West Virginia Driving Records

A West Virginia driver record (Motor Vehicle Record, or MVR) is the official summary of a licensee's driving history maintained by the WV DMV. It lists license status, points, accidents, suspensions, revocations, and convictions for moving violations. Employers, insurers, and courts pull the record under DPPA-permitted purposes; individuals can pull their own at any time.

What's on a West Virginia driver record

A standard West Virginia MVR shows:

• Driver license number, name, address, date of birth, and license class.
• Current license status (valid, suspended, revoked).
• Convictions for moving violations within the look-back window.
• Accidents reported to the WV DMV within the look-back window.
• License suspensions, revocations, and reinstatements.
• Points assessed and current point balance.
• SR-22 filings if applicable.
• DUI convictions, Test & Lock IID requirements, and other administrative actions.

Routine moving violations stay on the record for 3 years from the conviction date for points purposes, and 5 years for general record purposes. DUI convictions remain on the record for 10 years. License suspensions and revocations remain for at least 5 years from the reinstatement date.

Types of West Virginia driver records

• Standard MVR (3-year): shows convictions, accidents, and license actions within the past 3 years. Most commonly used for personal review and routine insurance underwriting.
• Extended MVR (10-year): shows DUI convictions, major suspensions, and selected serious violations within the past 10 years. Used for employment background checks, especially for CDL holders.
• Complete driver history: shows all activity on the record from the date the license was first issued. Used for legal proceedings, insurance disputes, and certain commercial-driver applications.
• Certified copy: any of the above with the WV DMV's official seal, accepted by courts and government agencies as evidence of record.

How to request your record

You can request your own driver record through three channels:

1. Online: Through the WV DMV's online services portal. The standard 3-year record is delivered electronically. Cost: $5-$10 per record. The online channel does not issue certified copies — those require an in-person visit or mail request.
2. By mail: Submit a completed DMV-1-DR Application for Driver Record with a check or money order to the WV DMV's Driver Records Section in Charleston. Allow 2-3 weeks for processing.
3. In person: At any WV DMV regional office, with a completed DMV-1-DR and the fee. The record is issued at the counter.

Cost

The standard fee is $5 to $10 per record, depending on the type and whether certified or uncertified. Certified copies typically carry the higher fee. Some online providers charge a higher fee that includes faster delivery and a more readable presentation, but the underlying record comes from the WV DMV.

Third-party requests

Under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), third parties can pull a West Virginia driver record only for permitted purposes — employer screening, insurance underwriting, court proceedings, and certain research uses. Each request must include a sworn statement of the permitted purpose, and the requester must be approved by the WV DMV in advance. Casual or speculative requests are not permitted.

Disputing an error

If you find an error on your driver record, the dispute process depends on the type of entry:

• A conviction that wasn't yours — provide court documentation showing the conviction was assigned to a different licensee or was overturned. The WV DMV's Driver Records Section will research and correct.
• An accident report you weren't involved in — provide the police report or insurance documentation showing the correct parties.
• Points that don't match the underlying conviction — see point system for the current schedule.
• An expired suspension still showing as active — provide proof of completed reinstatement; see suspended license.

Submit dispute requests in writing to the WV DMV Driver Records Section with supporting documentation. Most disputes are resolved within 30-60 days.

Court abstracts

For court proceedings related to a traffic citation or accident, courts often request a certified MVR directly from the WV DMV. The certified copy is admissible as evidence under West Virginia rules of evidence. If you are involved in a civil suit related to a motor vehicle, your attorney typically requests the MVR for both parties. See traffic tickets for how a citation flows from court conviction to the driver record.