How to Get Your Alabama Driving Record

Do you know that your employer probably did a deep dive on you before offering you a job?

We’re not talking about past work experiences or why you were let go at your previous firm. Instead, we’re intimating that they likely pulled up your Alabama driving record to see just how many times you violated the traffic rules. You can tell a lot about a person by how they drive- how many times they go into a rage, how often they run red lights, etc. But employment opportunities are not the only reason you should worry about your driving track record.

Did you know that people with poor driving records pay higher insurance premiums than those with good ones?

These are but a few of the reasons you should keep an eye on your Alabama driving record. Here’s how you can do so.

Understanding Your Alabama Driving Record

The state uses a point system to keep track of traffic rules violations.

Every time you run a red light or ram into someone’s car or even fail to give way to pedestrians who have the right of way, you gain points. The higher the severity of your violation, the more points you gain.

Should you care about your points?

Of course!

Once you’ve garnered 12 points within two years, you lose your license for 60 days. The suspension will be much longer if you have more points. We should also add that getting your suspension lifted is not easy, and it comes with an added fee.

Reviewing the Points on Your Record

Are you curious about how you can rack up points on your driving record?

It’s time you found out just how easy it is to get on the wrong side of the law. The point system weights traffic offenses based on their severity. Below are some examples:

Number of Points Examples of Traffic Offenses
2
  • Using the wrong lane
  • Coasting
  • Driving in a manner that poses a danger to other road users
  • Making an illegal turn on the road
  • Speeding at 1-25 mph more than advised on the road
3
  • Not observing a safe distance between you and the car in front of you
  • Not paying attention to construction or maintenance zone signs
  • Ignoring the advice of a police officer
  • Not using traffic control devices as requested
4
  • Overtaking another vehicle in a manner that poses a danger to other road users
5
  • Not yielding way to users who have the right of way
  • Driving at more than 26mph than the stated speed limit
  • Overtaking a stopped school bus
6
  • Driving recklessly and posing a danger to self and other road users

These are but a few of the examples of traffic offenses that could land you in hot soup.

Alabama Driving Record Request Form

To ensure that you do not lose your license, you need to keep track of the points on your record. However, you can only do so when you know just how many points you’ve garnered over the years. Here’s what you can do.

Head to the Alabama Department of Public Safety website and download the Alabama driving record request form. You’ll need to answer a few basic questions, including your social security number and driver’s license number. Complete the application and send it to:

Driving Record Request

Driver License Division

P O Box 1471

Montgomery AL 36102-1471

Please note that the request will set you back $5.75, after which you will obtain a record spanning three years.

How to Get an Alabama Driving Record Online

Given that you can apply for almost anything online, you would think that you can also get your driving record online. But the current legislation does not allow for this. While numerous third parties offer to provide you with online driving records, these are not official records. As such, they are often inaccurate and cannot help you get a clear picture of the points on your record. The only way to get an official record from the state is by filling out and sending in the Alabama Driving Record Request Form.

Alabama Driver Abstract Request

The Alabama Driver Record shows your driving record for the last three years from the date of application. However, if you have been driving for much longer than this, such a report may not suffice. Is there another option? Yes, you can apply for an Alabama Driver Abstract, which shows your complete driving history in the state.

To apply for this, you will need to show up in person at any of the ten designated Alabama offices as shown below:

  • Sheffield
  • Dothan
  • Mobile
  • Opelika
  • Montgomery
  • Birmingham
  • Jacksonville
  • Huntsville
  • Foley
  • Tuscaloosa

You cannot send someone to make this application as a photo ID is required to access the report. Please note that you must indicate why you need a full report before paying a $15 fee to facilitate the report’s processing.

Alabama Motor Vehicle Request

Did you know that you can obtain information about your vehicle? Examples include towing history, whether the vehicle has ever been impounded, etc. Thanks to the U.S. Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, this information is almost always unavailable to third parties. However, exceptional circumstances may necessitate the state to reveal this document to people besides you. Say, for example, an employer wants to gauge your suitability for a commercial driver position. They can request this information as it’s integral to the job position. Each request will come with a $5.75 charge.

Correcting Your Driving Record in Alabama

Your driving record can reveal details you were not aware of, e.g., that you have unpaid traffic tickets. These details could hurt your record and reduce your chances of bagging great employment opportunities. You might want to take care of these unsolved traffic offenses to cut back on your points.

Also, ensure you review your driving record to check if you’ve been penalized for offenses you did not commit. You can reach out to the Department of Public Safety at 334-242-4371 to bring this to their attention. Otherwise, you can get locked out of employment or face high insurance premiums because of system errors.

How To Improve Your Alabama Driving Record

Does your driving record need a boost? You may want to enroll in an online traffic school. It can help you cut back on the points on your driving record, strike out traffic offenses, and lower your insurance premiums. Check if you’re eligible to join traffic school and start improving your record as soon as you can.