Know who's behind the wheel — with a clear motor vehicle report and real people a call away.
If a role involves driving, the candidate's driving record matters as much as their criminal history. A motor vehicle report (MVR) pulls a driver's official record straight from the state, so you can see license status, violations, suspensions, DUIs, and accidents before you hand over the keys. At NCS Workforce, we make an MVR check easy: order it on its own or fold it into a broader screening program, and lean on a live person in our office whenever you have a question. You're the priority — because behind every great hire, there should be people who care.
Backed by 20+ years of National Crime Search expertise and PBSA-accredited standards, we help growing businesses put safe, qualified drivers on the road and reduce the risk that comes with everyone else.
Get a quote | Call us at (479) 695-2111
What Is a Motor Vehicle Report?
A motor vehicle report is the official driving record a state's department of motor vehicles (DMV) keeps on a licensed driver. When you run an MVR through NCS Workforce, you get a clear, current snapshot of that record — so a hiring decision that puts someone behind the wheel isn't a guess.
An MVR is different from a criminal background check. A criminal check looks at court records; an MVR looks at the driving record specifically. For any role that involves operating a vehicle, you usually want both — the criminal check for overall history, and the MVR for what actually happens on the road.
Because each state maintains its own records, what an MVR shows and how far back it reaches can vary by state. We'll help you order the right MVR for the states where your drivers are licensed.
What an MVR Shows
A motor vehicle report gives you a focused look at a candidate's driving history. Depending on the state, an MVR typically includes:
- License status — whether the license is valid, expired, suspended, or revoked.
- License class and endorsements — the type of license held (standard vs. commercial) and any endorsements or restrictions.
- Moving violations — speeding tickets, reckless driving, and other infractions on record.
- Suspensions and revocations — periods when driving privileges were taken away, and why.
- DUI / DWI and driving-related convictions — driving under the influence and other serious driving offenses.
- Accidents — crash history reported to the state.
- Points — where a state uses a points system, the points assessed against the license.
In short, an MVR turns "they say they're a good driver" into a record you can actually review.
Why Employers Run MVR Checks
A bad hire behind the wheel isn't just a performance problem — it's a safety and liability problem. Employers run MVR checks to:
- Hire safe, qualified drivers. Confirm a candidate's record matches the responsibility of the role before they ever drive on your behalf.
- Reduce negligent-hiring exposure. If an employee with a poor driving record causes a crash, an employer who never checked can be on the hook. A documented MVR shows you did your due diligence.
- Protect people and property. Your employees, your customers, and the public are safer when the people driving your vehicles have clean, current records.
- Manage insurance and cost. Insurers care about driver records. A consistent MVR program helps you keep your fleet and your premiums in check.
- Stay consistent. A clear policy — applied the same way to comparable roles — keeps your hiring fair and defensible.
This matters for far more than delivery drivers. Sales reps who drive to clients, home-service technicians, healthcare aides who transport patients, and anyone who operates a company vehicle all belong in an MVR program.
How MVR Fits Into a Broader Screening Program
An MVR is rarely the whole picture. For driving roles, it works best alongside the rest of your screening:
- Criminal background checks cover overall history and surface records an MVR won't.
- Drug screening, including DOT-regulated testing, pairs naturally with driving positions. See our Drug Screening page.
- Identity and employment verifications confirm the candidate is who they say they are and has the experience the role requires.
- Continuous MVR / driver monitoring keeps watch after the hire, so a new suspension or DUI doesn't go unnoticed for months.
Most customers add MVR as part of a package built around the role. Tell us what you're hiring for and we'll recommend the right mix — and only the searches you actually need. For the full screening picture, see our Background Checks overview.
DOT, CDL, and Transportation Roles
If you employ commercial drivers, you're in a regulated world, and your MVR program has to keep up.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its agencies — most notably the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) — set specific requirements for drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles. For drivers who hold a commercial driver's license (CDL), employers generally must review the driving record at hire and on an ongoing basis, not just once.
That's where MVR becomes a recurring part of compliance, not a one-time check:
- Pre-hire MVR to confirm a clean, valid CDL with the right class and endorsements before the driver starts.
- Periodic / annual MVR review to stay aligned with FMCSA expectations for monitoring commercial drivers.
- Pairing with DOT drug and alcohol testing so your safety-sensitive program is complete.
The rules can get detailed, and they differ for DOT-regulated drivers versus everyone else. That's exactly the kind of thing our team helps customers navigate every day — call us and we'll walk you through what applies to your drivers.
This page is general information for employers, not legal advice. Confirm your driver-screening and DOT/FMCSA obligations with qualified counsel for the states where you operate.
FCRA Consent and Fair Hiring
When you order an MVR through a screening company, that report is a consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) — so the same consent and notice rules apply as with any background check.
- Disclosure and written consent first. Before you run an MVR, the candidate must receive a clear, standalone disclosure and provide written authorization. NCS Workforce can collect FCRA-compliant consent electronically on your behalf, so it's done right the first time.
- Adverse action done right. If something on the MVR moves you toward a "no," the FCRA's two-step adverse-action process applies: a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and the summary of rights, a reasonable waiting period, then a final notice. We provide templates so each step is handled correctly.
- Apply your policy consistently. Decide up front what driving history matters for which roles, and apply that standard evenly to keep your process fair and defensible.
We make the compliance side easy so you can focus on the hire. See our Background Checks page for the full FCRA workflow.
Why Employers Choose NCS Workforce for MVR
The big national screening companies are quick to sell and slow to answer. We do it the other way around. We answer the phone, we know your name, and we help you order the right MVR the first time — for one driver or a whole fleet.
- Real human support. Reach a live person by phone, email, or chat during business hours — no bots, no queues.
- 20+ years of expertise. Built on National Crime Search, trusted by more than 20,000 customers nationwide.
- Accredited and compliant. NCS is FCRA compliant and was one of the first CRAs to earn PBSA accreditation (renewed in 2026), is SOC 2 compliant, and holds a BBB A+ rating.
- Built around your roles. Order an MVR on its own, bundle it with criminal checks and drug screening, or add ongoing driver monitoring — we'll match it to how you hire.
And when you have a question about a record, Hailey — a full, conversational AI HR assistant right inside your command center — is ready to help explain what you're seeing, with our team always a call away. Meet her on the Hailey page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a motor vehicle report (MVR)?
An MVR is the official driving record a state DMV keeps on a licensed driver. It typically shows license status and class, moving violations, suspensions and revocations, DUI/DWI and other driving-related convictions, accidents, and (where a state uses them) points. Employers run MVRs to put safe, qualified drivers behind the wheel.
Which employees should I run an MVR on?
Anyone whose job involves driving — not just delivery drivers. That includes sales reps who travel, field and home-service technicians, healthcare workers who transport people, and anyone operating a company vehicle. If a role involves driving, an MVR belongs in the screen.
How far back does an MVR go?
It varies by state, since each state keeps its own records. Many states report several years of history, while some go back further. We'll help you order the right MVR for the states where your drivers are licensed.
Do I need consent to run an MVR?
Yes. An employment MVR is a consumer report under the FCRA, so the candidate must receive a disclosure and provide written authorization before you run it. NCS Workforce can collect FCRA-compliant consent electronically on your behalf.
Do DOT and CDL drivers have special MVR requirements?
Generally, yes. Employers of commercial drivers typically must review driving records at hire and on an ongoing basis under DOT/FMCSA rules, often alongside DOT drug and alcohol testing. Call us and we'll help you understand what applies to your drivers.
Can I talk to a real person about MVR screening?
Always. When you call, you'll quickly reach a live person in our office during business hours — not a bot or a queue. You're the priority.
Put Safe Drivers on the Road
You bring the open driving role. We'll bring the motor vehicle reports, 20+ years of screening expertise, PBSA-accredited standards, and a team that actually picks up the phone. Fast, compliant, and human — that's how we strive to exceed your expectations.
Get a quote | Talk to a real person | (479) 695-2111
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