A printed copy of your driving record is called an Abstract of Driving Record. There are three types of driving records: Standard, Lifetime and Commercial (CDL). Each driving record abstract contains information grouped within several sections. The date fields on abstracts are shown in mm/dd/yyyy format unless otherwise noted.

If you suspect that your DMV abstract contains incorrect information, contact the DMV Call Center.

Order a Driving Record

Online

You can save and print a PDF version of your Standard, Lifetime, or CDL driving record abstract through MyDMV. Your abstract is available in MyDMV until 5 days after your purchase and shows your record as of the time you order it. The fee is $7.

To create a MyDMV account, you need your most recent New York State driver's license, permit, or non-driver ID. Make sure your computer and web browser have all recent updates to avoid problems downloading your record.  
 

Go to MyDMV

See the Records Request Navigator if you do not have:

Allow 5 business days for processing requests made through the Navigator.

To request your Standard driving record at a DMV office, bring

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

Standard Driving Record Description

A “standard” driver license abstract only contains information that DMV is required to keep. In most cases, this is information related to your record the past few years. Certain violations will be displayed longer or permanently. For example,

Most suspensions and revocations are only shown on the driving record abstract for 4 years from the date the suspension or revocation ended. Suspensions for a chemical test refusal are displayed for 5 years from the date of suspension.

Accidents and most traffic convictions are only displayed until the end of the year in which the accident or conviction occurred, plus 3 additional years.

Convictions for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DWI) are displayed for 15 years from the date of conviction. Convictions for DWAI are displayed for 10 years from the date of conviction.

See Description of Abstract of Driving Record (PDF) (DS-242.1) for information about how to read and understand a driving record abstract.

The Header section includes the individual's

name

mailing address (city, state, ZIP code)

mailing county

DMV ID number (Client ID number) from your New York State driver license, learner permit, or non-driver photo ID card

motorist ID

date of birth

gender

height

eye color

Note: DMV collects your Social Security Number (SSN) when you apply for an New York State driver license. However, your SSN does not appear on records or documents issued by the DMV.

The Summary section includes

The Activity section includes

driver license-related course completion

Commercial Driver License (CDL) history

license reciprocity information

various other license-related notes

The Suspensions and Revocations section shows scofflaws and non-scofflaws and includes

the reason for the suspension or revocation

the date the suspension or revocation took effect

the order number

the clear-on date and reason for clearance, if cleared

complied-on date for non-scofflaws

location and county of the court where the scofflaws were settled as well as any judgment amount

The Non-Vehicular Convictions section includes the

type of violation the diver was convicted of

date of the violation

date of the conviction

location where the violation occurred

amount of the fine and any jail time incurred

The Convictions and Bail Forfeitures section includes the

type of violation the driver was convicted of

date of the violation

date of the conviction

location where the violation occurred

amount of the fine and any points incurred

The Accidents section includes

the date of the accident

whether there was a fatality, personal injury, and/or property damage

the county where the accident occurred

the case number

Note: DMV lists an accident on the record of every driver in the accident. An accident that appears on a driving record does not assign the fault to that driver. The DMV does not determine the fault of an accident.

Lifetime Driving Record Description

A "Lifetime" driving record contains all the license information DMV currently has available about a driver. It displays all information still in DMV’s possession, regardless of the data retention requirements in the Vehicle and Traffic Law. The record may not include information that dates back to when a driver was initially granted driving privileges. See Description of Abstract of Lifetime Driving Record (PDF) (DS-242.3) for information about how to read and understand a lifetime driving abstract.

The Header section at the top of the abstract includes the following information, as applicable, about the individual:

deceased

name

mailing address (city, state, ZIP code)

mailing county

name as it appears on the document

DMV ID Number (client ID number) from your New York State driver license, learner permit, or non-driver photo ID card

date of birth (DOB)

gender

height

eye color

status information for

temporary visitor

military

veteran

organ donor

suspension and revocation summary

restrictions that limit the driving privilege

adventure license credentials

See Driver License Class Descriptions (PDF) (MV-500C) for a list and explanation of driver license restrictions.

The header is followed by a Summary section that includes:

license class / privilege

document status (including commercial and 19-A)

document expiration date

date of road test eligibility 

The Current License section includes:

current license class

current license expiration date

any endorsements that expand the driving privilege

type of document that was issued

The Non-Driver ID section includes:

issue date

expiration date

The Permit History section includes:

permit classes and the dates for which they were applied for

date the permit document expired

any restrictions or endorsements that limit or expand the permit privilege

The Activity section may include:

driver license-related course completion

Commercial Driver License (CDL) history

license reciprocity information

The Class / Privilege section includes:

class(es) / privilege(s) the driver holds or has held

the effective date for each class / privilege

date each license class / privilege was posted to the license record

The Document Issued section includes:

type of document

license class

issue date

The Merges section only appears on the abstract if the driver has ever had a license under a different Customer Identification Number (CID) than the one shown in the Header section.

If present, the Merges section will show:

which CIDs were merged and the resulting CID

the date the merged CID was put on the record

any other name connected to the merged CIDs

any other Dates of Birth (DOB) connected to the merged CIDs

any other gender connected to the merged CIDs

On the Lifetime driving record, the Suspensions and Revocations section is divided into two sub-sections: Non-Scofflaws and Scofflaws. Non-scofflaws and scofflaws are listed separately, in order by effective date, from newest to oldest. For out-of-state courts, the court’s address and phone number are recorded as provided by the issuing jurisdiction.  

Non-scofflaws: The type of sanction imposed (suspension or revocation) which results from reasons other than failure to answer a summons or pay a fine / surcharge / assessment. The following fields may appear:

suspension / revocation date

incident date, if applicable

reason (reason for sanction)

order number

case number, if applicable

ticket number, if applicable

class affected

civil penalty, if applicable

termination fee, if applicable

length of sanction

clear on (clearance date)

reason (reason for clearance)

out-of-state information, if applicable

rescission, if applicable

Scofflaws: The suspension imposed as a result of failure to answer a summons or pay a fine / surcharge / assessment. The following fields may appear:

suspension date

reason (reason for sanction)

order number

ticket number

court name

clear on (clearance date)

reason (reason for clearance)

The Convictions/Bail Forfeitures section lists conviction and bail forfeitures in order of violation date. The following fields may appear:

conviction / forfeiture (violation description)

violation date

conviction date

location

penalty, if applicable

points, if applicable

commercial vehicle

hazmat

ticket number

The Vessel / Snowmobile Privilege Suspensions section lists boat and snowmobile suspensions in order of effective date. The following fields may appear:

suspension effective date

reason (reason for sanction)

order number

ticket number, if applicable

civil penalty, if applicable

period (length of sanction)

clear on (clearance date)

reason (reason for clearance)

The Vessel / Snowmobile Convictions section lists boat and snowmobile convictions in order of violation date. The following fields may appear:

conviction

violation date

convicted on

ticket number, if applicable

location

penalty, if applicable

Non-Vehicular Convictions: The following fields may appear:

conviction

violation date

conviction date

location

penalty

ticket number

The Accidents section lists accidents in order of accident date. The following fields will appear:

accident date

county

case number

accident type

accident reports filed

The Address History section lists addresses on file in order of effective date. The following fields will appear:

posted (effective date)

type

address

county

country

Commercial Driver License (CDL) Driving Record Description

CDL abstracts show expanded driver history information that is not available on a Standard Driving Record. In addition to the information provided on a Standard Abstract, the CDL Abstract provides information about: 

Convictions, suspensions, revocations, and other licensing actions in any state committed in any type of vehicle

Medical certification status and self-certification information:

medical certification status (certified, not certified or not required)

self-certification type (NA, NI, EA or EI)

Medical Examiner’s Certificate information for drivers who must maintain a valid medical examiner’s certificate on file with DMV:

date Medical Certificate posted to license record

Medical certification issue date

Medical certification expiration date

Medical Examiner’s name

Medical Examiner’s licensing jurisdiction code

Medical Examiner’s license or certificate number

Medical Examiner’s specialty code

Medical Examiner’s National Registry Number

existence of any restrictions on medical certification (such as corrective lenses or hearing aids)

existence of any medical variance on medical certification (such as diabetes waiver, vision waiver, hearing waiver, seizure waiver, skills evaluation certification, qualified by operation)

medical variance / skilled performance evaluation certificate effective date, if applicable

medical variance / skilled performance evaluation expiration date, if applicable

Employers can get CDL abstracts for enrolled drivers through the New York DMV License Event Notification Service (LENS).