Your Texas Driving Record: How to Get It and What It Shows

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Your Texas driving record is kept by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and you can order a copy online or by mail for $4 to $20, based on the record type. The six types run from a simple license status check to a certified list of every crash and violation. For a defensive driving course, DPS says only the certified Type 3A record can be used.

Key Facts

  • Who keeps it: Texas DPS keeps driver records under Transportation Code Chapter 521. See what a record is.
  • Six types: Type 1, 2, 2A, 3, 3A and AR, priced from $4 to $20. See the six types.
  • For a ticket course: DPS says Type 3A is the only record type that can be used. See defensive driving.
  • How to order: online with instant print or email, or by mail in about three weeks. DPS has no in-person option. See ordering.
  • No points: Texas ended its points and surcharge program on Sept. 1, 2019. See points and suspensions.

What a Texas Driving Record Is

A driving record is the file DPS keeps on each license holder. Texas law spells out what goes in it.

Under Transportation Code Chapter 521, DPS records each license application. It also keeps lists of licenses that were denied, suspended, canceled or revoked, with the reasons.

Courts feed the record too. Section 521.042 says DPS records each crash report and each court abstract of a conviction it receives. Under Transportation Code § 543.203, a court must report a traffic conviction to DPS no later than the seventh day after it.

DPS uses this file when you renew. The law lets DPS review your convictions and crashes at renewal and at other times. Our Texas DPS driving record guide explains what DPS tracks and why it matters.

Who Does What

Several offices touch your record, and each has a set job:

  • Texas DPS keeps the record and sells copies.
  • Justice and municipal courts report convictions and course completions to DPS.
  • TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) approves driving safety courses. It does not keep driver records.
  • TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) handles crash report questions, per DPS.
Summary card of who handles what for a Texas driving record: DPS keeps it, courts report to it, TDLR approves courses and TxDOT handles crash reports

The Six Texas Driving Record Types

DPS sells six record types. The DPS ordering page lists them this way:

  • Type 1, $4: a status record. It shows your birth date, license status, home address and original application date.
  • Type 2, $6: Type 1 details plus moving violations, and crashes where a ticket was given, for the past three years. It is not certified.
  • Type 2A, $10: a certified Type 2. DPS says it cannot be used for a defensive driving course.
  • Type 3, $7: Type 1 details plus all crashes and all moving and nonmoving violations. It is not certified.
  • Type 3A, $10: a certified Type 3. DPS calls it the only type that can be used for a defensive driving course.
  • Type AR, $20: a certified abstract of the complete record, including all suspensions.

None of the six is a five-year or seven-year history. The only fixed time window is the three years in Types 2 and 2A. To see the types side by side, read our certified vs Type 3A comparison.

Records Only You Can Get

Types 3 and 3A go only to the person the record is about. DPS says so on its ordering page.

Other people get far less. Under § 521.045 and § 521.046, eligible requesters can get your status or a three-year history of moving-violation convictions and crashes with a citation. Our background check guide covers who counts as eligible.

Which Record a Defensive Driving Course Needs

The driving safety course (DSC), also called defensive driving, can get an eligible ticket dismissed. To finish that process, the court needs proof of your record.

Under Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 45A.356, you have 90 days after your plea to turn in three things:

  1. The uniform certificate of course completion.
  2. Your DPS driving record, unless the judge gets it.
  3. A signed affidavit saying you were not taking a course when you asked and had not finished one in the prior 12 months that is missing from the record.

The DPS driver record FAQ says, “While most courts generally require a Type 3A driver record,” you must contact your court to confirm the exact type. Some judges skip this step for you. Under Art. 45A.359, a judge may get the record from DPS and charge you a fee equal to the certified record fee plus a state portal fee.

Our Type 3A guide explains that record in depth. For the full ticket process, see the Texas defensive driving ticket dismissal guide.

How to Order Your Texas Driving Record

DPS offers two ways to order: online and by mail. DPS states that it cannot provide driver record services in person at any of its offices.

Online

The online order runs through the DPS driver records portal. Have these ready:

  • Your Texas driver license, CDL or ID card number.
  • The audit number printed on that card.
  • Your date of birth.
  • The last four digits of your Social Security number.
  • A Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card.

You must print or email the record right after you buy it. The DPS FAQ says the password to print it is your driver license number. Our online ordering guide walks through each screen.

By Mail

Fill out form DR-1 and mail it with payment to Texas Department of Public Safety, PO Box 149008, Austin, Texas 78714-9008. DPS says to allow about three weeks from the day it receives your request.

No audit number? The DPS FAQ gives two choices. Order by mail, or contact the court directly to ask for an extension.

What Your Record Shows

The record you order about yourself can list more than tickets. Section 521.047 says it can include:

  • Your birth date, license status and address.
  • Whether you completed an approved driver education course.
  • The fact that you completed a driver safety course, but not the reason.
  • Each reported traffic violation and crash, by date and location.

A charge dismissed through the DSC is a special case. Art. 45A.357 says it “may not be part of a person’s driving record or used for any purpose.” Our guide on what defensive driving can and cannot do explains the limits.

How Long Items Stay on a Texas Driving Record

DPS does not publish a set number of years for the full record. What it does publish is the window for each record type.

Type 2 and 2A cover three years. Type 3 and 3A list all crashes and violations.

The law sets a purpose, not a year count. Section 521.043 lets DPS drop records it finds unnecessary. It must keep conviction records as long as they may be used for license actions or to spot frequent violators.

For more detail, read how long violations stay on a Texas driving record. For tickets for speed, see how long a speeding ticket stays on your record.

Points, Surcharges and Suspensions

Texas does not use points anymore. The DPS repeal notice says HB 2048 ended the Driver Responsibility Program on Sept. 1, 2019. That program charged surcharges based on points or convictions.

Suspensions still exist. Under § 521.292, DPS must suspend a “habitual violator.” That is a driver with four or more moving-violation convictions in 12 months in a row, or seven or more in 24 months. Our Texas points system guide covers the change.

Who Else Can See Your Record

Access depends on who is asking. The Texas Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act, Transportation Code Chapter 730, limits who can get personal details from DPS records.

DPS says companies that want to order records can email its License and Record Service. Insurers use records too. The Texas Department of Insurance auto guide says, “Insurance companies will charge you more if you’ve had accidents or gotten tickets.”

Fixing a Mistake on Your Record

Check each entry when your copy arrives. The DPS FAQ points to different offices for different errors:

  • A crash that is not yours: contact TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System.
  • A wrong drug or DWI conviction: contact the court that filed the original report and ask it to issue a correction.
  • After the court acts: DPS says to allow 21 business days for the record to update.
  • Other questions: DPS lists its Customer Service Center.

Order a fresh copy once the update window passes. That way you can confirm the fix before you send the record to a court.

Steps to fix a wrong entry on a Texas driving record, from spotting the error to ordering a fresh copy after 21 business days

What We Found on the DPS Pages

On the DPS driver record pages we checked on October 26, 2026, the ordering page listed the six types and prices shown above. It said records are available online or by mail only.

The page also had tech notes. It said you need Adobe Reader and a supported browser.

It listed Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari, and it said Microsoft Edge is not supported. A record bought in Edge cannot be printed, per that page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a DPS rule or Texas law:

  • Ordering Type 2A for a ticket course. DPS says it cannot be used for a defensive driving course.
  • Ordering the plain Type 3. DPS names the certified Type 3A as the only type for a course.
  • Driving to a DPS office. DPS does not give out driver records in person.
  • Mailing late. Mail orders take about three weeks, and the court gives 90 days in total.
  • Buying in an unsupported browser. DPS says an Edge purchase cannot be printed.
  • Worrying about points. Texas has had no driver points since Sept. 1, 2019.

Texas Driving Record Guides in This Series

Each guide below covers one part of the record in depth:

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

How do I get a copy of my Texas driving record?

Order it from Texas DPS online or by mail. Online, you need your license number, audit number, birth date, last four of your SSN and a card. By mail, send form DR-1 with payment and allow about three weeks.

How much does a Texas driving record cost?

It depends on the type. DPS charges $4 for Type 1, $6 for Type 2, $7 for Type 3, $10 for Types 2A and 3A, and $20 for Type AR.

Which 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.

Can I pick up my record at a DPS office?

No. DPS says it cannot provide driver record services in person at any of its locations. Order online or by mail.

Does Texas still put points on my record?

No. Texas repealed the Driver Responsibility Program, which used points and surcharges, on Sept. 1, 2019. DPS can still suspend a license for other reasons, such as the habitual violator rule.

Can my employer see my Texas driving record?

Only requesters who qualify under state law can get DPS record data. They can get your status or a three-year history, not the full Type 3 or 3A record. See our background check guide for details.

What if my record has a mistake?

DPS says to contact TxDOT’s crash records office for a wrong crash. For a wrong drug or DWI conviction, ask the court that filed it to send a correction, then allow 21 business days.

Conclusion

Your Texas driving record is a DPS file you can order online or by mail, in six types from $4 to $20. Type 3A is the record DPS names for a defensive driving course, so confirm the type with your court before you order. If you plan to take a course for a ticket, start with Driving Logic’s online Texas driving safety course and keep the 90-day limit in mind.

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.