Wyoming Driving Records

Wyoming driving records are detailed summaries of a driver's past driving history that contain vital information such as violations, accidents, license cancellations, and administrative sanctions.

A driving history report is important to various stakeholders for reinforcing responsible driving behavior, maintaining public safety on Wyoming roads, conducting insurance underwriting and risk management, and verifying driver eligibility.

Every U.S. state maintains its driving records, governed by federal and local laws. These laws ensure that individuals and organizations may access such records without violating anyone's privacy rights.

What Is a Wyoming Driving Record?

A Wyoming driving record, officially known as a motor vehicle record (MVR), is a comprehensive document used to monitor and report events, behaviors, and actions associated with a driver in the state.

This driving history is maintained and issued by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), specifically through its Driver Services Program/Division (DSP).

What Is The Difference Between Official MVRs and Public Driving Records?

Official MVRs from the WYDOT may be accessed online, by mail, or in person, which is an advantage for non-tech-savvy individuals who prefer traditional, paper-based processes over digital platforms.

In contrast, public driving records maintained by third-party commercial data providers like RecordsFinder are primarily distributed via websites and online platforms, which allow users to access information instantly.

Official MVRs also undergo rigorous verifications and audits to ensure that these records contain timely, accurate, and comprehensive information. However, such data handling practices and procedures are not guaranteed for some third-party data providers, which might lead to false or outdated driver records.

Why Would You Need a Driving Record?

Obtaining your Wyoming driving record is essential for several reasons, such as the following:

• Insurance Evaluation: Insurance providers in Wyoming review driving records to assess motorists' risk of unsafe driving, accidents, and claims, which helps determine appropriate premium rates based on a driver's history.
• Legal Proceedings: Revealing past convictions, prior license actions, and violation patterns, driving records may be used in traffic-related court proceedings to assess the severity of penalties.
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Compliance: Under Wyoming Statutes (WS) Section 31-7-305, a driver is ineligible for a CDL or may face license cancellation if their driving record shows two or more serious moving violations within three years.
• Employment Screening: Employers hiring for driving-related roles often request driving records to evaluate reliability and safety. A clean record enhances job eligibility, while repeated violations may limit employment opportunities in the transportation, logistics, and delivery industries.
• Personal Record Accuracy Check: Reviewing the record allows drivers to identify reporting errors or fraudulent activity. Prompt correction helps prevent wrongful penalties or license issues.

What Information Is Included in a Driver Report?

A Wyoming driver report provides valuable insights into a motorist's background, driving behavior, and habits by including the following information:

• Personal information, such as name, address, and license number
• License class, endorsements, and restrictions
• Current license status
• Non-moving violations and convictions
• Withdrawals of driving privileges, which may include license suspensions, revocations, or cancellations
• Accidents and judgments (uninsured accidents and court-ordered judgments from at-fault accidents)
• Out-of-state violations
• Proof of financial responsibility like SR-22 filings

Types of Driver Records Available in Wyoming

The WYDOT issues three types of driver records, which are:

• 3-Year Record: Provides a three-year history of moving violations, insurance-related offenses, uninsured injury accidents, nonresident compact violations, administrative per se actions and refusals, and proof of financial responsibility withdrawals.
• 5-Year Record: Tracks convictions and withdrawals for serious violations such as driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, hit-and-run, and vehicular homicide within five years.
• 10-Year Record: Commonly requested by employers, trucking companies, and private agencies to assess commercial driving qualifications during background checks.

Motorists and authorized entities may access certified copies of these driving records directly from the WYDOT. A certified MVR typically includes an official stamp or raised seal that verifies its authenticity, making it legally valid for official use. These certified records are commonly required for legal proceedings, employment background checks, and insurance verification.

Conversely, non-certified copies—often provided by third-party commercial data providers—lack these official features and are generally used for personal reference, recordkeeping, or research purposes rather than formal or legal applications.

Traffic Violations and Tickets in Wyoming

The Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), county sheriff's offices, and municipal police departments collectively enforce the state's traffic laws. Depending on the severity of the offense, individuals who violate these regulations may face penalties.

Common Types of Traffic Violations

In Wyoming, traffic offenses are classified as either moving or non-moving violations. Moving violations occur when a vehicle is actively being driven and typically involve unsafe or unlawful driving behavior. These may lead to fines, license suspension, and even incarceration.

On the other hand, non-moving violations typically stem from non-compliance with Wyoming traffic laws. They usually result in fines, do not require a court appearance, and do not appear on a driving record.

Here are common examples of these violations:

Moving Violations

• Speeding: In Wyoming, speeding means driving faster than reasonable for road and weather conditions or exceeding posted limits. Under WS Section 31-5-301, you may face fines from $65 to over $255, depending on how fast you are going.
• Running a Red Light or Stop Sign: Drivers must come to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light, either at the nearest stop line, crosswalk, or intersection (WS Sections 31-5-222 and 31-5-403). A right turn on red is allowed unless a sign prohibits it. Violating these rules results in a $150 fine.
• DUI: Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a serious offense. A blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher (.04% for commercial drivers) is illegal. A first violation may mean up to six months in jail, $750 in fines, and a 90-day suspension. Further offenses bring harsher, often felony-level penalties.

Non-Moving Violations

• Expired Registration: If your vehicle registration is expired, you may face fines ranging from $50 to $100. In some cases, you may need to renew the registration before you are allowed to drive again.
• No Insurance: If caught without insurance, you could face fines from $200 to $1,000. Additionally, your license may be suspended, and your vehicle may be impounded.
• Broken Headlights/Taillights: Driving with broken headlights or taillights may result in fines of $50 to $100. To avoid further penalties, you must repair the lights and pass a safety inspection.

What To Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket

Below is the proper course of action to take after receiving a traffic ticket in Wyoming:

• Review the Ticket: Check all the information on the citation, including your name, address, driver's license number, citation number, offense details, location, and the deadline to respond.
• Decide How to Respond: Here are the available options when responding to a traffic citation in Wyoming:
  • Pay the Fine: This is a practical solution for drivers who believe they are guilty of the violation and wish to avoid court costs and attorney fees. Traffic fines may be paid by mail or in person at the local circuit or municipal court. Another payment method is using the Wyoming Judicial Branch's online ticket payment system.
  • Challenge the Citation: When considering how to contest a ticket in Wyoming, this process typically involves submitting a not-guilty plea to the court and presenting evidence, testimonies, and witnesses during the hearing.
  • Join a Defensive Driving Program: Completing a defensive driving course and paying the necessary fees may allow a speeding ticket to be dismissed.
• Respond on Time: Wyoming typically requires drivers to respond to a traffic ticket within 15 days of the alleged violation. Failing to respond on time may result in additional fines, license suspension, or even a bench warrant.
• Track Your Driving Record: Obtain a copy of your driving record to ensure all details related to the citation are documented and updated correctly.

How Does the Wyoming Point System Work?

Unlike most states, Wyoming does not use a point system to track traffic violations. Instead of assigning demerit points, the WYDOT logs violations directly on the driver's record.

Administrative penalties, such as license suspension or revocation, are imposed based on the severity and frequency of offenses, as specified in the WYDOT's Driving Privilege Withdrawal Brochure.

Drivers who commit four moving violations within 12 months may face a 90-day suspension, with each additional offense adding another 90 days.

How Long Do Violations Stay on Your Driving History?

The type and severity of the violation determine how long it remains on the offender's Wyoming driving history.

• Violations of Wyoming Traffic Laws: Moving violations, crashes involving uninsured drivers, and offenses by out-of-state motorists that break Wyoming traffic laws may remain on a driving record for up to three years.
• Serious Offenses: If you are convicted of reckless driving, hit-and-run, or other serious violations with both criminal and administrative penalties, the conviction will stay on your record for five years.

Having violations on your Wyoming driving record comes with legal, economic, and financial consequences. Your driving privileges may be suspended for a longer time or permanently revoked, and employers might pass over your application for driving-related jobs.

A poor driving record also leads to higher insurance costs. In Wyoming, drivers with a single speeding ticket conviction pay an average of $2,328 per year for full coverage, compared to those with clean records, who pay only $1,667.

Can You Remove Violations from Your Record?

In Wyoming, traffic violations and infractions generally cannot be sealed or expunged from driving records. However, WS Sections 7-13-1501 and 7-13-1502 outline specific circumstances under which expungement may be granted.

For instance, certain misdemeanor traffic violations may be removed from a record after five years have passed since the completion of the sentence, or 10 years for some felony offenses, excluding aggravated vehicular homicide and felony DUIs.

How To Check Your Vehicle History

Choose from the available options below to review your Wyoming driving record or vehicle history:

• Fax and Email: To obtain a copy of your 3, 5, or 10-year driving record, use the Release of Driving Record & Personal Information Form (DFSR-11e Form), available on the WYDOT DSP page. Complete the form with the necessary information and either fax it to 307-777-4922 or email it to drivingrecord@wyo.gov.
• Mail-In Request: Alternatively, you may mail the completed driving record request form and pay the record fee by check or money order.
• In-Person Request: Bring the completed DFSR-11e Form and your valid Wyoming driver's license or identification card to any Wyoming driver examination station.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Driving Record in Wyoming?

The fee for requesting a driving record in Wyoming is $10 per record or requestor. If submitting your request via fax or email, you must pay both the record fee and an additional $2.50 service fee using a credit card.

For mail-in or in-person requests, payment is accepted by check or money order. Regardless of the method, requests are typically processed within 7-10 business days.

How To Check Your Driving History for Free

As mentioned earlier, getting a copy of your driving record in Wyoming costs $10. However, you may view your past traffic-related case records for free by visiting the circuit court or municipal court where the case was heard and inspecting the paper files.

Furthermore, you may review these records using the public access computer terminal at the courthouse. Keep in mind, though, that fees will apply if you request a printed or electronic copy of any case record.

What Happens If You Have a Bad Driving Record?

In Wyoming, a bad driving record generally means you have committed multiple moving violations in a short time, been convicted of serious offenses like reckless driving, hit-and-run, or DUI, or had accumulated license suspensions, revocations, or cancellations.

Non-moving violations, such as parking in a driveway or handicapped space, typically do not appear on your record unless they accumulate or are left unresolved. If you ignore these tickets, the WYDOT may suspend or revoke your license, and such administrative action may be recorded.

Unpaid tickets may also impact your credit score, making it harder to obtain affordable car insurance. Meanwhile, warnings do not appear on your driving record since they serve only as cautionary, informal notices without legal or administrative weight.

How Does a Bad Driving Record Affect Insurance and Employment?

Your driving history significantly influences how insurance companies assess risk. If you've been racking up traffic violations or involved in car accidents, insurers may label you a high-risk driver, leading to higher premiums.

For instance, suppose you are found at fault in a collision in Wyoming. In that case, Allstate, an insurance provider, may charge you an annual premium of $2,167, which is more than the national average of $1,397 for drivers without at-fault accidents.

A poor driving record may also raise serious red flags for employers, especially in sensitive roles like driving school buses, transporting hazardous materials, or operating emergency vehicles.

If your record shows safety concerns, high insurance costs, or potential regulatory issues, it could result in employment termination or a revoked job offer.

Who Can Access Your Wyoming Driving History?

Access to driving histories in Wyoming is governed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), Wyoming Public Records Act (WPRA), and WYDOT's Motor Vehicle Records and Privacy Rules and Regulations.

While these laws promote transparency by allowing the public to access, inspect, or copy government-maintained driving records, they prohibit the disclosure of personal information from such records.

Details such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical information may only be disclosed to the owner or subject of the record or individuals who have obtained the record holder's written consent.

Additionally, the following entities are permitted to obtain personal information from Wyoming driving records under specific circumstances as defined by the law:

• Government agencies
• Law enforcement agencies
• Courts and legal representatives
• Employers or businesses
• Licensed private investigators
• Private toll transportation facilities
• Researchers and analysts

FAQs About Wyoming Driving Records

Enhance your understanding of Wyoming driving records with the following frequently asked questions (FAQs):

Related Articles

When Your Driving License Can Be Revoked and What You Can Do About It?

Is Drunk Driving a Felony, What’s the Punishment, and How Many People Die From It?

What Is a Clean Driving Record, How It Affects Insurance and How to Keep It Clean

What is an Ignition Interlock Device?