Texas Certified Driving Record vs Type 3A: Which to Get

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

A Texas certified driving record is any DPS record that comes with a certification, and DPS sells three of them: Type 2A, Type 3A and Type AR. Type 3A is one of those certified records, not an alternative to them. DPS says Type 3A is the only record type that can be used for a defensive driving course.

Key Facts

Three certified types: Type 2A ($10), Type 3A ($10) and Type AR ($20). See the comparison.
Type 3A is certified: it is the certified version of the full Type 3 list. See Type 3A.
Course use: DPS says Type 2A cannot be used for a defensive driving course, and Type 3A is the only type that can. See which you need.
Owner only: Type 3 and 3A go only to the record owner. See Type 3A.
Ordering: online with instant print or email, or by mail with form DR-1 in about three weeks. See ordering.

What Makes a Record Certified

Certification comes from state law. Under Transportation Code § 521.048, DPS may certify the record information it gives out under § 521.046 or § 521.047. The fee for a certified copy is $10.

Those two sections cover different records. Section 521.046 is the three-year history of moving-violation convictions and crashes with a citation. Section 521.047 is the record DPS gives you about yourself, with each reported violation and crash.

That is why the certified types line up with the plain ones. Type 2A is the certified Type 2.

Type 3A is the certified Type 3. Type AR is a separate certified abstract.

Which Types Are Not Certified

Three DPS types are not certified: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Type 1 is a status record with no driving history. Type 2 and Type 3 have history but no certification.

All Six Texas Record Types Compared

Here is how the six types compare, based on the DPS ordering page:

Type	What it covers	Certified	Fee	Defensive driving course
1	Birth date, license status, address, original application date	No	$4	Not listed for it
2	Type 1 plus moving violations and ticketed crashes, past 3 years	No	$6	Not listed for it
2A	Same as Type 2	Yes	$10	DPS says it cannot be used
3	Type 1 plus all crashes and all moving and nonmoving violations	No	$7	DPS says it cannot be used
3A	Same as Type 3	Yes	$10	The only type DPS allows
AR	Abstract of the complete record, including all suspensions	Yes	$20	Not listed for it

DPS gives Type 3 and Type 3A only to the record owner. For how long items show on each type, see how long violations stay on a Texas driving record.

Summary card pairing each plain Texas record type with its certified version and fee

Type 2A: The Certified Three-Year Record

Type 2A is a certified copy of the Type 2 record. It shows Type 1 status details plus moving violations, and crashes where a ticket was given, from the past three years.

DPS counts that three-year window from the date of each offense. It costs $10.

The DPS ordering page says plainly that Type 2A cannot be used for a defensive driving course. So a Type 2A is the wrong choice for a ticket dismissal, even though it is certified.

Type 3A: The Certified Full List

Type 3A is a certified copy of the Type 3 record. It shows Type 1 status details plus all crashes and all moving and nonmoving violations. It costs $10.

DPS calls it the only record type that can be used for a defensive driving course. DPS also gives it only to the record owner. Our Type 3A guide covers it in depth.

If you see Type 3A described as informal or as a three-year record, both labels are wrong. It is certified, and it is the full list, not a three-year window.

Type AR: The Certified Abstract

Type AR is a certified abstract of the complete driver record. DPS says it includes all suspensions. It costs $20, the highest DPS record fee.

DPS does not list Type AR for a defensive driving course. Its statement that Type 3A is the only type for that use rules out AR as well. If someone asks for a certified record that shows suspensions, Type AR is the DPS type described that way.

Who Can Get Each Certified Type

Access is not the same for every type. DPS gives Type 3 and Type 3A only to the person the record is about.

Outside requesters work from a shorter list. Under § 521.046, people eligible under state law can get the three-year history of moving-violation convictions and crashes with a citation. Section 521.048 lets DPS certify that history too.

The full list under § 521.047 stays with you. Our background check guide explains who is eligible.

Texas Certified Driving Record vs Type 3A: Which Do You Need?

The answer depends on who asked for the record and why. Start with the request itself.

For a Ticket Dismissal

The driving safety course (DSC), also called defensive driving, can dismiss an eligible ticket. Under Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 45A.356, you turn in the certificate, your driving record and an affidavit within 90 days after your plea.

The DPS driver record FAQ says, “While most courts generally require a Type 3A driver record,” you should contact the court to confirm the exact type. Ask the clerk before you buy.

Why the Full List Matters for the Course

The court is checking one thing in particular. Under Art. 45A.352(a), you have a right to the course only if you did not complete one in the 12 months before the new offense date.

Art. 45A.356 says the record you turn in should show that. The record DPS gives you about yourself, under § 521.047, can include the fact of a driver safety course, but not the reason. Type 3A is the certified copy of that full record.

For Anything Else

If someone asks for a “certified driving record” for another reason, ask which type. DPS sells three certified types with different content. DPS does not say which type fits each outside use, so the person asking should name it.

Steps for choosing among the Texas certified record types, from asking the requester to confirming the type before you buy

When the Court Gets the Record

Sometimes you do not need to order at all. Under Art. 45A.359, a judge may get your record directly from DPS through the state portal.

The court can then charge a fee equal to the certified record fee under § 521.048, plus the state portal fee. Ask the court whether it does this before you buy a Type 3A yourself.

Ordering a Certified Record

You order certified records the same way as plain ones. DPS states it cannot provide driver records in person at any of its locations.

Online orders run through the DPS driver records portal. You need your license or ID number, its audit number, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN and a credit card. You print or email the record right after you buy it.

By mail, use form DR-1 and send it with payment to the DPS address in Austin. DPS says to allow about three weeks.

That is roughly 21 of your 90 days, before mail time in each direction, so online is the safer route when a court date is close. Our guide on getting your Texas driving record online walks through the steps.

Saving and Sending a Certified Copy

An online certified record arrives as a file. DPS says you must print or email it right after you buy it. The DPS FAQ says the password to print it is your driver license number.

Browser choice matters. DPS lists Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari as supported, and it says a record bought in Microsoft Edge cannot be printed.

How you hand it to the court is up to the court. There is no statewide rule on filing methods, so ask the clerk whether to mail it, bring it or upload it.

If the Certified Copy Has an Error

Read the record before you send it. The DPS FAQ sends crash errors to the Texas Department of Transportation’s crash records office. A wrong drug or DWI conviction goes back to the court that reported it.

After DPS gets a court’s correction, it asks you to allow 21 business days. Then order a new certified copy, since the old one still shows the error.

What We Found on the DPS Pages

On the DPS driver record pages we checked on October 26, 2026, three of the six types were marked as certified: 2A, 3A and AR. Type 2A and Type 3 each carried a note that they cannot be used for a defensive driving course.

Only Type 3A carried the note that it is the one type that can be used for that course. The FAQ still told readers to confirm the record type with their court.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These come from the DPS ordering page and FAQ:

Treating “certified” and “Type 3A” as opposites. Type 3A is a certified record.
Buying Type 2A for a ticket course. It is certified but cannot be used for a defensive driving course.
Buying Type AR to be safe. It costs $20, and DPS names Type 3A for the course.
Calling Type 3A a three-year record. It lists all crashes and violations.
Skipping the court call. DPS says to confirm the record type with the court.
Assuming any certified record fits every request. Ask the requester which type.

How Requirements Can Vary

The driving safety course rules come from Texas law and TDLR and apply statewide. Each justice or municipal court still sets its own fees, filing steps and contact methods, and the facts of your citation decide which options you have.

Laws, fees and court procedures can change. Check your citation, ask the court that handles your case, and use the TDLR and Texas DPS websites for current rules before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Type 3A a certified driving record?

Yes. DPS describes Type 3A as the certified version of the Type 3 record. It costs $10.

What is the difference between Type 2A and Type 3A?

Both are certified and cost $10. Type 2A covers the past three years, while Type 3A lists all crashes and violations. DPS says only Type 3A can be used for a defensive driving course.

Which certified record do I need for defensive driving?

DPS says Type 3A is the only record type that can be used for a defensive driving course. It also says most courts generally require it, so confirm with your court.

What does a Type AR record include?

Type AR is a certified abstract of the complete driver record, including all suspensions. DPS charges $20 for it.

Can I order a certified record in person?

No. DPS says it cannot provide driver record services in person. Order online for instant print or email, or by mail with form DR-1.

Is a plain Type 3 good enough for court?

DPS says Type 3 cannot be used for a defensive driving course. The certified Type 3A is the type DPS names for that use.

Can someone else order my Type 3A?

No. DPS gives Type 3 and Type 3A only to the record owner. Outside requesters who qualify under state law can get less detailed records.

Does a certified record cost more than a plain one?

Yes. Type 2 is $6 and Type 2A is $10.

Type 3 is $7 and Type 3A is $10. Type AR, the certified abstract, is $20.

Conclusion

DPS sells three certified records, and Type 3A is the one it names for a defensive driving course. Type 2A and Type AR are certified too, but DPS does not allow them for that use. When you are ready to take the course itself, Driving Logic’s online Texas driving safety course is one place to start.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas traffic and driving safety course rules are set by Texas law, TDLR, Texas DPS and each court, and they can change. Check with the court on your citation and the official TDLR and DPS websites for current requirements, and talk to a Texas lawyer about your specific case.