What Is an MVR Report, and Why Should You Conduct One?

What is an MVR report?

An MVR report shows a person’s driving history. This data is typically provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It is one of the many preemployment background checks that employers use when hiring new employees. Typically, an MVR report is conducted only if employees will be driving as a part of their job duties.

What jobs require MVR checks?

Experts highly recommend running an MVR check on prospective employees when hiring:

• Ambulance drivers
• Delivery and rideshare drivers
• Construction workers who will be operating cranes, heavy machinery, trucks or similar equipment
• Any job for which the employee will use fleet management software to aid in their travel [Read related article: The Best Fleet Management and Fleet Tracking Software]

Additionally, MVR checks are legally required when hiring:

• Commercial truck drivers
• Taxi drivers
• Law enforcement officers
• Bus drivers

You don’t need to run an MVR report for an employee who will simply commute to and from work in their own car. However, you should get an MVR report for an employee who needs to drive for business purposes — even when it isn’t the main component of their role. For example, assistants who run errands or pick up catering for meetings or office lunches technically drive for work. You don’t want someone driving recklessly and getting into an accident while completing business activities.

What information is on an MVR report?

An MVR report typically includes the following information:

• Personally identifiable information, like the driver’s name, date of birth, address, height and weight
• The status and history of their driver’s license, which can include license revocations, suspensions and different categories of licenses they’ve held, such as a commercial driver’s license
• Collisions that the driver has experienced (and, in some states, who was at fault for the accident)
• Infractions, such as speeding or other moving violations

MVR checks are typically meant to be done in conjunction with criminal record checks. Each state has its own policies on whether criminal charges — e.g., driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving — appear solely on a person’s criminal record or also on an MVR report.

Why employers should run MVR reports

Here are the main reasons why MVR checks are worth it even when they’re not required.

1. You weed out unsafe, unlicensed drivers and avoid lawsuits.

Running an MVR report helps you determine whether a potential hire has a history of unsafe driving activity. If you are hiring someone for a role that requires driving, it’s a good idea to verify that they are a responsible driver with a valid license. If you accidentally allow an unlicensed employee to drive on behalf of your company, the business may face legal consequences if they cause an accident or injure someone. Plus, your auto insurance rates will surely skyrocket.

2. You preserve your reputation.

Your employees are representing you while they’re driving for work — especially if they’re operating a company vehicle. If they are driving unsafely or aggressively, people may view your business as unprofessional. Even if your employees are in their own cars, you don’t want clients, partners or vendors to see them driving badly.

3. You confirm auto insurance coverage.

Another reason an employer may want to run a preemployment MVR is to ensure that the employee, if hired, will get coverage under your commercial vehicle policy. These checks can also be performed by the insurance company; the insurance company will then let you know if the employee is eligible to be added to your policy. Insurance companies often deny drivers with DUIs, license suspensions or a large number of recent traffic infractions.

4. You protect your community and establish driver safety protocol.

Your potential customer or client base might include people in the areas through which your team drives. Protecting them from dangerous drivers via MVR checks keeps your community safe.

At the same time as you safeguard your community via MVR checks, you set clear driver safety protocol. Namely, if an MVR check flags anything, the potential driver is a no-go for hiring. Both outcomes are good for people and your business: Everyone is safer, and you create a robust vetting process.

How far back does an MVR report go?

How far back an MVR report will go depends on a couple of factors. The biggest is the state from which you receive the report. On average, an MVR report will go back at least three years. But, some states give you 7 to 10 years of history.

States have different look-back periods depending on the type of action or offense being reported. For example, the California DMV reports collisions on an MVR report for three years — except collisions involving commercial vehicles, which are reported for 10 years.

Similarly, there are different look-back periods for standard moving violations, DUIs and moving violations obtained in a commercial vehicle. A California MVR report could go back anywhere from 3 to 55 years; it depends on whether the driver had a more standard driving history or one with major commercial violations.

How to get an MVR report for an employee

You have several options when it comes to running MVR checks. Namely:

1. Use a background check service.

Most employers choose a background check service to help them run MVR reports. This is usually the most efficient and convenient option. It’s especially true since most background check providers will be able to run MVR reports, criminal background checks, education verification and any other forms of background reporting you want to obtain.

Choosing a trusted provider can help you ensure that you are running reports in a compliant manner while also streamlining the preemployment background check process. This provider must comply with the FCRA just as you would if you were conducting the check yourself.

2. Obtain the employee’s MVR report from the DMV.

You can also get an MVR report from your state’s DMV office. The process varies slightly depending on the state. Typically, an employee must sign a DMV form that authorizes you to obtain a copy of their MVR report. This option may be cheaper than using a background check service, but it is also typically less efficient.

3. Require the employee to provide their MVR report.

Employees can obtain their own MVR checks electronically or via mail. However, MVR reports can take approximately a week to arrive in the mail, and employees can alter electronic reports to make themselves look better. As such, employee-provided MVR checks only make sense if you lack time to obtain the report yourself or money for a background check service.

What is continuous MVR monitoring?

Some companies choose to go beyond running an MVR report and opt for continuous MVR monitoring. With ongoing MVR monitoring, you can keep an eye on your employees’ motor vehicle reports; you can receive alerts when there is a change, such as an accident, ticket, suspension or other infraction. This can provide employers with some extra peace of mind and security.

Hit the road with MVR checks

MVR reports aren’t the only way to ensure a team of successful drivers; reducing fleet fuel costs and cutting down on idle time matter too. MVR checks, though, are how you initially get people in the door who idle less frequently and use less gas while still driving safely. Incorporate MVR checks into your hiring process and you’ll have drivers you can trust from day one and long after.