Why and How Employers Check Driving History with MVR Checks

Motor Vehicle Record checks (also known as MVR checks) are a common type of screening employers use before—and even after—they hire someone. In this post, we’ll explain exactly what an MVR check is and how to know whether it’s something you need.

And here’s the bonus: Done right, MVR checks could even save your company a lot of money. Don’t worry, we’ll explain how.

What is an MVR check?

An MVR check is a report that pulls an individual’s driving history. Employers request this report from a provider, who gets the info directly from each state’s DMV—usually through a direct digital connection.

These reports cover a wide range of driving offenses, including:

• Speeding
• Failure to yield
• Suspended license
• DUI
• No proof of insurance
• And plenty more…

MVR checks don’t stop at offenses, either. They often also provide detailed license information, like:

• Issue and expiration dates
• License endorsements and restrictions
• License type
• Driver’s name, date of birth, and address
• Past licenses the driver might have held
• Accident data
• Administrative information like suspension or failure to pay fines

Most states provide records going back at least three years, but some reports may contain a deeper history. That timeframe depends entirely on what each DMV chooses to report, not your screening provider. Your provider simply reports everything exactly as the DMV hands it over.

So, despite the name, a motor vehicle record check doesn’t examine the vehicle itself. It’s all about checking on the driver, which is why it is sometimes called a Driving History check or Driving Record check as well.

Who uses MVR checks (and why)

Companies typically use MVR checks for three  reasons:

1. They have employees or contractors who drive as part of their jobs.
2. Their insurance policies require it.
3. They’re subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

In reality, these reasons overlap. If you have employees who drive regularly, you’re probably already facing legal or insurance-related requirements.

That’s why you’ll find MVR checks common in obvious driving-heavy industries like food or package delivery services, freight and logistics, and passenger transportation. They’re also used in less obvious industries where employees drive on the company’s behalf from time to time, like home medical care, real estate, or any role where someone uses a company car.

There are a lot of cases where people drive for work, which means there are a lot of cases where MVR checks make sense.

Simply put, if someone is driving on your behalf, they represent a risk you’re responsible for managing. And managing that risk means keeping more money in your pocket.

Insurance companies aren’t shy about litigation. They target businesses because your pockets are deeper than your driver’s. That’s why MVR checks are so common.

Doesn’t a background check cover driving offenses already?

Some employers wonder if running a criminal background check already covers all their bases, especially driving offenses. If you’re already paying for a criminal background check, do you still need an MVR check?

The straightforward answer: Yes, you do.

Here’s why:

Criminal background checks pull court records of criminal offenses. But many driving violations don’t reach that level. Driving infractions like speeding tickets or even DUIs won’t always appear on criminal background reports.

If your goal is ensuring your drivers are safe behind the wheel, you need an MVR check. It’s the only reliable way to catch the driving infractions that matter most.

How to save money on MVR checks

There are two practical ways companies can save money when running MVR checks: pre-hire Sequential Screening and post-hire Continuous Monitoring.

Pre-Hire: Sequential Screening

Yardstik’s Sequential Screening methodology lets you run the MVR check before paying for a more expensive criminal background check. If your candidate’s driving record doesn’t meet your standards, you can stop right there.

That means you avoid unnecessary spending on additional screenings, saving both time and money.

Here’s how one Yardstik customer put it:

“The fact that we can run the MVR first and see if we can even accept them before running the background check is really, really crucial, especially with time to hire… I think that’s the biggest selling point for us as a 1099 platform—that we could run the MVR first.”

– Cat C., HUNGRY, Yardstik customer

Post-Hire: Continuous MVR Monitoring

Continuous MVR monitoring is an always-on look at every employee’s driving record that alerts you if anything new appears. It can save you money in two significant ways:

1. If your company typically runs annual MVR checks, switching to continuous monitoring can cost less overall.
2. Insurance providers often offer reduced rates if you continuously monitor driver records. Not all insurance companies offer this discount, so check with your provider to see if this applies to you. 

Continuous monitoring also keeps driver information fresh all year. You’ll know day after day if all of the members of your driving team have valid licenses and a clean driving record. This allows you to take action now to reduce your risk. 

If an MVR check matters when you hire someone, continuous monitoring should matter just as much after they’re onboard, since people continue driving well past their hire date

How to start running MVR checks

Ready to get started?

Yardstik has everything your business needs to run effective MVR checks, both pre-hire and post-hire. You’ll reduce risk, speed up hiring, and keep costs under control, especially if you’re dealing with high-volume hiring or managing teams of drivers.If you’re looking for a smarter, simpler way to handle your screening needs, let’s talk.