You must first be approved for defensive driving by the court that issued you the traffic citation. The court will notify you if you need to obtain a certified copy of your Texas driving record, however, some Texas courts will charge you extra and get the driving record for you.

Make sure you know what your court requirements are. The court should have either given you some paperwork or told you about obtaining your driving record. If you are unsure whether you need to get one or not, contact the court directly and ask.

Why do I need my Driving Record?

The court wants to see how many traffic violations you have previously dismissed. If you have taken defensive driving and dismissed a ticket within the previous year most likely you can take it again to dismiss another ticket. They will let you know the policy of the judge and whether or not you are eligible to take defensive driving again.

How do I Get My Texas Driving Record?

You have three options to obtain your driving record: order online, order through mail, or by standing in line in person.

Online: (highly recommended)
Proceed to the State of Texas's website at www.texasonline.com/drivingrecords Follow the links to "order driving record". Make sure you order version 3A which is a certified copy required by most courts. The cost is $12.00 payable by credit card online. Allow a few business days of processing and mail time from Austin to where ever you are located.

Mail:
There is a form that you will need to use to make a request for your driving record by mail. Either obtain one from the court or go to the state's website and print out a form. The cost is $10.00 and must be sent by cashiers’ check or money order. Allow at least 3 weeks for processing and delivery.

In Person:
Only if you are really desperate, or waited until the absolute last minute should you do this (standing in line is no fun). There are four locations in the State of Texas where you can pick up your driving record: Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Garland. You can obtain information about these locations on the Texas Department of Public Safety website or contact Customer Service at 512-424-2600.

What do I do with my driving record after I receive it?

The court has given you a deadline to turn in all paperwork. Know your deadline and turn in the following items:

1. Defensive Driving Completion Certificate (required)
2. Texas Driving Record (if required)
3. Any additional affidavits (if required)

For any questions, contact the court which issued you the traffic citation.

So what are you waiting for? Order your driving record online, and while you are waiting take our online defensive driving course or defensive driving classroom course.