Department of Motor Vehicles

What information appears on a lifetime driving record? 

A "lifetime" driving record contains all the license information DMV currently has available about a driver. The “lifetime” driving record will display all information still in DMV’s possession regardless of the data retention requirements found in Vehicle and Traffic Law.  The record may not include information that dates back to when a driver was initially granted driving privileges.

A “standard” driver license abstract only contains information that DMV is still required to keep. For example, most suspensions and revocations are only shown on the standard driving record abstract for 4 years from the date the suspension or revocation ended. A “lifetime” driving record will show suspensions and revocations that are older than 4 years.

Each driving record abstract contains information grouped within several sections. See Description of Abstract of Lifetime Driving Record (DS-242.3) for more information on how to read and understand a lifetime driving record abstract.

Header 1

The "Header" section includes the individual's information as applicable

• deceased
• name
• mailing address (City, State, ZIP Code)
• mailing county
• name as it appears on document
• DMV ID Number (Client ID Number) from your NY State driver license, learner permit or non-driver photo ID card
• date of birth (DOB)
• gender/sex
• height
• eye color
• status information for
  • temporary visitor
  • military
  • veteran
  • organ donor
• suspension and revocation summary
• restrictions that limit the driving privilege
• adventure license credentials

See the form Driver License Class Descriptions (MV-500C) for a list and explanation of driver license restrictions.

Summary 2

The header is followed by a "Summary" section that includes 

• license class / privilege
• document status (including commercial and 19A)
• document expiration date
• date of road test eligibility 

Current License

The "Current License" section includes

• current license class
• current license expiration date
• any endorsements that expand the driving privilege
• type of document that was issued

Non-Driver ID

The "Non-Driver ID" section includes

• issue date
• expiration date

Permit History

The "Permit History" section includes

• permit classes and the dates they were applied for
• date the permit document expired
• any restrictions or endorsements that limit or expand the permit privilege

Activity

The "Activity" section may include

• driver license related course completion
• Commercial Driver License (CDL) history
• license reciprocity information

Class / Privilege change

The "Class / Privilege" section includes

• class(es) / Privilege(s) of the driver holds or has held
• effective date for each class / Privilege
• date each license class / Privilege was posted to the license record

Document Issued

The "Document" section includes

• type of document
• license class
• issue date

Merges

The "Merges" section only appears on the abstract if the driver has ever had license under a different Customer Identification Number (CID) than the one shown in the "Header" section.

The "Merges" section if present will show

• which CID's were merged and the resulting CID
• the date the merged CID was put on the record
• any other name connected to the merged CID's
• any other Dates of Birth (DOB) connected to the merged CID's
• any other gender connected to the merged CID's

Suspensions and Revocations

On the "Lifetime" driving record, the "Suspensions and Revocations" section is divided into two sub-sections, "Non-Scofflaws" and "Scofflaws".  Non-scofflaws and Scofflaws will be listed separately, in order by effective date, from newest to oldest. For out of state courts, the court’s address and phone number are recorded as provided by the issuing jurisdiction.  

Non-scofflaws: The type of sanction imposed (suspension or revocation) which results from reasons other than failure to answer a summons or pay a fine/surcharge/assessment. The following fields may appear.

• Suspension/Revocation Date
• Incident Date (if applicable)
• Reason (reason for sanction)
• Order Number
• Case Number (if applicable)
• Ticket Number (if applicable)
• Class Affected
• Civil Penalty (if applicable)
• Termination Fee (if applicable)
• Length of Sanction
• Clear On (clearance date)
• Reason (reason for clearance)
• Out of State Information (if applicable)
• Rescission (if applicable)

Scofflaws: The suspension imposed as a result of failure to answer a summons or pay a fine/surcharge/assessment.  The following fields may appear.

• Suspension Date
• Reason (reason for sanction)
• Order Number
• Ticket Number
• Court Name
• Clear On (clearance date)
• Reason (reason for clearance)

The CONVICTIONS/BAIL FORFEITURES section lists conviction and bail forfeitures in order of violation date. The following fields may appear.

• Conviction/Forfeiture (violation description)
• Violation Date
• Conviction Date
• Location
• Penalty (if applicable)
• Points (if applicable)
• Commercial Vehicle
• Hazmat
• Ticket Number

The VESSEL/SNOWMOBILE lists suspensions and convictions for boats and snowmobiles.

Vessel/Snowmobile Privilege Suspensions: section lists boat and snowmobile suspensions in order of effective date. The following fields may appear.

• Suspension Effective Date
• Reason (reason for sanction)
• Order Number
• Ticket Number (if applicable)
• Civil Penalty (if applicable)
• Period (length of sanction)
• Clear On (clearance date)
• Reason (reason for clearance)

Vessel/Snowmobile Convictions: section lists boat and snowmobile convictions in order of violation date. The following fields may appear.

• Conviction
• Violation Date
• Convicted On
• Ticket Number (if applicable)
• Location
• Penalty (if applicable)

Non-Vehicular Convictions: The following fields may appear.

• Conviction
• Violation Date
• Conviction Date
• Location
• Penalty
• Ticket Number

The ACCIDENTS section lists accidents in order of accident date.  3  The following fields will appear

• Accident Date
• County
• Case Number
• Accident Type
• Accident Reports Filed

The ADDRESS HISTORY section lists addresses on file in order of effective date.  The following fields will appear.

• Posted (effective date)
• Type
• Address
• County
• Country

What if the information on my driving record abstract is wrong?

 If you suspect that your DMV abstract contains incorrect information, contact the DMV Call Center.