Most states have reciprocal agreements with each other regarding driver convictions. The shared information may be about a minor offense, such as a speeding ticket, or a major offense, like a DUI.

The main reciprocal agreements for traffic violations are the Driver’s License Compact (DLC) and Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC). There is also the Driver’s License Agreement or DLA, but only a few states are members.

Key Highlights

  • Member states of the Driver’s License Compact (DLC) share traffic ticket convictions of drivers with other states.
  • Five states don’t share speeding ticket information with other states: Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
  • Member states of the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) must suspend the driver’s license of anyone who fails to pay or otherwise legally resolve moving violations in another state.
  • The states that are not NRVC members are Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
  • The National Driver Register contains records of drivers whose licenses were revoked or suspended and those who have been convicted of a DUI.

Which states belong to the Driver’s License Compact?

Member states of the Driver’s License Compact (DLC) must report driver traffic ticket convictions to the driver’s home state. That state determines whether to place the traffic offense on the driver’s record and if points are added to the driver’s license.

Members of the DLC:

The members include all states except

Even if your state isn’t part of the DLC, an out-of-state ticket may follow you because most states have informal agreements to share information about traffic tickets. 

What is the Non-Resident Violator Compact?

The Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) requires member states to suspend the driver’s license of those who get traffic tickets for moving violations in other states and fail to pay them or otherwise legally resolve them. It does not apply to vehicle registration or parking citations.

Current members of the NRVC:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

NRVC members include all states except:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Michigan
  • Montana
  • Oregon
  • Wisconsin

Again, though, each state may have agreements with other states and may still suspend or penalize a driver who doesn’t pay their out-of-state traffic ticket.

What about the Driver’s License Agreement – how is it different?

In an effort to establish a one-driver, one-record system, the Driver’s License Agreement (DLA) hopes to combine the DLC and NRVC and become a more efficient and effective agreement for the jurisdictions to share and transmit driver and conviction information.

However,  few states have gravitated to the DLA — only Arkansas, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have signed up as members.

Learn more about Driving statistics in us

What is the National Driver Register?

Another registry is the National Driver Register (NDR), in which all states and the District of Columbia participate. The NDR contains records on drivers who have had their licenses revoked or suspended or were convicted of serious traffic violations (such as a DUI) throughout the United States.

When a person applies for a driver’s license, the state DMV should check to see if that individual’s name is in the NDR file. If you’re reported to the NDR as a problem driver, a new license may be denied.

Frequently asked questions

Which states do not transfer driving record? 

Many states have taken the initiative to collaborate on addressing driving convictions, allowing them to share information regardless of severity. This could range from a minor speeding ticket all the way up to more serious offenses such as DUIs. However, the following states do not transfer driver’s driving record:

  • Georgia 
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin