What the Interstate Compact Does

The Interstate Drivers License Compact is an agreement between 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that shares your driving violations across state lines. When you get a traffic ticket, reckless driving conviction, or suspension in one state, that state reports it to your home state through the Compact system. Your home state then treats the violation as if it happened there and applies the same penalties — including points on your record, license suspension, or insurance consequences.

The Compact exists because drivers move between states, and states need a way to track violations no matter where they occur. Without it, someone could rack up serious violations in one state, move to another, and start with a clean slate. The system prevents that by creating a unified record that follows you.

Four states do not participate: Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Wisconsin. If you live in one of those states or move there, violations from other states may not transfer to your home state record in the same way, though those states still exchange some information through other channels.

Key Takeaways

  • Traffic violations you receive in any Compact member state are reported to your home state and treated as if they occurred at home.
  • Your home state applies its own penalties based on the violation type, which may differ from the state where the violation occurred.
  • Suspensions issued by one state are recognized and enforced by all other Compact states, so you cannot drive legally in another state to avoid a suspension.
  • Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Wisconsin do not participate in the Compact, though they still exchange some driving records with other states.
  • Points assessed for violations in other states count toward your home state's point threshold for license suspension.

How Violations Are Reported and Recorded

When you receive a traffic citation in a state other than your home state, the court or law enforcement agency handling the case reports the conviction to the Compact system. The reporting state sends your name, date of birth, driver's license number, and details of the violation to the National Driver Register, a federal database maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Your home state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) receives that information and enters it into your driving record. The violation is recorded with the same point value or penalty that your home state assigns to that type of violation. For example, if you receive a speeding ticket in Ohio but live in Pennsylvania, Ohio reports it to Pennsylvania's DMV. Pennsylvania then adds points to your license based on Pennsylvania's point system for speeding, not Ohio's.

The timeline for reporting varies. Most violations are reported within 30 to 60 days of conviction, but some states take longer. You can request a copy of your driving record from your home state's DMV to see what violations have been recorded.

License Suspensions and Out-of-State Enforcement

If your license is suspended in one Compact member state, that suspension is recognized and enforced in all other Compact member states. You cannot legally drive in any of those states during the suspension period, even if your home state has not yet suspended your license for the same violation.

For example, if you accumulate too many points in Florida and Florida suspends your license, you cannot drive legally in California, Texas, or any other Compact state while that suspension is active. If you are pulled over in another state during a suspension, you can be cited for driving with a suspended license, which carries criminal penalties in most states.

The suspension remains in effect until the state that issued it lifts it. You must contact that state's DMV to find out how to restore your driving privileges — usually by paying a reinstatement fee, completing a suspension period, or taking a defensive driving course.

Points, Convictions, and Your Home State's Penalties

Each state assigns a point value to different traffic violations. When a violation from another state is reported to your home state, your home state converts it to the equivalent violation under its own law and assigns its own point value. This means the same violation can result in different point totals depending on your home state.

For example, a reckless driving conviction might be worth 6 points in one state but 4 points in another. When reported to your home state, your home state applies its own point value. Points accumulate on your record, and when you reach your home state's threshold — often 12 points in a 12-month period — your license is suspended.

Serious violations like DUI, reckless driving, or at-fault accidents are reported when ready and may trigger an automatic suspension or mandatory hearing, regardless of your current point total. These convictions also affect your insurance rates across all states.

What Violations Are Reported and What Are Not

Not every traffic stop results in a Compact report. Only moving violations — violations that occur while the vehicle is in motion — are reported through the Compact system. These include speeding, running a red light, reckless driving, DUI, hit-and-run, and improper lane changes.

Parking violations, equipment violations, and administrative violations are generally not reported through the Compact. A parking ticket, expired registration, or broken taillight will not appear on your Compact record. However, if you fail to pay a parking ticket and it results in a license suspension or warrant, that suspension may be reported.

Violations that result in a conviction are reported; violations that are dismissed or reduced to non-moving violations typically are not. If you receive a ticket and have it dismissed in traffic court, request written confirmation of the dismissal and keep it for your records.

States That Do Not Participate and What That Means

Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Wisconsin are not Compact members. If you live in one of these states, violations you receive in other states may not automatically transfer to your home state record in the same way. However, these states still receive driving records from other states through direct requests and other information-sharing agreements.

If you live in a non-Compact state and receive a violation in a Compact state, the Compact state will report it, but your home state may handle it differently. You should still contact your home state's DMV to find out whether the violation has been recorded and what effect it has on your license.

If you live in a Compact state and receive a violation in a non-Compact state, the non-Compact state may not report it through the Compact system, but your home state may still learn about it through other channels. Do not assume that a violation in a non-Compact state will go unrecorded.

How to Check Your Driving Record Across States

Your home state's DMV maintains your official driving record, which includes all violations reported through the Compact system. You can request a copy of your record by visiting your state's DMV website, calling the DMV, or visiting in person. Most states charge a small fee — typically $5 to $15 — and provide the record within 5 to 10 business days.

Your record will show the date of each violation, the state where it occurred, the violation type, points assigned, and any suspensions or restrictions. If you see a violation you believe is incorrect, contact your home state's DMV and the state where the violation occurred to request a correction.

You can also check the National Driver Register directly through NHTSA's website, though that database is primarily used by law enforcement and licensing agencies. Your home state's DMV record is the official record used to make decisions about your license status.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I move to a different state, does my driving record move with me?

Your driving record stays with your home state's DMV. When you move and obtain a license in your new state, your new state will request your driving record from your previous state. Violations from your old state will be transferred and may affect your new license status. You should contact your new state's DMV to find out how previous violations will be treated.

Can I get a license in a non-Compact state to avoid a suspension in my home state?

No. If your license is suspended in your home state, you cannot legally obtain a license in another state while the suspension is active. Most states check the National Driver Register before issuing a license and will deny your process if you have an active suspension in another state.

What happens if I receive a ticket in a state and pay it without going to court?

Paying a ticket without contesting it in court is typically treated as a conviction and will be reported through the Compact system. If you want to avoid a conviction, you may be able to request traffic school, a deferred adjudication, or a plea reduction in the state where you received the ticket. Contact the court or the prosecutor's office in that state to ask about your options.

How long do violations stay on my driving record?

The length of time a violation remains on your record depends on your home state's law. Most states keep violations on your record for 3 to 7 years, though serious violations like DUI may remain for 10 years or longer. Contact your home state's DMV to find out the retention period for specific violation types.

If I get a ticket in a non-Compact state, will it be reported to my home state?

Non-Compact states do not report through the Compact system, but your home state may still learn about the violation through other channels or through a direct request. To be safe, assume that any conviction will eventually be recorded in your home state and take appropriate action to address it.