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Comparison · updated May 2, 2026

MVR vs PSP Report: What Each Driver Record Shows

By Korey Sharp-Paar · Reviewed by the Fast Trucking Compliance team

Quick answer

An MVR is the state DMV motor-vehicle record listing license status, convictions, and CDL endorsements. A PSP is the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program report showing five years of crash data and three years of roadside inspections. Most carriers pull both at hire under 49 CFR Part 391. The MVR is required by 49 CFR §391.23(a)(1) within 30 days of employment from every state where the driver was licensed in the prior three years and kept in the driver-qualification file under 49 CFR §391.51. PSP is voluntary at hire but becomes mandatory in a new-entrant audit under 49 CFR §385.337. PSP costs about $10 per record; MVR fees vary by state. Both feed CSA scoring under 49 CFR Part 385. Carriers must also query the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse pre-employment under 49 CFR Part 382 Subpart G in addition to pulling the MVR and PSP at hire.

These two reports are routinely confused because both deliver "driver history" - but they come from different agencies, contain different data, and answer different compliance questions. The MVR is owned by the state Department of Motor Vehicles where the driver is licensed. The PSP is owned by FMCSA's Motor Carrier Management Information System.

Carriers running drivers under 49 CFR §391.23 are required to obtain a three-year MVR for every state where the driver was licensed in the prior three years, and to keep that MVR in the driver-qualification file. The PSP is voluntary at hire - FMCSA strongly recommends pulling it but does not mandate it under §391. PSP becomes unavoidable when investigating a roadside hit because the data lives only in PSP, not anywhere on the MVR.

Side-by-side comparison

AttributeMVR (State DMV)PSP (FMCSA)
Issuing agencyState DMV (one per state of license)FMCSA via NIC (Pre-Employment Screening Program)
What it coversLicense status, suspensions, restrictions, endorsements, traffic convictions5 years of crash records + 3 years of roadside inspections
Lookback window3 years (per 49 CFR §391.23) - full lifetime in some states5 years for crashes, 3 years for inspections
Cost$2–$30 depending on state$10 per individual driver report
Driver consent required?Yes for FCRA-compliance; varies by stateYes - driver must provide written consent before each pull
Required at hire?Yes - 49 CFR §391.23(a)(1)Voluntary but FMCSA-recommended
Required at annual review?Yes - annual MVR under 49 CFR §391.25No annual mandate; some carriers re-pull yearly
Maintained in DQ file?Yes for life of employment + 3 yearsYes if pulled - best practice but not mandatory

When to choose each

When to choose MVR (State DMV)

Every CDL driver hired into a regulated position

Required by 49 CFR §391.23(a)(1) for all initial hires and §391.25 annually thereafter. Pull from every state where the driver was licensed in the prior three years. Keep the original MVR in the driver-qualification file.

When to choose PSP (FMCSA)

Carriers that want full inspection and crash visibility before extending an offer

Pull at hire alongside the MVR. PSP is the only place to see roadside inspection history, which exposes hours-of-service violations, vehicle-maintenance hits, and driver-fitness flags that never appear on a state record. Vital input for any CSA-conscious carrier.

Next step in your filing flow

Need an MVR or full driver screening package? Our spoke FastDriverScreening bundles MVR, PSP, Clearinghouse, and DQ file build-out into one order. For audit prep see New-Entrant Safety Audit and run through the compliance calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is a PSP report a substitute for an MVR?

No. They contain different data. The MVR is mandatory at hire and annually thereafter under 49 CFR §391.23 and §391.25. The PSP is voluntary at hire and is recommended in addition to - not instead of - the MVR.

How long is each report kept in the DQ file?

The MVR is kept for the life of employment plus three years under 49 CFR §391.51. The PSP report is best kept for the same window, although the regulation does not specifically require it.

Do I need driver consent for both pulls?

Yes. The Fair Credit Reporting Act and FMCSA-NIC procedures both require written driver consent before a carrier can pull either report.

What if the driver was licensed in multiple states?

Pull an MVR from each state where the driver was licensed in the prior three years. The PSP pulls a single national record - no state-by-state pulls are needed for crashes and inspections.

Does the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse replace either report?

No. The Clearinghouse is a separate query for drug and alcohol program violations. All three - MVR, PSP, Clearinghouse - are pulled at hire for a CDL driver.

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