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- A driver with a clean driving record has no accidents, moving violations or points.
- Some vehicle violations can be dismissed by contesting a ticket in court, participating in a defensive driving course or fixing defective equipment.
- Violations on your record may not be removed for three to five years. Not receiving any future violations can help pave the path toward achieving a clean record over time.
If you consider yourself a safe driver — you haven’t had a moving violation or been involved in a crash — chances are you have a clean driving record. Generally, a clean record means you’re free of accidents, traffic infractions, points and claims.
When it comes to car insurance, having a clean driving record is elite status. Insurers consider those with a clean record a low risk and offer them the best insurance rates and discounts. However, if your record isn’t sparkling clean, there are still ways you can save on your auto insurance
What is considered a clean driving record?
A clean driving record typically means no at-fault accidents, moving violations or major infractions such as DUIs within a 3–5 year lookback period. Insurers may define “clean” differently but generally reward low-risk driving with lower premiums.
Clean driving record checklist:
- No at‑fault accidents in last 3–5 years
- No moving violations (speeding, red‑light tickets)
- No major violations (DUI, reckless driving)
- No license suspensions or revocations
- Zero claims history (or only minor not‑at‑fault claims)
What is the difference between a clean and perfect driving record?
A perfect record has no violations or claims ever, while a clean record allows for a small number of minor infractions as long as there are no serious or recent ones. Most insurers treat both as low-risk, but discounts may vary.
What counts as a violation on your driving record?
Violations include speeding tickets, red light infractions, reckless driving, at-fault accidents, and DUIs. Even minor offenses like seatbelt or cellphone violations can prevent your record from being considered clean, depending on the insurer.
Any of these violations can affect your auto insurance rates because they show you’re a risky bet.
How do violations affect your driving record?
Even one speeding ticket on your driving record can affect your insurance rates. Two tickets will impact your rates more. And other violations could impact your rates even more.
In some states, a relatively minor violation on your motor vehicle record (MVR), such as a fender bender or speeding ticket, won’t damage your record too severely. While your record may not be clean, there may be some level of forgiveness or understanding from car insurance companies.
On the other hand, if you are at fault for a significant accident, you could see a big increase in your insurance rates, suspension of your license and even cancellation of coverage.
“Moving violations, at-fault accidents and serious infractions like a DUI or driving without insurance all negatively impact your motor vehicle record and the cost of auto insurance. Typically, issues such as speeding tickets and at-fault accidents stay on your MVR for at least three years and generate an increase of your premium via a surcharge during that timeframe,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute, a trade group. “Impaired driving has much longer implications. In some states, a DUI could stay on your MVR permanently, which will impact both the cost and availability of auto insurance for the rest of your driving life.”
Typically, states have demerit point systems in place for violations. Minor violations may incur 0-1 points while major violations may count as 2-3 points. Points can remain on your record for three to 10 years, or longer, based on the violation. In general, an accident will remain on your record for three years.
Too many points over a short period will, in most states, result in a suspended license. If you live in a state that doesn’t use a point system, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will monitor your driving record to determine if your license should be suspended.
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How much do different violations affect your rates?
Insurance companies use several different data points to set insurance rates, including your age, where you live, the car you drive and, of course, your driving record.
Each insurance company also determines how much it raises rates for various infractions.
A CarInsurance.com analysis, however, found that some violations can lead to hefty increases no matter which company insures your car:
- One at-fault property damage accident with more than $2,000 in damages on a policy with an average annual rate of $3,1000 can result in a more than 50% increase in rates.
- Driving under the influence can raise rates even more dramatically. Residents of North Carolina who get a DUI face the most significant increase in their insurance rates, 307%, followed by 217% in Hawaii, 207% in California, 157% in Michigan and 100% in Minnesota.
Insurance Impacts of Common Violations
| Driving Behavior | Counts Against Clean Record? | Typical Insurance Impact |
|---|---|---|
| No violations | ❌ | Premium savings possible |
| Speeding ticket | ✔️ | Higher risk tier |
| At‑fault accident | ✔️ | Higher premiums |
| DUI conviction | ✔️ | Severe surcharge |
| Seat belt violation | ✔️ | Minor but counts |
What are the benefits of maintaining a clean driving record?
A clean driving record will lower your premiums and make you eligible for many driver discounts, such as safe/good driver reductions, which can save you 20-30% depending on your insurance provider.
Additionally, in some instances, employers use driving records as an indication of personal safety, decision-making skills, responsibility, consideration of others, and perceived risk — both on and off the road.
If you’re applying for a driving position for, say, a food delivery service, your driving record will be used as background information and you may be disqualified if you have violations.
How to check your driving record
You can request your driving record from your state DMV or licensing agency, usually online or by mail. It’s smart to review your record before applying for insurance or disputing a rate increase.
Generally, DMV offices have an online form or portal you can access to request a copy of your record for a small fee. In some instances, you may need to print it upon access. Often, you can also request a copy via mail or by visiting your DMV in person.
When requesting a copy of your record, you’ll be required to provide personal details, such as your address, phone number and driver’s license number, and information on your vehicle including the vehicle identification number (VIN).
When you receive your driving record, it will include a report of any violations you have received within the past three to five years. According to the Insurance Information Institute, it will include any moving violations, accidents, DUI convictions, fees owed, license status and any defensive driving courses taken. For states with point systems, you’ll be able to view how many you have accrued.
How to keep or restore a clean record
To maintain a clean record, avoid traffic violations, obey speed limits and avoid distractions. If your record isn’t clean, completing a defensive driving course or letting older violations expire can help improve your rating over time.
If you encounter an inaccuracy in your record, you should first contact your local DMV to learn how to update or fix your record.
“Some jurisdictions will remove a moving violation from your motor vehicle record if you take a state-approved driver safety course. This is very common for speeding tickets,” Friedlander says. “However, you will still be responsible for paying the cost of the ticket and court fees. Additionally, your insurance premiums may still rise even if you complete the safety course.”
But you should note that there are some violations on your driving record you may be unable to clear — reckless driving, a DUI or an at-fault accident, for example. Additionally, some states’ point systems require a violation to be listed for a set amount of time and will not clear a record without a legal decision.
Here are several steps you can take to keep your record as clean as possible:
Contest the violation
If you’re ticketed for something you feel you didn’t deserve, you can go to court to fight the ticket. Typically, your ticket will have information about how to contest a ticket, but you can also contact the courthouse for information and dates. Perhaps you have witnesses or video that can prove you did indeed stop at a light. If so, it’s worth talking to a judge. Additionally, if you contest the ticket and the ticketing officer doesn’t appear in court, your ticket may be dismissed.
Defer your ticket
In some states, such as Indiana, you can contact the courthouse and ask for a deferment on your ticket. If you’re eligible, you can be enrolled in a deferment program. In Hamilton County, Indiana, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office determines eligibility. Once in the program, if you aren’t cited for a violation within a set period of time your ticket is dismissed and the violation isn’t put on your record. In Putnam County, Indiana, if you’re cited for going 1-15 miles over the speed limit, you’ll need to avoid any other violation for six months. You should note that more serious infractions, such as excessive speeding or tickets associated with traffic accidents, aren’t eligible for these programs.
Fix inaccuracies
Review your driving record for inaccuracies or violations that should have been removed. If you find any errors, contact your local DMV and ask how you can remove mistakes from your record. More on this below.
How to improve your driving record
“You can improve your motor vehicle record by following safe driving practices and avoiding moving violations and additional accidents,” Friedlander says.
The following strategies can help:
- Drive safely: Avoid receiving any citations in the future if you want to improve your track record. Since many states tend to keep violations on record for at least three years, you will slowly be earning back safe driving status and any additional points or violations could further harm your driving risk profile.
- Participate in a defensive driving course: In general, it doesn’t hurt to participate in a defensive driving course if you’ve received a ticket, been involved in an accident or need to improve your driving behavior. In some states, taking this course through your local DMV is part of the process to dismiss a violation or reduce the number of points on your record. Additionally, taking a course can help you work on reducing your insurance rates over time. These courses demonstrate your commitment to being a safer driver.
- Take care of defective equipment violations: If you’ve been pulled over for a defective brake light or a burned-out headlight, you may be issued what’s known as a fix-it ticket. If you repair the faulty equipment within a given period, and proof is presented to the local authorities, the ticket is dropped. Don’t delay.
- Talk to your insurance agent: The path to driver forgiveness and lower rates may begin with your current car insurance agent. Some companies offer programs to help drivers reduce their rates over time or offer forgiveness for a first recorded accident. They may also have input on how to improve your record and can help guide your process.
How often should you check your driving record for errors?
Driving records are typically updated every 12 months and can be reviewed on request. In general, it may be a good idea to check your driving record for errors once every couple of years if you’ve received a moving violation.
MVR checks are often part of the background screening process for employers. They are pulled to determine driving behaviors and risk. However, because driving records are updated annually, you may have an MVR pulled that is not accurate — either with missing violations or violations that are set to be removed because they have aged out. It’s worth discussing this with a potential employer.
How can you save on car insurance if you don’t have a spotless record?
Even if you don’t have a stellar driving record, there are ways to lower your insurance premium:
- Shop around: It’s always a good idea to shop your coverage yearly and to get quotes from at least three different insurers.
- Take a defensive driving course: Some states let you take a defensive driving course to remove a ticket from your record.
- Increase your deductible: If you can afford it, raising your deductible can substantially lower your premium. But only choose a deductible you can afford in the event you have to make a claim.
- Ask your insurer about discounts: Every insurer offers car insurance discounts. See what your agent can offer.
Frequently Asked Questions: Clean driving records
Do insurers have different definitions of a clean driving record?
Yes. While most insurers agree that a clean record means no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the past 3 to 5 years, some may allow one minor incident. Definitions can vary by company, so it’s important to ask when comparing quotes.
Can I remove violations from my driving record?
In most states, you cannot erase a violation before it expires, but you may be able to reduce its impact. Taking a defensive driving course, where allowed, can sometimes remove points or qualify you for discounts. Check with your DMV and insurer.
Will a minor ticket ruin my clean driving record?
It depends on the insurer. Some may overlook a single speeding ticket under 10 mph over the limit, especially if it’s your only violation in several years. Others may still raise your rate slightly.
What if I was not at fault in the accident?
If you were not found at fault, the accident may still appear on your record but likely won’t count against your clean status. However, some insurers include all claims activity when setting rates — even if you weren’t to blame.
How long does it take to get a clean record back?
Most violations drop off your record in 3 to 5 years, depending on severity and state rules. Once old violations expire and you remain violation-free, you’ll likely regain clean record status with insurers.
Summary: What a clean driving record means for your insurance
A clean driving record means you don’t have listed violations such as speeding or failure to stop infractions, accidents, DUIs or reckless driving violations. However, driving is not a predictable activity and mistakes do happen.
Being proactive about keeping a clean record, or improving a less-than-perfect record, can ensure you’re not paying more than you should for car insurance.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Hamilton County, Indiana. “Traffic Infraction Deferral Program.” Accessed January 2026.
- MVR Online. “Understanding MVRs.” Accessed January 2026.
- Putnam County Prosecutor. “Infraction Deferral.” Accessed January 2026.
- Texas Department of Public Safety. “Traffic Offenses.” Accessed January 2026.
- .New York DMV. “New York State Driver Point System.” Accessed January 2026.
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