How Long Does An Accident Stay On Your Record In Texas?
After a car accident in Texas, most people want to know two things: how long it stays on their driving record, and how long it will affect their insurance rates. These are related but separate questions with different answers. Most crashes appear on a standard Texas DPS driving record for about three years from the date of the crash, though serious violations can extend that window, and insurance companies may track the accident independently for three to five years or longer.
Texas maintains official records of crashes and driver history through two separate systems: the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), which tracks your driving record, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which maintains a database of crash reports. Understanding the difference between these systems and how each one affects you matters when you’re trying to figure out what an accident actually means for your license, your insurance, and your livelihood.
Key Takeaways
- Most car accidents stay on a standard Texas DPS driving record for approximately three years; certified record types used by employers or courts may reflect a longer history
- Your insurance record and your DPS driving record are separate systems; an insurer can retain an accident in their internal claims history for three to five years, or up to seven years for severe incidents, even after it drops off your official record
- Not-at-fault accidents generally don’t carry a surcharge, but multiple claims in a short period can still affect how some carriers assess your risk
- CDL holders and drivers whose employment depends on their record face higher stakes. Certain violations can affect CDL eligibility regardless of whether the incident occurred in a personal or commercial vehicle
- You cannot remove an accurately recorded accident before it ages off, but you can seek corrections for factual errors in a crash report and take steps to reduce the insurance impact in the meantime
- If an accident is affecting your record, your rates, or your livelihood, speaking with an attorney can help you understand what options are available to you
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Texas Driving Record?
Most crashes remain on a standard Texas DPS driving record for approximately three years from the date of the accident. That said, the answer depends on which type of record is being reviewed and who is requesting it. Not all Texas driving records are the same, and different record types display different amounts of history.
Texas DPS offers several record types. A standard driver record – the type most individuals can order – typically displays crashes and violations for the past three years. Certified records requested by courts, employers, or attorneys may include a longer history. More comprehensive record types, such as the Type 2A certified record, can reflect a fuller picture of your driving history than a basic record would. Certain serious violations, including DUI, hit-and-run, and crashes involving fatalities, may remain visible across record types for longer than the standard window.
It is also worth noting that the TxDOT crash database, discussed below, is a separate system that functions as a permanent archive of crash reports. Access to that database is restricted by law, which means not everyone can see it, but it is not the same as your DPS driving record.
Does Texas Have a Driving Record Database?
Texas maintains driver records through two overlapping systems, each serving a different purpose. The TxDPS maintains a driving record for every licensed Texas driver, which includes accidents, traffic citations, license suspensions, and other relevant history. Separately, TxDOT maintains a database of crash reports filed by law enforcement after qualifying accidents.
Under Texas law, an officer must create a crash report if a collision caused injury or death, or if property damage totaled $1,000 or more. The investigating officer must complete and submit that report to TxDOT within 10 days of the crash. While TxDOT’s database functions as a long-term archive, access to crash reports is restricted by statute. Only specific parties are permitted to obtain a crash report, including:
- Any person involved in the accident, or their authorized representative (such as an attorney)
- An employer, parent, or legal guardian of a driver involved in the accident
- The owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the crash
- An insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle or person involved
- A person under contract to provide claims or underwriting information to an insurer
- Licensed radio or television stations or qualifying newspapers
- Any person who may file a lawsuit due to a death resulting from the accident
The TxDPS also maintains driver records separately from TxDOT’s crash database. You can order a copy of your own driving record directly through the TxDPS website by providing your driver’s license number and paying a fee. Your record will reflect what is currently on file for your license class and record type.
What to Do If Your Crash Report Contains an Error
Crash reports are filed by law enforcement officers, and like any document, they can contain errors: incorrect descriptions of fault, inaccurate vehicle or driver information, or missing details. If you believe your crash report is inaccurate, you can request an amendment through the agency that filed it, but the process typically requires documentation supporting the correction, such as photographs, witness statements, or a police supplemental report.
An attorney can help you identify errors in a crash report and pursue corrections through the appropriate channels. If an inaccurate report is being used against you in an insurance claim or legal matter, getting it corrected quickly can make a meaningful difference.
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Insurance in Texas?
In Texas, an at-fault accident typically affects your insurance record for three to five years, depending on your insurer. Insurance companies set their own underwriting rules, which means the exact window and how much your premium increases vary from one carrier to the next. What stays consistent is that insurers view multiple at-fault accidents as a signal of elevated risk, which tends to translate into higher premiums for as long as the accident remains in their lookback window.
It is important to understand that an insurer’s internal records are separate from your TxDPS driving record. Even after a crash ages off your official DPS record, your insurance company may still have it in their internal claims history and can use that history when setting your rates. The following scenarios give a sense of typical lookback windows, though individual insurer policies vary:
- Minor at-fault accident: Most carriers review the past three years; a single minor accident typically affects rates for this period.
- Major at-fault accident (serious injury or significant property damage): Many insurers extend their review window to five years for more severe crashes.
- Severe violations (DUI, hit-and-run, fatality-involved crash): Some carriers look back as far as seven years for the most serious incidents, and these events can trigger non-renewal or coverage restrictions.
- Not-at-fault accident: Generally carries no surcharge, but multiple not-at-fault claims in a short period can still flag elevated risk with certain insurers and lead to higher premiums.
Understanding which category your accident falls into matters when you are shopping for coverage or negotiating your current rate.
What Factors Affect How Long an At-Fault Accident Impacts My Insurance?
Several factors determine how long an at-fault accident continues to affect your premium. The most significant ones are:
- Severity of the accident: A minor fender-bender will typically have a shorter-term impact than a crash that involved significant injury or substantial property damage. More serious accidents attract closer scrutiny from underwriters and often result in longer surcharge periods.
- Your prior driving history: A first at-fault accident on an otherwise clean record is treated differently from an accident that follows a pattern of violations. Drivers with multiple incidents may find that each new event extends the effective lookback window insurers apply to their file.
- Your insurer’s underwriting guidelines: Each company sets its own rules. Most review the past three to five years as a baseline, but some carriers have stricter standards for certain violation types, which can affect how long an accident remains a factor in your rate.
No single rule governs every insurer, which is why two drivers with the same accident history can end up with meaningfully different premiums depending on who their carrier is.
How Can I Reduce the Impact of an At-Fault Accident on My Insurance?
You cannot remove an at-fault accident from your insurance record before it ages off naturally, but there are steps you can take to reduce its effect on your rates in the meantime.
- Maintain a clean record going forward: The most effective way to offset a past accident is to avoid new ones. A sustained gap between incidents signals improving risk to underwriters and typically leads to better rates over time.
- Complete a defensive driving course: A state-approved course can demonstrate to your insurer that you are taking active steps to become a safer driver. Some carriers offer a discount or rate adjustment for drivers who complete approved courses.
- Compare rates with other carriers: Different insurers weigh the same accident differently. If your current carrier has significantly increased your premium, it is reasonable to request quotes elsewhere to understand what other options are available to you.
How an Accident Can Affect Your Job or Commercial Driver’s License
For most drivers, an accident on their record is primarily an insurance issue. For commercial drivers or anyone whose job requires a clean driving history, the stakes are considerably higher. Employers in industries that involve driving, such as trucking, delivery, rideshare, and transportation, typically run Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checks before hiring and sometimes periodically during employment. What shows up on that check depends on the record type and how far back the employer looks.
CDL holders face an additional layer of federal regulation. Certain violations and crashes can affect CDL eligibility regardless of whether the incident occurred in a personal vehicle or a commercial one. Serious violations under federal motor carrier rules, including reckless driving, DUI, and leaving the scene of an accident, can trigger disqualification periods that range from 60 days to a lifetime ban for repeat offenses. An accident that might be a minor inconvenience for a non-commercial driver can become a career-threatening event for someone holding a CDL.
If an accident has put your CDL, your job, or your employment eligibility at risk, getting clarity on your options quickly matters. Hartley Law can help you understand what the accident means for your specific situation and what steps may be available to you.
How to Minimize the Impact of an Accident on Your Driving Record
While you cannot remove an accurately recorded accident from your Texas driving record before it ages off, you can take steps to reduce its long-term consequences. Practicing consistent safe driving habits and avoiding additional violations is the most direct path to rebuilding a clean record. Every year without a new incident puts distance between you and the accident, which matters to both insurers and employers.
Completing a state-approved defensive driving course is worth considering for any driver who has received a ticket or been involved in an at-fault accident. Beyond any potential insurance benefit, the course addresses the habits and decisions that contribute most to accidents, which have practical value independent of the record implications.
If You Were in a Car Accident, Hartley Law Firm Can Help
If you were in a Texas car accident and are trying to understand what it means for your record, your insurance, or your livelihood, the timeline and implications depend on more than just the calendar. The type of record being reviewed, the severity of the crash, and how your insurer classifies the incident all affect what you are dealing with. Hartley Law can review the details of your situation, help you understand your options, and explain what steps may be available to you. Contact Hartley Law to schedule a free consultation.
Hartley Law operates offices in Carrollton and Rockwall, Texas, where you can connect with an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
How Long Do Accidents Stay on Your Record in Texas:
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long an Accident Stays on Record in Texas
What is the standard duration for a car accident on a Texas driving record?
Most crashes appear on a standard Texas DPS driving record for approximately three years. Certified record types used by courts or employers may reflect a longer history, and serious violations such as DUI or hit-and-run can extend visibility beyond the standard window.
How Do I Get an Accident Off My Driving Record in Texas?
You cannot remove an accurately recorded accident before it ages off naturally. If the crash report contains errors, you can seek an amendment through the filing agency, and an attorney can help with that process.
Does a not-at-fault accident go on your record in Texas?
Yes, not-at-fault accidents typically appear on your record, but they generally do not carry a surcharge with most insurers. Multiple not-at-fault claims in a short period can still affect how some carriers assess your risk level.
How far back does insurance check your driving record in Texas?
Most insurers review the past three to five years, with some extending that window to seven years for severe violations or crashes. The exact lookback period depends on your carrier’s underwriting guidelines and the nature of the incident.
Will a car accident show up on a background check?
Standard criminal background checks do not typically list car accidents. However, employers who require driving may run a Motor Vehicle Record check, which can show crashes and violations depending on the record type and how far back it reaches. CDL holders are subject to additional federal record-keeping requirements that go beyond a standard MVR check.
Does Texas DPS keep all accidents on every driver record type for the same length of time?
No. Standard DPS records generally display crashes for about three years, while certified or comprehensive record types can show a longer history. What appears on your record depends on the type requested and who is requesting it.
Can an insurer keep an accident on its records longer than it appears on my DPS record?
Yes. Even after a crash drops off your official DPS record, your insurance company may retain it in their internal claims history for three to five years (or up to seven years for severe incidents) and can continue to use that history when setting your rates.
Can I remove an accident from my record before it ages off?
Generally no. Accurately recorded crashes are not eligible for expungement from DPS records; they age off according to the applicable retention window. You can seek a correction if the report contains factual errors, and you can work to reduce the insurance impact through defensive driving and safe-driving discounts.
What steps should I take after an at-fault car accident in Texas?
First, ensure everyone’s safety and call for medical help if needed. Exchange information with the other driver, contact police if required by law, and document the scene with photos. Reaching out to an experienced Texas car accident attorney early can help you understand your rights and avoid decisions that complicate your claim or your record.
Do all car accidents show up on your driving record?
No. Only crashes that meet the state reporting threshold, such as those involving injury, death, or $1,000 or more in property damage, are typically reported to TxDOT and reflected on your DPS record. Minor fender-benders that are not reported to law enforcement may not appear, though any accident that results in an insurance claim will be reflected in your insurance history.
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