How to Get Your MVR in Iowa
Iowa driving records are issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT). Order yours directly from the state for $8.50 — no reseller markup — and use it for your driver qualification file or your truck insurance quote.
Iowa Record Types and Fees
| Record | History | Certified | Fee | DQ file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified driving record (online via myMVD) | full-history | Yes | $8.50 | ✓ |
| Certified driving record (mail) | full-history | Yes | $5.50 | ✓ |
| Non-certified driving record (myMVD view/print) | full-history | No | $0.00 | — |
Fees last verified 2026-08 against the official IA ordering page. States change fees — the official page always controls.
Order Online — Immediate
- Go to mymvd.iowadot.gov and sign in (you need your Iowa driver's license number and Social Security number)
- Choose Purchase Certified Driving Record (or view the non-certified record free)
- Pay $5.50 plus the $3.00 online processing fee by credit card ($8.50 total)
- Download and print the certified record
Order by Mail
Form: Privacy Act Agreement For Request of Motor Vehicle Records (download)
- Complete, print, and sign the Privacy Act Agreement form (full name on all pages)
- Include a legible photocopy of your driver's license or non-driver ID
- Enclose a $5.50 check per record payable to Treasurer, State of Iowa
- Mail everything to the Bureau of Enforcement, Audits & Records, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204
- Results are sent by secure email to the address on your request form
Mail to: Iowa Department of Transportation, Bureau of Enforcement, Audits & Records, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204
Turnaround: Not published; delivered by secure email
Good to Know — Iowa Quirks
The free myMVD record is explicitly for reference only and cannot be used for official or legal purposes - order the certified copy for DQ files. Online ordering requires both your Iowa license number and SSN. Related documents (tickets, application history) cost $0.50 each by mail.
Why You Need This Record
If you drive a commercial vehicle, your MVR does two jobs. First, FMCSA rule 49 CFR 391.23 requires a driving record from every state where you held a license in the last 3 years in your driver qualification (DQ) file — within 30 days of hire and annually after that. Owner-operators under their own authority keep a DQ file on themselves. Second, insurance carriers pull an MVR on every listed driver before releasing a quote; bringing a Iowa record dated within 30 days speeds up underwriting and avoids surprises at bind time.
Get a Truck Insurance Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much is an Iowa driving record?
- $8.50 online through myMVD ($5.50 record + $3.00 processing fee) or $5.50 by mail. Viewing a non-certified copy in myMVD is free.
- Can I use the free Iowa record for my DQ file?
- No. Iowa DOT states the non-certified copy is for reference only and cannot be used for official or legal purposes - use the certified record.
- What do I need to order my Iowa record online?
- Your Iowa driver's license number, your Social Security number, and a credit card. The certified record downloads immediately.
- How do mail-ordered Iowa records arrive?
- Iowa DOT emails the record to the address you list on the Privacy Act Agreement form via secure email after processing your $5.50 payment.