Motor vehicle record (MVR) reports

A motor vehicle record (MVR) report provides an individual's driving history according to the government responsible for issuing drivers' licenses. In the United States, this responsibility is typically state or territorial departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) or similar agencies.

MVR reports have driving record information to help you assess the risks of potential and current employees.

Available MVR report types

MVR reports

MVR reports search driving-related records for all license types, including records that criminal searches can't find.

MVR reports include convictions like driving under the influence (DUI) that might not appear in criminal searches.

Commercial MVR reports

Commercial MVR reports are specialized for hiring drivers with commercial drivers' licenses (CDLs).

Commercial MVR reports include CDLIS searches and medical certificate data, and comply with FMCSA regulations.

Continuous MVR reports

Continuous MVR reports provide ongoing monitoring and are available only for renewal.

Cotinuous MVR reports check monthly for new records and generate a report of changes.

Order an MVR report

To order an MVR report, use the steps below: 

1. Confirm that you have the candidate-provided information below:
   • Birth date
   • License issuing government (state DMV)
   • License number
2. Select "Order background check."
3. Complete the required fields, including the candidate's location, how the candidate of candidate information entry, and candidate contact information.
4. Select Continue.
5. On the "Select your package" page, search for the package or search that most closely meets your needs. 
6. Review and submit your order.

If you encounter issues ordering reports or don't see the MVR package you need to order, refer to Troubleshoot issues when ordering background checks.

Information included in MVR reports

Governments might differ in the information they report, but MVR reports usually include the information below:

• Full name
• Current license status (active, expired, suspended)
• Current license type (commercial or passenger)
• Current license class (A through D)
• Current license expiration date
• Current license issue date
• Current license first issued date
• Restrictions
• Endorsements
• Suspensions
• Violations
• Accidents (doesn't report fault)
• Medical certificates (if applicable)

 

MVR report turnaround time

• MVR reports usually complete within 24 hours.
• Most MVR reports complete within a few minutes.

Handling incomplete MVR reports

If Checkr can't find a matching MVR, it’s usually because the candidate incorrectly entered their personally identifying information. In this situation, Checkr automatically emails the candidate asking them to submit an image of their driver's license so that the search can continue.

MVR reports video overview

Play the Checkr Academy video below to learn the advantages and limitations of an MVR report.

State-specific requirements for MVR reports

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania requires an affidavit to order MVR reports, which can delay MVR report orders. For more information, refer to FAQs about state-specific database searches (CORI, PATCH, and PennDOT).

Unavailable locations

MVR reports are unavailable for the locations below:

• American Samoa (AS)
• Guam (GU)
• Northern Mariana Islands (MP)
• US Virgin Islands (VI)
• US Armed Forces - Americas (AA)
• US Armed Forces - Europe (AE)
• US Armed Forces - Pacific (AP)

You can set rules that evaluate a candidate’s motor vehicle record (MVR) and determine the report’s status. MVR rules apply in the United States (US) only.

Default MVR rules

Checkr uses the default rules below for MVR reports:

• Driver must be licensed to drive a passenger vehicle or motorcycle
• Driver must be over 18
• No cell phone or distracted driving violation in the past three years
• No major violation in the past five years (such as DUIs or speeding 40+ mph over the limit)
• No more than one moving violation in the past three years AND no more than one accident in the past three years
• No more than two accidents in the past three years
• No more than two moving violations in the past three years (such as failure to stop at a stop sign, following too closely, or improper passing)

You can change the default rules by package and by geographical region to match the drivers you hire. Checkr recommends that customers customize their rules to match their hiring needs. 

Hiring commercial drivers 

Customized rules are especially useful for customers who hire commercial drivers. For example, if you hire a commercial driver, you should confirm that they have a commercial driver's license (CDL).

When a commercial MVR report includes driving histories for multiple licenses, the same customized rules apply for each driving history.

To change the default rules, contact Checkr.

Custom MVR rules

Accident-based rules

You can set accident-based rules based on the items below:

• Fatality
• Personal injury
• Property damage
• Years since the accident

Violation-based rules

If you set violation-based rules, you can assign significance to violation categories that you specify. Checkr lets you customize violations with classification codes based on the AAMVA Code Dictionary (ACD). For example, a rule that requires drivers to have no more than five moving violations applies to violations that you've categorized as “moving violation.” Uncategorized violations or violations in different categories don't count toward this particular rule.

Driving history rules

Driving history rules let you require that candidates have a certain number of years of driving history. To validate a candidate’s driving history, opt in to Checkr’s Previous License History Collection feature. If the candidate's current license doesn't meet your minimum-driving-experience rule, Checkr asks for previous license information for additional reports. The feature itself doesn't cost anything, but service and passthrough DMV fees apply. To opt in, contact Checkr.

For more information on non-commercial US MVR reports, refer to US motor vehicle record (MVR) reports.

Commercial MVR reports

For customers subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, Checkr's commercial MVR report searches commercial driver’s license (CDL) records. 

By default, Checkr validates the current license and searches the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) for previous commercial driver's licenses. If Checkr finds additional CDLs for a candidate in CDLIS, Checkr searches the driving history for each CDL.

If your hiring needs differ, you can request a commercial MVR option below:

• Validate current license only.
• Validate current license, search CDLIS, and collect previous licenses if CDLIS results don't meet the minimum required years of commercial driving history. 

To order a commercial MVR report, you must have the candidate-provided information below:

• Birth date
• License issuing government
• License number
• Social Security number

MVR data cancellation

If you encounter "Cancellation Reason: Unable to fulfill MVR request as data is not available," it's likely that a commercial MVR was run on someone who does not have a CDL.  

State-specific requirements for commercial MVR reports

New Hampshire

New Hampshire law requires that employers of commercial drivers complete a New Hampshire certificate of authority. Certificates of authority expire on December 31. Employers must complete a new certificate of authority at the end of each calendar year.

To apply for a New Hampshire Certificate of Authority, use the steps below:

1. Open the Certificate of Authority request template.
2. Copy the contents of the request template to your company letterhead. New Hampshire requires that your request be on company letterhead.
3. Complete the request.
4. Print and sign the request.
5. Submit the request to the Concord DMV.
6. Submit the certificate of authority request to Checkr using our Continuous MVR - State Enrollment Form and store a printed copy.

After the State of New Hampshire approves the request, Checkr enables your account.

Utah

Access to Utah commercial MVR reports requires an account and a business profile with the state of Utah. You can order commercial MVR reports for Utah driver's licenses only after you have both an account and a business profile. It takes about 15 minutes to get an account and business profile from the state of Utah.

Use the steps below to get access to Utah commercial MVR reports:

1. Go to Utah.gov Account Management.
2. Create a Utah.gov account.
3. After you verify your account, log in to Utah.gov with your new account and add your federal employee identification number (FEIN). If your FEIN is already in the system, ask your organization's account holder to add you to your account.
4. Read and agree to the terms and conditions.

After you receive notification that Utah approved your account, use the steps below to add Checkr to your account:

1. Log in to your Utah.gov Business Profile.
2. Select Add Relationship.
3. Enter Vendor ID: A7RLADEUTQ
4. Enter sub-vendor: Q75XGSAH73
5. Select Save Relationship.
6. Contact Checkr to tell your Customer Support Representative that you're ready to order commercial MVR reports in Utah.

Utah provides videos about setting up an account, business profiles, and relationships.

Continuous MVR reports

Continuous MVR (motor vehicle record) monitors your drivers' records for driving violations and license status changes. When Continuous MVR detects a change to a driver’s record, you get a full MVR report.

As each state's permissible purpose law allows, states offer the monitoring services below:

• • Violation monitoring: Violation monitoring provides information about violations, including those below:
    • Driving under the influence (DUI)
    • Driving with a suspended license
    • Failure to obey a traffic signal
    • Speeding

• Status monitoring: Status monitoring provides information about license status changes or revocations. Some states provide the reason for the suspension or revocation.
• Accident monitoring: Accident monitoring provides data about accidents that occurred. Certain states may only inform of accidents that occurred if the driver was at fault.

You can use Checkr's default MVR rules or customize your own to adjudicate your reports.

Continuous MVR billing

After Checkr receives your Continuous MVR order, Checkr adds Continuous MVR to your invoice. Your invoice might include several lines for Continuous MVR, including passthrough fees.

Beginning the first month of each driver's enrollment, Checkr collects a monthly service fee for each enrolled driver. Some states also collect fees for the events below:

• Each driver enrollment
• Each MVR report that Continuous MVR produces
• The anniversary of each driver’s enrollment

Your invoice lists charges for each MVR report that Continuous MVR generates.

If a state doesn't enroll a driver, Checkr removes the driver from Continuous MVR and you stop paying for their enrollment.

State-specific requirements for Continuous MVR

State requirements don't apply to all drivers working in that state, only those registered to drive in that state. For example, if your driver drives in Texas but is registered in California, you'd complete and file California’s forms before enrolling them in Continuous MVR.

You must complete the appropriate state-specific requirements to enroll drivers in Continuous MVR in that state. Checkr strongly recommends that you complete all state-specific forms to ensure that you can enroll all drivers on your account in Continuous MVR.

California

The EPN program provides alerts about new information on an employee’s driving record, such as license suspensions or convictions. For more information about the program, please see Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program.

If you don't already have an EPN requester code, use the steps below to apply for one:

1. Complete the Employer Pull Notice Program Application. 
2. After you receive your requester code, complete the Employer Pull Notice Program Agent Authorization. This is the document that authorizes Checkr to search records on your behalf.
3. Submit the completed Employer Pull Notice Program Agent Authorization to Checkr using our Continuous MVR - State Enrollment Form and store a printed copy.
4. Identify people who have access to DMV records.
5. Collect names and signatures of the people you identified in the Information Security Statement.
6. Complete the rest of the statement.
7. Submit the completed Information Security Statement to Checkr using our Continuous MVR - State Enrollment Form and store a printed copy.
   • You must update the Information Security Statement annually.

If you already have an EPN requester code, and an authorized agent, use the steps below to change your authorized agent to Checkr:

1. Notify your current authorized agent that you're changing to another vendor.
2. Complete the Employer Pull Notice Change of Account Information Form.
3. Submit the form to the State of California within ten days of hiring Checkr.

To add drivers who aren't required to enroll in EPN to the EPN program, use the steps below:

1. Give the driver a copy of Authorization for Release of Driver Record Information to complete.
2. After the driver completes the authorization, ask your EPN Authorized Representative to sign the authorization.
3. Submit the completed Authorization for Release of Driver Record Information to Checkr using our Continuous MVR - State Enrollment Form and store a printed copy.

Colorado

Colorado law requires that employers of commercial drivers complete the Colorado Release and Affidavit of Intended Use to order a driver's record.

To get consent from a driver to request their MVR report, use the steps below:

1. Complete the Colorado Release and Affidavit of Intended Use.
2. Submit the Colorado Release and Affidavit of Intended Use to Checkr using our Continuous MVR - State Enrollment Form and store a printed copy.

 

Utah

Access to Utah commercial MVR reports requires an account and a business profile with the state of Utah. You can order commercial MVR reports for Utah driver's licenses only after you have both an account and a business profile. It takes about 15 minutes to get an account and business profile from the state of Utah.

Use the steps below to get access to Utah commercial MVR reports:

1. Go to Utah.gov Account Management.
2. Create a Utah.gov account.
3. After you verify your account, log in to Utah.gov with your new account and add your federal employee identification number (FEIN). If your FEIN is already in the system, ask your organization's account holder to add you to your account.
4. Read and agree to the terms and conditions.

After you receive notification that Utah approved your account, use the steps below to add Checkr to your account:

1. Log in to your Utah.gov Business Profile.
2. Select Add Relationship.
3. Enter Vendor ID: A7RLADEUTQ
4. Enter sub-vendor: Q75XGSAH73
5. Select Save Relationship.
6. Contact Checkr to tell your Customer Support Representative that you're ready to order commercial MVR reports in Utah.

Utah provides videos about setting up an account, business profiles, and relationships.

If you hire certain commercial drivers that the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates the checks below:

• DOT drug and alcohol test
• DOT employment verification
• DOT physical evaluation
• Commercial motor vehicle record (MVR) report with CDLIS search
• Drug and alcohol clearinghouse report

DOT checks are available for candidates in the United States (US) and are available as add-ons.
Checkr recommends the custom packages below based on your hiring needs:

• Commercial drivers' license fleet
  
  • Essential package
  • Commercial MVR report
  • DOT drug and alcohol test
  • DOT employment verification
  • DOT physical evaluation
  • Drug and alcohol clearinghouse report
• Non-commercial drivers' license fleet
  
  • Essential package
  • MVR report
  • Clinic-based or onsite drug and alcohol test
  • DOT employment verification
  • DOT physical evaluation

DOT drug and alcohol tests

Collectors, employers, lab staff, and medical review officers (MROs) must follow strict testing and collection guidelines for DOT drug and breath alcohol tests.

The DOT drug test includes the substances below:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates (opium and codeine derivatives)
• Amphetamines and methamphetamines
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

The DOT alcohol test 

The Checkr Dashboard usually has test results within three days of the candidate completing the appointment. Medical review officer (MRO) review extends the average turnaround time up to ten business days.

DOT drug and alcohol tests are available as add-ons or as standalone searches.

DOT employment verification

A DOT employment verification meets FMCSA requirements and verifies the information below:

• Confirm the candidate's past three years of employment.
• Ask about the candidate's safety performance history.
• Ask about the candidate's drug and alcohol history.

The turnaround time for DOT employment verification varies depending on the responsiveness of the candidate's previous employers.

You can verify the candidate's current employer, or the last 3, 5, 7, or 10 years of employment history.

DOT physical evaluation

A medical provider with the qualifications below must perform the DOT physical evaluation:

• DOT medical provider license
• National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) certification

The DOT physical evaluation includes assessments of hearing, vision, blood pressure, and other health factors that could put a driver at risk while operating a CMV. Depending on the evaluation result, the medical provider certifies the driver for a time period below:

• 3 months
• 6 months
• 1 year
• 2 years

A DOT physical evaluation is available as an add-on or as a standalone search.

Commercial MVR report with CDLIS search

Checkr's MVR reports include candidates' driving histories. Checkr's commercial MVR reports include candidates' driving histories and incidents, Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) search, and candidates' medical certifications. CDLIS searches can identify whether the candidate has additional CDLs and automatically completed additional commercial MVR reports. 

Commercial MVR reports are available standalone searches. 

Drug and alcohol clearinghouse report

A drug and alcohol clearinghouse report applies only for candidates with commercial driver's licenses.

A clearinghouse report results in a PDF that shows the candidate as prohibited or not prohibited.

To order a clearinghouse report, employers must meet the conditions below:

• Have their own clearinghouse account
• Designate Checkr as the third-party administrator for the clearinghouse report
• Have an available balance with the clearinghouse to order reports

Drug and alcohol clearinghouse reports are available as add-ons or standalone searches after Checkr adds them to your account.

Video overview

Play the Checkr Academy video below to learn what DOT checks are and how to add them to your order in the Checkr Dashboard.

Candidate experience

The candidate provides the relevant personally identifying information (PII) below:

• Birth date
• Driver's license number
• Driver's license state
• Email address
• Full name
• Phone number
• Social Security number (SSN)

The candidate then reads and acknowledges receipt of applicable forms and authorizations:

• A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation
• Other state and required disclosures as applicable
• Authorization for a background check

For DOT physical evaluations and drug & alcohol tests, the candidate completes the steps below:

1. Consent to the test.
2. Select a test location.
3. Confirm the appointment with the clinic, and schedule the test before the listed date.
4. Download and print the pass.
5. Bring the pass to the clinic for the test.

For drug and alcohol clearinghouse reports, candidates complete consent directly in Clearinghouse.

If you applied for a job and want to know your background check’s status, log in to the Checkr Candidate Portal.

Two MVR report types are available for candidates with a Canadian work location and a Canadian driver’s license:

• Canada MVR report: Also called "driver's license verification," a Canada MVR report helps you understand whether a person is legally eligible to drive. 
• Canada MVR report with history: Also called "driver's abstract, a Canada MVR report with history helps you understand a driver’s history and is similar to a US MVR report.

Canada MVR report

A Canada MVR report provides the information below:

• Current driver information
  
  • Full name
  • Country and province of issue
  • License status
  • License class
  • License number
  • License expiration date
• Results
  
  • License status
  • Actual license class

Unless Checkr requires additional input from the candidate, the turnaround time for a Canada MVR report is real-time, within seconds.

Before Checkr can complete a Canada MVR report, the candidate must consent and provide the personally identifying information (PII) below:

• Country and province of issue
• License class
• License expiration date
• License holder's birth date
• License number

The candidate then reads and acknowledges receipt of applicable forms and authorizations. After the candidate signs the authorization form, Checkr starts the search.

Canada MVR report with history

A Canada MVR report with history provides the information below:

• Current driver information
  
  • Full name
  • Country and province of issue
  • License status (active, expired, suspended)
  • License class
  • License number
  • License expiration date
• Results
  
  • License status
  • Actual license class
  • Download result (download the report)
  • Violations (if the record has violations)

The information in the report is limited to a single province, so you should search for the candidate’s record in the province that issued their driver’s license.

You can set adjudication rules to automatically accept certain results and designate other results for further review. Regardless of rules, the original MVR report from the corresponding licensing center is attached to the results.

Before Checkr can complete a Canada MVR report with history, the candidate must provide the PII below:

• Country and province of issue
• License class
• License expiration date
• License number
• Photo of license
• Provincial-specific forms, if applicable
  • Candidates will encounter these forms during the application process. They must download, complete, and upload each form directly into the application.

Alberta

Due to privacy legislation, Alberta provides MVR reports to candidates only. Candidates with licenses from Alberta get their own MVR reports and upload them to Checkr.

Turnaround time

The average turnaround time for MVR reports with history ranges from hours to weeks based on location:

Location	Turnaround time
Alberta	In Alberta, the candidate must provide the report.
British Columbia	7 - 14 business days
Manitoba	7 - 14 business days
New Brunswick	7 - 14 business days
Newfoundland and Labrador	7 - 14 business days
Northwest Territories	14 - 21 business days
Nova Scotia	7 - 14 business days
Nunavut	7 - 14 business days
Ontario	1 - 3 business days
Prince Edward Island	7 - 14 business days
Quebec	14 - 21 business days
Saskatchewan	14 - 21 business days
Yukon	7 - 14 business days

Charge classifications

Most motor vehicle violations are not criminal violations. However, some violations can fall under the criminal code in Canada. Such offenses include but are not limited to the ones below:

• Causing bodily harm or death
• Criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle
• Dangerous driving
• Driving while prohibited
• Engaging police in a pursuit
• Failing to provide a breath sample
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Impaired driving