How Can You Find Speeding Tickets in Your Background Check?

Wondering How Can You Find Speeding Tickets in Your Background Check? When applying for a job, securing a loan, renting a home, or even signing up for certain insurance policies, you may be asked to undergo a background check. These checks are designed to provide a detailed look into your personal history, giving employers, financial institutions, and landlords insight into any potential risks you may pose. If you’ve ever received a speeding ticket, you might be wondering:

• Will a speeding ticket appear on my background check?
• Can a minor traffic violation affect my job prospects?
• What types of background checks reveal driving infractions?
• How long do speeding tickets stay on record, and can they be removed?

These are valid concerns, especially in industries where a clean driving history is essential. While a single speeding ticket is unlikely to derail most job applications, certain traffic violations—such as reckless driving, excessive speeding, or unpaid fines—can have unexpected consequences and may show up in different types of screenings.

For example, if you’re applying for a position that involves driving a company vehicle, such as a truck driver, delivery driver, or rideshare operator, employers will likely review your motor vehicle record (MVR) to assess your driving history. Even non-driving jobs in industries such as finance, government, and law enforcement may conduct thorough background checks that include criminal records, outstanding warrants, or unpaid fines, which could indirectly be linked to traffic violations.

Why Background Checks Matter for Speeding Tickets

Many people assume that background checks only focus on criminal records, but that isn’t always the case. The depth of a background check depends on who is conducting it, why they need it, and what specific records they’re looking for.

For instance, employers in regulated industries, such as transportation, healthcare, and finance, often conduct comprehensive screenings, which can include:

• Criminal history checks – Revealing felony and misdemeanor convictions (including reckless driving and DUI).
• Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) – Showing a person’s entire driving history, including speeding tickets.
• Credit history reports – These may include unpaid fines or judgments related to traffic violations.

The level of scrutiny depends on the type of job you’re applying for. A person applying for an office job where driving isn’t required may never have their driving record reviewed, while a CDL (commercial driver’s license) applicant will face strict screening for any history of violations.

This is why it’s essential to understand the different types of background checks, know what’s in your record, and take proactive steps to correct or dispute any errors before they impact your career opportunities.

Do Speeding Tickets Show Up on a Background Check?

Understanding Different Types of Background Checks

Not all background checks are the same, and the type of check conducted determines whether a speeding ticket appears. The most common types include:

Type of Background Check	Does It Show Speeding Tickets?	Who Uses It?
Criminal Background Check	No, unless the offense was a misdemeanor or felony	Employers, landlords, government agencies
Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) Check	Yes, all moving violations appear	Employers hiring for driving-related jobs, insurance companies
Credit Report Check	No, unless unpaid fines have gone to collections	Financial institutions, landlords
Comprehensive Pre-Employment Screening	Depending on the employer, may include an MVR check	Corporate employers, trucking companies, government agencies

A standard criminal background check will not show a typical speeding ticket unless it resulted in a criminal charge, such as reckless driving or excessive speeding. However, an MVR check (which looks at your driving history) will show all moving violations, including speeding tickets.

When Speeding Tickets Show Up on a Criminal Background Check

While most speeding tickets are civil infractions, certain violations can escalate into criminal offenses and appear on a criminal background check. Some examples include:

• Excessive speeding (20+ mph over the limit) in certain states
• Reckless driving (which is often a misdemeanor)
• Street racing or aggressive driving
• DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
• Unpaid speeding tickets that result in a warrant for your arrest

If a speeding violation results in jail time, a court conviction, or a criminal charge, it will show up on a criminal background check.

When Speeding Tickets Show Up on an MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) Check

A motor vehicle report (MVR) is a separate record from a criminal background check and is maintained by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). An MVR includes all traffic violations, including speeding tickets.

Employers that require driving as part of the job (such as trucking, delivery, sales, or rideshare services) typically request an MVR check instead of just a criminal background check.

Do Employers Check for Speeding Tickets?

The impact of a speeding ticket depends on the job you’re applying for.

• For jobs that do not require driving: A minor speeding ticket will likely not matter.
• For jobs that require a company car or driving responsibilities: Employers will review your MVR report to check for patterns of reckless behavior.
• For government jobs, security clearances, or law enforcement: Even minor violations may be taken into account as part of a broader assessment of responsibility and rule-following.

How Can You Find Speeding Tickets in Your Background Check?

If you want to know exactly what an employer will see, you can check your background records before applying for a job.

How to Request Your Own Criminal Background Check

To check for speeding tickets on a criminal background check, you can:

1. Visit your state’s criminal records database – Most states allow you to request a copy of your criminal history report online.
2. Use an online background check service – Many third-party providers allow you to purchase a criminal background report on yourself.
3. Request a report from the FBI – If you need a national criminal background check, you can request one through the FBI Identity History Summary.

How to Request Your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)

To check your driving history, you need to request your MVR report from the DMV in your state.

1. Go to your state DMV website – Most states allow you to request an MVR report online for a small fee.
2. Check through an insurance provider – Some insurance companies provide driving record reports for their policyholders.
3. Use a third-party background check service – Many online platforms offer MVR checks if you don’t want to go through the DMV.

What You’ll See on Your MVR Report:

• Speeding tickets (with dates and details)
• Any reckless driving or DUI charges
• License suspensions or revocations
• Traffic accident history

How to Check If Speeding Tickets Appear on Your Background Check?

If you’re unsure whether a speeding ticket will show up on your background check, you can verify your records before applying for a job. This involves checking both your criminal background check and your motor vehicle report (MVR).

Checking Your Criminal Background Report

Speeding tickets usually do not appear on a criminal background check unless they were classified as a misdemeanor or felony (e.g., reckless driving, excessive speeding, or DUI). To check your report:

1. State Criminal Record Check – Visit your state’s background check database (varies by state).
2. National Background Check – Request an FBI Identity History Summary for a full criminal history.
3. Third-Party Screening Services – Many online background check services offer personal reports for a fee.

If the speeding offense was not criminal, it won’t appear in these records.

Checking Your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)

Employers hiring for driving-related jobs will check your MVR, which includes all traffic violations, including speeding tickets. To check your MVR:

1. Visit Your State’s DMV Website – Most states allow you to request a copy online for a small fee.
2. Request Through Your Auto Insurance Provider – Some insurers provide access to driving records.
3. Use a Background Check Service – Certain third-party providers can pull your MVR instantly.

Where to Check?	What It Shows?	Who Uses It?
Criminal Background Check	Misdemeanor/felony offenses (DUI, reckless driving)	Employers, landlords, government agencies
MVR Check (DMV)	All traffic violations, including speeding tickets	Employers hiring for driving-related jobs, insurance companies

How Often Should You Check Your Record?

• Before applying for jobs that require a clean driving record.
• If you’ve accumulated multiple tickets and want to ensure accuracy.
• If you’re disputing an incorrect violation.

Conclusion

When navigating the hiring process, understanding how criminal citations and traffic violations impact background checks is crucial. While minor speeding infractions rarely appear in criminal traffic citations, serious traffic crimes such as reckless driving, DUIs, or a suspended license can significantly affect job opportunities—especially when the job involves driving. Employers conducting MVR checks will see only violations relevant to driving history, but repeated offenses or exceeding the speed limit excessively may raise concerns. Checking your background report ensures that violations show accurately and do not unfairly lead to traffic violations stopping your employment prospects.

Ensure your driving record, criminal history, and background screening results are accurate with Sapphire Background Check. Our comprehensive screening solutions help individuals and businesses prevent traffic violations from stopping job opportunities or exposing companies to hiring risks. Whether you need to verify your background, protect your company from negligent hiring, or choose the right screening package, we provide fast, FCRA-compliant checks. Learn more by visiting our Online Background Check page, exploring Pre-Employment Screening, or reviewing our Background Check Employment History service. Contact us today at sales@sapphirecheck.com or 1-888-993-4473 (HIRE), Mon – Fri 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM EST. We look back, so you can move forward—start your background check today!

FAQs

How can you find speeding tickets in your background check?

Speeding tickets appear on motor vehicle reports (MVRs) but usually do not show up on criminal background checks unless classified as reckless driving, DUI, or another misdemeanor/felony offense. To check your record, request an MVR from the DMV or a criminal history report from your state database or FBI.

Do employers check for speeding tickets?

It depends on the job. Driving-related jobs (trucking, delivery, rideshare) require an MVR check, which shows all traffic violations. Office-based jobs typically do not check driving history unless driving is part of the role.

Can a speeding ticket stop me from getting a job?

For non-driving jobs, a minor speeding ticket won’t matter. For driving-related jobs, multiple violations, reckless driving, or DUIs can be disqualifying