Your driving record is forever, and there are ways that it can seep into your personal life. Traffic violations, accidents, DUI convictions, and license suspensions are all kept track of on your driving record. A driver with a driving record full of traffic tickets, car accidents, reckless driving tickets, DUI convictions, and license suspensions will see higher car insurance rates. Having a spotty driver’s record can also cause higher premiums for life insurance.
The good news is that there are some ways that you can resolve blemishes, like a suspended license from your driving record. This post serves as your tell-all guide.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for Driver’s License Suspension?
Driver license suspensions typically happen after a major traffic offense like a DUI or when too many points are on your driver’s license. Too many points can result in a suspended drivers license.
How Long Does a Suspended License Stay on Your Record?
Traffic violations and points can stay on your driving record or license for three to ten years. In some states, some markups are permanent. You can resolve a suspended license by taking steps to reinstate it after the suspension period is over. However, you will have to pay a reinstatement fee and there may still be a mark of the driver’s license suspension.
What Exactly is a Driving Record?
Your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV keeps your driving record on file. Your driving record has no expiration date and continues until the day you stop driving. The driving records include personal information, details about your driver’s license, previous car accidents, traffic tickets and citations, fines or fees, driver’s license suspensions, graduated driving courses, and points on your driver’s license.
Why is a Driving Record Important?
Marks on your driving history can be long-lasting, there is a chance, especially for repeat offenders, that your driving record can affect your life in more ways than driving a vehicle.
Ways your driving record can negatively affect you
Your Car Insurance Rates
How much you pay for your car insurance premium will be the first to take a blow when a traffic violation goes on your driving record. Your auto insurance provider has access to your driving record and handles your car insurance claims, so it’s impossible for them not to notice that your driver’s license was suspended.
Your Credit Score
Falling behind on traffic ticket fines or ignoring traffic tickets can negatively affect your credit score. Your credit score will only suffer more when a collection agency is involved. Your vehicle insurer looks at your credit score, so your auto insurance premiums can also take a hit. A good credit score is vital for buying a car or renting an apartment. If a traffic ticket is ignored for too long, it can even become an arrest warrant.
Your Right to Vote
Your right to vote is affected in the case of serious traffic violations like a DUI, which can be a felony charge. As a convicted felon, you can lose several rights, including the right to vote, serve on a jury, hold a public office position, receive federal aid, be a firefighter or police officer, and be subject to limited travel.
Your Life Insurance
A driving record with a DUI charge on it can result in a revision of your life insurance tier. In this case, your insurance carrier can increase your life insurance premium rates by a couple of hundred dollars.
Drivers License Suspension
Serious charges or a certain number of points on your driver’s license can cause your driver’s license to be suspended. Even letting a traffic ticket go unpaid can result in a driver’s license suspension or license revocation which is a permanent loss of your driving privileges.
Your Job
One serious driving infraction and several smaller ones can result in you losing your job. This is especially true if your job involves driving, such as a commercial driver with a license or CDL. The car insurance company may charge too much for you to use the company car, and your employer may choose not to employ you. It may also be hard for you to find a new job due to something like a DUI conviction. If you work in public transportation, your employment may be terminated after a single DUI.
Your Future Criminal Charges
A prior traffic conviction or DUI can set a standard for your criminal record. You can expect the penalties for your subsequent offense to be much harsher including hefty fines, a probation period or even jail time.
How Can You Remove Marks From Your Driving Record?
There are a couple of ways to take matters into your own hands and remove points from your driving record.
While marks can last a period of time from three to five years (ten years for major violations), you can do the following to remedy some:
- Enroll in a defensive driving course - You can learn something new about driving in traffic school, get points removed from your driver’s license, and even lower your car insurance rates.
- Request expungement - While you may only be able to use this option once, you can request a driving infraction to be expunged from your driving record.
- Contest the traffic violation - You can hire legal help to fight the original traffic ticket you were issued if you feel it was unjust.
- Be a safer driver - The road most traveled by is practicing safe driving daily. Traffic violations are avoidable.
