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What is the "Driver's Privacy Protection Act"?

The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) is a federal law that regulates how the DMV releases and shares the information in DMV records. The DPPA regulates how motor vehicle departments release driver records and vehicle records. The DPPA also regulates how a recipient of DMV records can share information with another person.

Form MV-15DPPA contains the text of the DPPA. (Adobe Acrobat Reader® is required.)

What is the purpose of the DPPA?

The DPPA restricts access to the personal information that appears on a driver record or a vehicle record. The DPPA regulates how and when the DMV can release the personal information that a DMV record contains. The law allows the DMV to release personal information only for the purposes that the DPPA defines. Get form MV-15DPPA or form MV-15 to read the descriptions of the permissible uses. (Adobe Acrobat Reader® is required.)

What information does the DPPA restrict?

The DPPA restricts how personal information is released. The DPPA defines personal information as information that identifies a person. Personal information includes a photograph, Social Security Number, driver identification number, name, address (but not the 5-digit ZIP code), telephone number, medical information, and disability information. Personal information does not include information about traffic accidents, traffic violations, or the status of a driver license.

Note: The DMV does not release photographs, Social Security Numbers, telephone numbers, medical information, or disability information. This information is not available in NYS, even to those persons who request the information and have a permissible use.

What information does the DPPA allow the DMV to release?

The DMV can release records that include personal information. The person who requests the information must have a permissible use.

You can request a driver abstract that does not include personal information (a masked abstract). A masked abstract contains information about the driver license class, convictions, accidents, suspensions, and revocations. It does not contain personal information about the driver. A masked abstract is only available by mail or at the DMV Central Office in Albany. Read the information about DMV records to learn how to order a masked abstract.

Does the DMV remove personal information from other records? Can I get these records if I do not have a permissible use?

No. A masked abstract is the only record that the DMV can provide without personal information. (Refer to the previous answer for the explanation.) Other DMV records contain personal information, and you must have a permissible use to get these records. Get more information about DMV records.

Can I share the information I receive?

Most DMV records contain personal information and other information that is not personal information. You can remove the personal information from a record and share only the information that is not personal, if necessary.

You can share personal information if the other person has a permissible use. When you share this information with another person, you must keep a record of the transaction for five years. The transaction record must include:

  • the name of the driver who is identified in the record,
  • the recipient of the personal information, and
  • an explanation of the permissible use that the recipient has for the information.

What occurs if I share personal information with a person who does not have a permissible use?

There are criminal fines and civil liabilities for violations of the DPPA. Refer to sections 2722, 2723, and 2724 of the Driver's Privacy Protection Act. (Adobe Acrobat Reader® is required.)

How do I apply for permission to receive records from the DMV?

You must certify that you have a permissible use. To certify your permissible use, you must complete the certification sections of the DMV forms that are used:

  • to request DMV records,
  • to open a Dial-In Search Account, or
  • to participate in the License Event Notification Service (LENS).

Refer to the complete information about DMV records.