The basic information we found says that Minnesota driving records for most convictions, accidents or loss of license are kept for up to five years. DUI violations are kept for up to fifteen years.

Section 171.12 of the Minnesota Statutes deals directly and specifically with the MN driving records.

In Subdivision 2 of this statute it states that the Department of Public Safety shall file all accident reports and abstracts of court records of convictions and violations received by it under the laws of this state and maintain convenient records.

It goes on to say that the records must show the convictions of such licensee and the traffic accidents in which the licensee has been involved in. These records shall be readily ascertainable and available for the consideration of the department upon any application for renewal of license and the revocation, suspension, or limitation of licenses.

Subdivision 6 notes that the department shall not keep on the record of a driver any conviction for a violation of a speed limit of 55 or 60 miles per hour unless the violation consisted of a speed greater than ten miles per hour in excess of a 55 miles per hour speed limit, or more than five miles per hour in excess of a 60 miles per hour speed limit.

The exception to this subdivision is a violation that occurs in a commercial motor vehicle, or a violation committed by a holder of a class A, B, or C commercial driver's license, without regard to whether the violation was committed in a commercial motor vehicle or another vehicle.

As for the length of time that accidents and other violations are kept on a person's MN driving record subdivision 3 discusses this issue. Here it notes that the driver's record pertaining to revocations, suspensions, cancellations, disqualifications, convictions, and accidents is cumulative and must be kept for a period of at least five years. Furthermore the driver's record pertaining to violations of a driver or vehicle out-of-service order must be kept for a period of at least ten years

The driver's record pertaining to felony convictions in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used and certain alcohol-related offenses and licensing actions listed are retained on the record permanently.

So it would appear that an at-fault auto accident would normally stay on your Minnesota driving record for at least five (5) years. For more information on your driving record or on MN driving record laws contact the MN DPS.