How Do You Get a Copy of Your Driving Record?

“How do you get a copy of your driving record?”

According to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles website, there are a few different ways to go about it, depending on what you need and how soon you need it. You can request a certified copy of your record either online, over the phone, by mail, or in person.

To order online, go to https://www.oplates.com/AbstractRequest.aspx. If you’d prefer to use the automated phone system, you can call 1-866-675-2837. You can also get an official copy of your record through the mail by filling out form BMV 1173 and sending it in. The cost for ordering through the mail is $5.00. Be aware, though, that it can take two or three weeks to go through.

If you want to order your driving record in person, you can visit a License Reinstatement Center, a Deputy Registrar license agency, or the Shipley Customer Service Center in Columbus. A copy of the record will cost $8.50 if purchased at the Shipley Customer Service Center or a Deputy Registrar license agency and $5.00 if purchased at a License Reinstatement Center. You’ll be required to fill out a different form depending on where you go, but you’ll need to bring your license or identification.

You can also access a free, unofficial copy of your driving record online by going to http://bmv.ohio.gov/abstract.stm and going to the link in the second paragraph under “Online Driving Records.” To view the record, you’ll need your driver’s license or state ID number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. (If you don’t have a license or ID but do have a letter from the BMV, there should be a number on that to use instead.) The record only goes back two years, but it will let you know if you have any points on your license.

For information on automobile law, Nolo’s Encyclopedia of Everyday Law includes a section on cars and driving and is available here at the library.