Can Your Driving Record Affect Your Chance to Get a Job?

Many drivers get traffic tickets, and they don’t usually affect driving records. But how does it look to a prospective employer? Will running a red light hurt your chances?

In some cases, the consequences of traffic violations are very real. Millions of people nationwide have lost their licenses because of traffic debt. A less-than-spotless driving record can affect your career and have a significant financial impact on you.

Employment Background Checks and Traffic Violations

There are two ways in which a traffic violation can surface during a pre-employment screening:

• If the employer checks your driving record
• Criminal citation classification

A prospective employer can’t find any evidence of the violation in any other circumstance. A citation will appear in a background check as a misdemeanor or felony. Citation classifications include:

• DUI
• Being a habitual offender.
• You are driving without a license.
• Reckless driving.
• You leave the scene of an accident.
• Vehicular homicide or manslaughter.

When an MVR background check occurs, prospective employers will identify minor or civil violations. They don’t need driving records in most cases. They will only check if a candidate needs a vehicle for a trucking job or to meet clients, or otherwise related to the job.

What Do Driving Checks Entail?

The driving record check will show traffic citations, when they occurred, and the outcome. They can impact your employment chances, but not severely. It depends on the job you applied for and the type of traffic violation. The employer will check for a criminal record if the job doesn’t require driving.

Keep in mind that unpaid fines for civil violations will appear as criminal citations on your record.

Assuming the job involves driving, consider the following factors:

• The seriousness of the violation
• When it happened
• The status of the fine
• Was it a one-off or a series of violations
• The company’s traffic violation policies

Let’s say a speeding ticket appears on your record. The record will indicate by how much you exceeded the limit. Five miles? No big deal. 50 is another thing.

Driving violations are removed from records once seven years pass. If it occurred a long time ago, it’s not likely to affect your chances of getting a job.

Habitual offenses are a major red flag for most companies.

If you have a fine, pay it before applying for jobs.

Every company’s traffic violation policies differ. It’s a good idea to look into these before applying for a job with them.

Prepare for the Screening

Ask for a copy of your record from the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you have a relatively serious violation on it, like driving under the influence, discuss it openly with the interviewer if asked.

On the other hand, parking or speeding tickets are not a cause for concern. Still, don’t get defensive if asked about those.

Get the Job Despite a Traffic Violation

You can improve your chances of being selected in many ways. Here are some recommendations:

Fines: Pay outstanding fines immediately. The only exception is you’re raising objections to a ticket. Otherwise, don’t wait.

Safety: Develop safe driving habits to stop accumulating traffic violations.

Get ready for any questions about your driving record. Your prospective employer will then be convinced you’re a safe and responsible driver.

Learn about your employer’s traffic violation policy and provisions regarding when they took place.

Who Will Check Your Driving Record?

Three entities typically carry out background checks:

• Data brokers
• Specialized screening services
• Private investigators

Big companies work with third-party screening providers. In most other cases, screening companies work with businesses less formally. Some focus on specific regions, while others work nationwide.

The data collected by screening companies are subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), under which all employees have certain rights. The potential employer needs your written permission to run a background check on you and share the results with you.

Final Thoughts

Traffic violations on your record can influence your chances of getting a job, but they won’t necessarily harm them. Companies check motor vehicle history when hiring for positions that involve driving their service vehicles.

Pre-employment screening is not limited to driving records. It includes criminal, employment, education, credit, civil, and medical background checks. Companies want to know as much as possible about who they’re hiring.