The Type 3A Driving Record Texas Courts Ask For
What it is, why the court wants it, and the two ways to get it
What the court wants, in one line
A Type 3A driving record is the certified copy of your complete Texas driving history from the Department of Public Safety. Courts require it with your defensive driving certificate because it proves the one thing the certificate cannot: that you have not used a driving safety course to dismiss another ticket in the 12 months before this offense. Only the 3A is accepted for this. The cheaper Type 2A (a certified three-year record) is marked by DPS as not acceptable for a driving safety course.
The Texas driver record types, side by side
| Type | What it shows | Certified? | Accepted by courts for defensive driving? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Status and license information only | No | No |
| Type 2 | Three-year history of crashes and violations | No | No |
| Type 2A | Three-year history, certified | Yes | No. DPS marks it as not acceptable for a driving safety course. |
| Type 3 | Complete list of all crashes and violations | No | No |
| Type 3A | Complete list of all crashes and violations, certified | Yes | Yes. This is the one. |
| Type AR | Abstract record used for commercial driver checks | Yes | No |
Two ways to get it
1. Order it yourself from DPS
DPS sells driver records through Texas.gov. The Type 3A is $10 for the record plus a $2 Texas.gov processing fee, so $12 online, and it is available to download and print immediately. To order you need your Texas driver license number, the audit number printed on your license card, your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can also order by mail with DPS form DR-1 for $10, but allow two to three weeks, which is a real bite out of a 90-day window.
2. Have us process it with your course
When you finish our Texas course you can add the Type 3A record at checkout. We request the official certified record from DPS on your behalf and deliver a copy to you alongside your certificate, so the court paperwork is complete in one place. It costs more than ordering direct; what you are paying for is not having to find the audit number, set up a Texas.gov account, or chase a mailed copy while the deadline runs. Either route produces the same DPS document.
When to order it
Order the record after the offense date, and ideally after the court grants your course request. The court is checking the 12 months before the offense, and a record pulled before you finish the course still serves that purpose, so there is no need to wait until the course is done. Ordering online the day you pass keeps everything moving.
What the court does with it
The clerk matches the record against the affidavit you signed when you requested the course (the statement that you have not completed a driving safety course in the preceding 12 months). If the record shows a prior course dismissal inside that window, the court will not dismiss the new ticket and the plea you entered stands. If it is clean, the record and your certificate of completion are filed and the charge is dismissed. Most courts want both documents together; turning in the certificate alone does not start the clock in your favor.
TDLR Licensed #CP1094. Certificate issued the moment you pass. Type 3A record processing available at checkout.
Common questions
What is a Type 3A driving record in Texas?
It is the certified version of your complete Texas driving history from DPS, listing every crash and violation on file and any prior driving safety course completion. It is the record type DPS marks as acceptable for a driving safety course dismissal.
How much does a Type 3A driving record cost?
Ordered online through Texas.gov it is $12: a $10 record fee plus a $2 processing fee. Ordered by mail with form DR-1 it is $10, but delivery takes two to three weeks. We can also process it for you when you take our course.
Can I use a Type 2A record for defensive driving in Texas?
No. The Type 2A is certified but only covers three years, and DPS marks it as not acceptable for a driving safety course. Courts require the Type 3A.
How long does it take to get a Type 3A driving record?
Online orders are available immediately to download and print. Mail orders take about two to three weeks. If your 90-day deadline is close, order online or have us process it.
Do I need the driving record if I already have my certificate of completion?
Yes. Texas courts require both the uniform certificate of course completion and the certified driving record before they dismiss the charge, because the record is how they verify the 12-month rule.
Please note: this guide explains Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45A, Subchapter H (Articles 45A.351 to 45A.358) in general terms. It is not legal advice. Each court applies the rules to your case, sets its own fees and forms, and makes the final decision. When in doubt, the clerk of the court named on your citation is the authority.