AccuSourceHR, Inc.
An MVR report (motor vehicle report) is an official record of a candidate's driving history, pulled from a state's Department of Motor Vehicles. It reveals license status, traffic violations, suspensions, accidents, and more. For any role that involves driving, an MVR report is a non-negotiable part of a thorough background check. It protects your company from liability, guards company vehicles from damage and helps keep unsafe drivers off the road. In this guide, we'll break down exactly what an MVR report contains, how to order one, what it costs, and the legal rules (FCRA and DPPA) every employer must follow.
What Is an MVR Report?
An MVR report searches a state's Department of Motor Vehicles for a candidate's driving records. At its simplest, it confirms whether a candidate's driver's license is valid and in good standing. More importantly, it surfaces driving-related violations that may be directly relevant to a candidate's qualifications for a safety-sensitive or driving-focused role.
How much information you can pull from a motor vehicle report varies by state. Some states return records from the past three years, but some go back as far as seven or ten years. Retention rules and reportability differ significantly from one jurisdiction to the next, which is why state-specific expertise matters when ordering.
There are two notable limitations to be aware of. First, a motor vehicle report may not show older driving under the influence (DUI) charges. Some states remove these from DMV records after a set number of years, so an additional criminal check may be necessary. Second, if a candidate has lived in multiple states, violations may not carry over between them. If you're hiring someone who recently relocated, check the DMV rules in each state where they've held a license so nothing slips through the cracks.
What Shows Up on an MVR Report?
While the exact contents vary by state and report type, a standard MVR report typically includes:
- License status and class — valid, expired, suspended, or revoked, plus the license type (standard, commercial/CDL)
- Endorsements and restrictions — such as motorcycle, hazmat, or corrective-lens requirements
- Moving violations and convictions — speeding, reckless driving, running red lights, and other traffic offenses
- License points — accumulated points where a state operates a points system
- Suspensions and revocations — including the reason and effective dates
- DUI/DWI convictions — subject to each state's reportability window
- At-fault accidents — where the state records collision history
- CDL medical certification status — relevant for commercial and DOT-regulated drivers
Reviewing these details gives you a complete, defensible picture of a candidate's driving behavior — far more reliable than self-reported history on an application.
Why Order an MVR Report?
An MVR report is most important for jobs that involve driving — especially when employees use company vehicles or drive frequently for work. In fact, an MVR report is legally required for certain positions, such as Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) roles. A pattern of traffic violations is a major red flag: if an employee causes an accident on the job, your company can face increased insurance premiums, costly litigation, and reputational damage under the doctrine of negligent hiring.
Even when a role doesn't directly involve driving, an MVR report is a smart precaution for safety-sensitive positions. You likely don't want someone with a history of reckless driving operating heavy machinery or equipment. In short, an MVR report minimizes risk for your employees, your customers, the general public and your organization's reputation—all for a modest cost relative to a single preventable incident.
Types of MVR Reports
Not every driving-record check is the same. Depending on the role, employers may order:
- Standard MVR report — the core driving-history check for most non-commercial roles.
- Commercial (DOT) MVR report — required for CDL holders and DOT-regulated drivers, capturing commercial endorsements and FMCSA-relevant data.
- Certified vs. non-certified records — certified copies carry an official state seal for legal or regulatory use; non-certified records are typically sufficient for standard employment screening.
- Continuous MVR monitoring — ongoing, automated alerts on your existing drivers (covered in detail below).
Matching the report type to the role keeps you compliant while controlling costs and turnaround time.
How to Order an MVR Report
Ordering an MVR report through a screening partner is faster and more compliant than navigating each state DMV yourself. The process is straightforward:
- Submit your request — provide the candidate's full name, date of birth, driver's license number, and state of issuance.
- Obtain candidate consent — secure the FCRA-required written authorization and disclosure before the report is pulled. This step is mandatory.
- We retrieve the record — AccuSourceHR queries the appropriate state DMV(s) and returns a clean, standardized report — no need to decode state-specific formatting.
- Review and act — receive an easy-to-read MVR report, and if you take adverse action based on the results, follow the FCRA pre- and post-adverse-action process.
Partnering with a screening provider also ensures you're accessing records for a lawful, permissible purpose under the DPPA.
MVR Report Pricing and Turnaround
MVR report costs vary primarily because each state sets its own DMV access fee, and some states charge more for certified or commercial records. Additional factors, such as the number of states searched and whether you enroll in continuous monitoring, also influence pricing.
Turnaround is typically fast: many states return records instantly or within one business day, though a handful process manually and take longer. Reach out for a custom quote based on your hiring volume and the states you operate in.
What About Continuous MVR Monitoring?
Continuous monitoring is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than checking a driving record only at the point of hire, you receive ongoing alerts whenever a monitored employee accrues a new violation, accident, suspension or license status change.
If your employees drive as part of their job, continuous monitoring is highly recommended. A driver who was spotless at hire could later be operating on a suspended license or accumulating serious violations without your knowledge — and your company could be held liable in the event of an accident. Continuous monitoring closes that blind spot and helps ensure your team maintains a safe driving record over the long term. As with any MVR report, you'll need to follow FCRA guidelines when enrolling employees.
Are MVR Reports Legal? Understanding FCRA and DPPA
Yes — MVR reports are legal to use for employment, but two federal laws govern how you access and use them.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): MVR reports obtained through a screening company are considered consumer reports. Before ordering one, you must provide clear written notice that an MVR report may be used for employment purposes and obtain the candidate's authorization. If you take adverse action based on the results, you must provide pre-adverse and adverse action notices and give the individual an opportunity to dispute the report's accuracy.
The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) is a federal law that restricts who can access motor vehicle records and for what reasons. Employment screening, CDL verification and insurance underwriting are recognized "permissible purposes," but you must have a legitimate, lawful reason to pull each record. Working with a compliant screening provider ensures every request meets DPPA requirements.
Beyond federal law, always check state and local regulations — legality and reportability vary not only by state but by district. At AccuSourceHR™ Workforce Solutions, we help clients navigate every layer of MVR compliance. Learn more about our driving-records services.
Conclusion
An MVR report is a low-cost, high-value safeguard that protects your company from liability, rising insurance premiums, and reputational harm — while helping keep competent, safe drivers behind the wheel. For driving and safety-sensitive roles especially, it's an essential part of any background check. By understanding what an MVR report shows, how to order one and the FCRA and DPPA rules that govern it, you can hire with confidence. To learn more about AccuSourceHR's MVR and continuous monitoring services, contact our team and someone will be in touch shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back does an MVR report go?
It depends on the state. Many states report driving history from the past three years, but some extend to seven or ten years. Retention rules also vary by violation type — serious offenses like DUIs often stay on record longer than minor moving violations. If a candidate has driven in multiple states, check each state's rules.
What's the difference between an MVR report and a background check?
A standard background check typically covers criminal records, employment, and education. An MVR report specifically examines driving history: license status, violations and suspensions. For driving or safety-sensitive roles, an MVR report is ordered as a specialized component alongside a broader background check.
Does an MVR report show a DUI?
Often, but not always. Many states display DUI/DWI convictions on the MVR for a set number of years — in California, a DUI stays on record for ten years. However, some states remove or seal older DUIs from DMV records, so a separate criminal check may be needed to capture a candidate's full history.
Do I need consent to run an MVR report on a candidate?
Yes. Under the FCRA, you must provide a written disclosure and obtain the candidate's written authorization before ordering an MVR report for employment purposes. You also need a permissible purpose under the DPPA. Skipping consent exposes your company to legal liability.
How long does it take to get an MVR report?
Many states return MVR records instantly or within one business day when ordered through a screening provider. A small number of states process requests manually, which can add a few days to processing time. Turnaround ultimately depends on the state DMV where the record is held.
Is continuous MVR monitoring worth it?
For any organization whose employees drive on the job, yes. Continuous monitoring alerts you to new violations, suspensions, or accidents in real time, rather than leaving you exposed between annual checks. It's one of the most effective ways to reduce fleet liability and demonstrate a proactive safety program.
