What does it mean to have a clean driving record?

If you’ve ever applied for a new insurance policy or even certain jobs, you have probably had to fill out information regarding your past driving record. You may have also heard people talk about a “clean” driving record. But what exactly does that mean? The generally accepted definition of a clean driving record is: a record that doesn’t have any points, accidents, or moving violations.

Though this is the most common definition, your employer and your insurance provider may not agree completely. Some insurance companies will count claims toward your driving record. Your record may only be considered “clean” if you have no claims. However, employers may not count minor violations.

Minor violations can be something like a speeding ticket issued for driving only a little over the speed limit or a parking ticket. Some employers and insurance companies will also ignore moving violations, as long as they’re minor.

Regardless of your driving record, the one thing you should never do is lie about it. The penalty for a minor violation on your record will never be as consequential as the penalty for lying about your driving record. Both insurance companies and employers can easily access your court history and driving record.

Usually, one speeding ticket won’t make or break your employment or insurance status (unless you’ve been cited for criminal excessive speeding).

If you have points on your license, don’t despair, because you may be able to remove them. Contact your local DMV to ask whether there is a way to get rid of points—some may charge you a fee, and others may require you to complete a defensive driving course. Some insurers also offer defensive driving courses that can help you remove points.

Though you may be able to remove points from your license, this is separate from your driving record, so the incident that caused the points may remain. Check with both your employer and your insurance provider, because whether you have a clean driving record—and how to deal with it if you don’t—will depend on your employer and insurance.