| The DMV or division of motor vehicles in each | | | | of the vehicle owner, and the information about |
| state can be a very rich source of public records | | | | the current lien. |
| for you. However, there is something that you | | | | What can you access? |
| should know about those records. It is called the | | | | The 5-digit zip code for the driver's address, |
| "Driver's Privacy Protection Act." | | | | criminal convictions, traffic accidents, traffic |
| The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) is a | | | | violations, and any driving restrictions. |
| federal law that regulates how the DMV releases | | | | What about the rest of the other information (the |
| and shares the information in DMV records. The | | | | information that's protected by the DPPA)? |
| DPPA regulates how motor vehicle departments | | | | The DMV will only release that information to |
| release driver records, vehicle records and your | | | | people who have a "permissible use." |
| ability of accessing DMV records. The DPPA also | | | | What qualifies as a "permissible use"? |
| regulates how a recipient of DMV records can | | | | 1) Government/Law enforcement agent. |
| share information with another person. Basically, it | | | | 2) In cases of motor vehicle safety, accidents, |
| restricts your access to this type of state | | | | and theft. |
| records. | | | | 3) By a legitimate business or its agent to |
| What records are protected? | | | | prevent fraud. |
| Photographs, Social Security Number, driver's | | | | 4) For use by the courts system for civil, criminal, |
| license number, name, address, telephone number, | | | | and other processes. |
| medical information, and disability information. | | | | 5) For use in research where identities are not |
| If you were able to access it, what could you get | | | | revealed. |
| (depending on the state)? | | | | 6) Insurance purposes (by insurers). |
| · the name, the date of birth, and the | | | | 7) For impounded vehicles. |
| mailing address of the driver; | | | | 8) By licensed private investigative agency or |
| · the driver license class, endorsements, | | | | licensed security service. |
| and restrictions; | | | | 9) And other state governmental matters. |
| · the current status and the expiration | | | | 10) Use by any requester who has obtained the |
| date of the driver license; | | | | written consent of the motorist. |
| · any suspensions or revocations of the | | | | In regards to requesting an accident report from |
| driver license; accidents, and moving violation | | | | the DMV, you will need to offer a valid reason |
| convictions. | | | | and proof to back up your request, such as: |
| · Some states will have the Social | | | | 1) Being involved in the accident. |
| Security Number on the records | | | | 2) Named in the accident report or an authorized |
| · A registration abstract contains the | | | | representative. |
| information about a vehicle, the name and the | | | | 3) Being sued because of the accident. |
| mailing address of the registrant, and the | | | | 4) Using the accident in a governmental manner |
| expiration date of the registration. | | | | for statistical research. |
| · A title abstract contains the information | | | | What's the bottom line? |
| about a vehicle, the name and the mailing address | | | | |