Serious offenses can count for longer, and some states keep them on the record for decades.

How to find out if yours is clean

Order your own record and read it. That is the only way to see what an employer or insurer will see, and it lets you catch mistakes before they do. How to get your record.

If it is not

• Most entries drop off on their own after a set number of years.
• Some states remove points if you complete an approved driving course. See how to get points off your license.
• If an entry is wrong, the state agency that issued your license is the one that can correct it.