How employers use a motor vehicle record
Jobs that put you behind the wheel of a company vehicle, or that carry passengers or freight, often include a motor vehicle record in hiring and sometimes again after you are hired. The employer is ordering the state report, not an educational driver score. What they are allowed to see, and what they must tell you, depends on the kind of job and on the permission you gave.
Why a driving job asks for the report
The employer wants the license status and the posted history before they hand over keys. A suspended license, a recent serious conviction, or a pattern of moving violations can be the reason they decline the route. A report that is thin can also be a problem if the job needs a commercial class or an endorsement that is not on the license. The MVR shows what the state posted. It does not grade you against other applicants.
Some employers order a new report on a schedule, not only at hire. Motor carriers that employ commercial drivers have a federal duty to review driving records. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration describes that annual review in 49 CFR 391.25. That rule is about the carrier's review of the record. It is not a score, and it does not apply to every job that happens to include a car.
Permission and a copy if they say no
When the report is a consumer report used for employment, federal law generally requires a clear disclosure and your written permission before the employer orders it. If they take adverse action because of the report, they generally have to give you a copy and a summary of your rights. The Federal Trade Commission's employer guide is the plain-language source for that process. This page is not legal advice for a specific offer. If the form in front of you is unclear, ask what will be ordered and who will see it before you sign.
You can order your own motor vehicle record from the state first. That lets you see the lines an employer is likely to see, including entries you think are wrong. Fixing a wrong line is a state correction, which is a different guide. An employer does not delete the state file by deciding to hire you.
The score is not the hiring report
Driver Leaderboard's driver score is an educational summary of a motor vehicle record. An employer who asks for an MVR is asking for the report. Do not send them a score in place of the record they requested, and do not read a sample score on a marketing page as your hiring result. Any sample on this site is labeled as an example. The record is the document that matters for the job.
Frequently asked questions
Does every job include an MVR?
No. It is common when driving is part of the work. A role that never involves a vehicle may never order one. The posting or the consent form should say what is being requested.
Can I see the report the employer ordered?
If they take adverse action based on a consumer report, they generally must give you a copy. You can also order your own motor vehicle record from the state so you are not waiting on their copy.
Is a driver score what the employer reviews?
No. They review the motor vehicle record. A driver score is a separate educational summary and is not a hiring score.
Where to go next
Related reading
More MVR guides
Read the record first
The motor vehicle record is the document. A driver score, when you have one, is only an educational summary of that record.