Pulling an Arkansas Driving Record

An Arkansas driving record — sometimes called a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) or a driver abstract — is the official Office of Driver Services file that lists license status, license class and endorsements, moving-violation convictions, court-ordered actions, and any administrative suspensions or reinstatements. It's the document insurance carriers look at when underwriting a new policy, the document employers pull for any commercial-driving job, and the document a driver should pull whenever there's any question about license status.

What's in an Arkansas driving record

A standard Arkansas driving record shows:

• License number, class, and current status (valid, suspended, revoked, expired).
• Endorsements and restrictions (CDL endorsements, motorcycle, glasses required, etc.).
• Issue and expiration dates of the most recent driver's license.
• Convictions for moving violations and DWIs reported to the DFA.
• Administrative actions: suspensions, revocations, reinstatements, and ignition-interlock orders.
• Crash report references where the driver was involved.

Types of Arkansas driving records

Arkansas issues several record formats:

• Three-Year Abstract — the most common record, showing convictions and actions in the last three years.
• Five-Year Commercial Abstract — required for CDL drivers and commercial-employer hiring decisions.
• Complete Driving Record — all convictions and actions for the life of the license, used for litigation or detailed personal review.
• Certified Driving Record — signed and stamped by the DFA, accepted by courts and most insurance carriers; non-certified versions are cheaper and adequate for personal review.

How to request a record

Three channels are available:

• Online. The Arkansas DFA portal allows the licensed driver to pull a non-certified abstract immediately with a credit card, after authenticating with the license number, last four of the SSN, and date of birth.
• By mail. Submit Form 4569 Driver Record Request to the DFA Driver Services with a check or money order. Mail-in records are typically certified and arrive in 7 to 14 business days.
• In person. Walk into any Office of Driver Services with photo ID and request a record; certified or non-certified versions are printed at the counter.

Fees

Arkansas driving record fees:

• Non-certified record: $7 to $10 depending on type.
• Certified record: $10 to $15.
• Commercial driver record (CDL): $10 to $15.
• Online portal convenience fee: small additional amount on top of the record fee.

Employer and third-party requests

An Arkansas employer can request a driver's record only with the driver's written consent under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and Arkansas's parallel statute. Insurance carriers, attorneys in active litigation, and certain government agencies have automatic statutory access without consent for narrow purposes. A driver who suspects their record was pulled improperly can file a written complaint with the DFA Driver Services Customer Service line; the DPPA carries civil and criminal penalties for unauthorized access.

Reading conviction codes

Arkansas record entries use violation codes that reference the underlying statute (typically a section of ACA Title 27, Vehicles and Traffic). Each entry shows:

• The violation date.
• The conviction date.
• The statute section and short description.
• Whether the driver was the operator or owner.
• The court that adjudicated the case.
• Any associated administrative action.

Disputing an error

If your driving record shows a conviction or action you believe is wrong, contact the DFA Driver Services Customer Service line and request a correction packet. Common errors include duplicate entries, convictions from a different person with a similar name, missing dismissals, and unrecorded reinstatements. Bring court-certified records to support the correction. The DFA does not review the merits of court convictions — if a conviction is recorded incorrectly, the underlying court may need to issue an amended order before the DFA updates the file.

How long actions stay on the record

Most moving-violation convictions remain on the Arkansas driving record indefinitely, though the three-year abstract limits the visible window for most underwriting and employer purposes. DWI convictions, refusals, and major violations stay visible long-term and are particularly relevant for any future DWI lookback or commercial-license action. A clean three years is typically what insurance carriers reward with the lowest rates.