Colorado Driving Record and MVR Checks
Ready to run background checks the modern way?
Colorado employers may conduct a Colorado motor vehicle record (MVR) as part of the hiring process to review a candidate’s driving history. An MVR provides insight into an individual's driving history, safety record, and eligibility to drive. In some industries, employers may be legally required to conduct a pre-employment MVR screening and recurring MVR checks.
Key takeaways:
- Colorado MVRs provide a detailed driving history that helps employers to assess risk and ensure safety, particularly for driving or safety-sensitive roles, and are often legally required
- Both individuals and employers can obtain MVRs through various methods from the Colorado DMV, with employers often leveraging CRAs for efficiency and adherence to compliance regulations like the FCRA
- Colorado offers both certified and non-certified MVRs containing similar information, with employers typically preferring the official certified versions for background checks
- Get started today and order your first background check online
Types of Colorado motor vehicle records
A motor vehicle record, or MVR, is a record that contains information about an individual’s driving history. A Colorado MVR may include details about a driver’s current license status, previous moving violations, vehicle accident records, and revocations.
In Colorado, there are two types of MVRs:
- Certified Colorado MVRs: The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) certifies this type of record before sending it via postal mail. Because the MVR has been state-certified, it can be used as evidence in court.
- Non-certified Colorado MVRs: These are unofficial copies of a driver's record. A non-certified Colorado MVR may arrive more quickly than a certified MVR because they can be emailed or sent to a physical mailing address.
Both certified and non-certified Colorado driving records include at least the previous seven years of the individual’s driving record. It’s also possible to request:
- A specific crash report
- A commercial driving record
- A lifetime driving record
Why should employers order Colorado MVR reports?
Colorado MVR reports are typically conducted as part of a more comprehensive pre-employment background check process to screen a candidate and determine their qualifications for a role. In addition to an MVR check, employers may also conduct drug tests and research a candidate’s criminal record and credit history, if permissible by law and relevant to the role. Education and employment history checks may also be conducted.
Employers most commonly run Colorado MVR checks during pre-employment background checks to evaluate a candidate’s driving history and safety record. Colorado driving record checks can help employers prioritize public safety, reduce risk, and find the most qualified candidates.
While they’re typically used for roles that require an employee to operate a motor vehicle or heavy machinery, employers may also run an MVR for roles that require occasional driving.
Legally required Colorado MVR checks
In some cases running an MVR in Colorado may be required under federal law. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that employers perform MVR checks during the hiring process and annually thereafter if the organization operates vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds, vehicles that seat nine or more passengers, or vehicles that carry hazardous materials.
Additionally, commercial driving positions federally regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) must undergo a DOT background check. DOT checks include all driving records from the previous three states where an individual held a driver license or permit. Pre-employment MVR checks may also be required for other types of safety-sensitive roles, like school bus drivers.
For positions requiring ongoing MVR driver screenings, Checkr offers Continuous MVR checks. With Continued MVR checks, employers benefit from real-time updates to changes in employee or gig worker records — mitigating ongoing risk and providing transparency about employee driving habits and safety records.
Benefits of ordering MVRs
Colorado organizations may conduct preemployment and ongoing Colorado driving record checks for the following benefits:
- Prioritizing public safety: Reviewing driving records helps identify candidates with unsafe driving habits, who may not be the best fit for your business if they’ll be in a role that involves transportation.
- Mitigating risk: Identifying candidates with unsafe driving histories may help reduce an organization’s liability and accident risk.
- Lowering insurance rates: Hiring employees with limited driving histories may help lower a company's insurance premiums.
- Ensuring compliance: With some job positions, employers must order an employee’s driving records to comply with federal regulations and other federal, state, and local regulations and laws.
How to get a Colorado MVR
There are three options to request a Colorado driving record: online, by mail, or in person. How Colorado MVRs are ordered may vary depending on whether they’re being requested by the individual in question, an employer, or a third party, like a background check provider.
- To make the request online, individuals can visit the Colorado DMV website and fill out form DR 2559. The DMV emails non-certified copies within 24 hours, while certified copies are mailed to the requester’s address. Online requests from authorized individuals may take up to two business days.
- Individuals may also print out and complete form DR 2559 and send it with payment (check or money order) to the DMV. They’ll receive their Colorado DMV driving record within 10 to 14 business days.
- Drivers can also visit any Colorado driver’s license office to complete the MVR request in person.
- Potential employers and other third parties can take the same steps to request an MVR for another individual, as long as they have written permission from that individual. They’ll also need to declare their intent for the report on a DR-2489 form.
All requesters pay a fee of $9 (or $10 for a certified form).
Consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), like Checkr, can facilitate the records request process and make it both faster and easier to properly screen potential candidates. By partnering with a background check agency like Checkr, employers are better able to recruit talent, maintain compliance, ensure workplace safety, and relieve some strain from their HR teams. Rather than navigating multiple state websites and forms, employers will receive easy-to-read reports in one streamlined dashboard.
When working with a professional background check provider, employers must comply with the federal regulations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Under the FCRA, employers must provide candidates with written notice of the intent to conduct a background check and obtain written consent from the individual before moving forward. If an employer decides not to hire an individual based on the results of the report, they are also required to follow an adverse action process.
Run a background check with Checkr today
Employers can utilize Colorado MVRs to optimize their hiring process, reduce risk, simplify compliance, and improve workplace safety. MVRs are especially important when hiring for regulated industries, certain safety-sensitive roles, or positions that involve operating a company vehicle.
By partnering with a trusted background check provider, like Checkr, employers can easily build the employee records package that suits their company’s needs. This may include standalone driving record checks, commercial DOT background checks, a comprehensive pre-employment background check, and more.
Most MVRs in Colorado can be finalized online in just minutes, with easy-to-interpret reports delivered to Checkr’s dashboard. Plus, our built-in workflows, easy-to-use online platform, and compliance tools can help your organization create a more efficient background check process with quick results. Get started today.
Disclaimer
The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.
