Most errors on a driving record are simple mistakes — a clerical typo, a court reporting delay. Identity theft is different: it means someone used your name, license number, or Social Security number to obtain a license, rack up violations, or otherwise create a driving history that was never yours. It's more serious than a standard correction, but it's also a well-established process with a clear path forward. Here's what to do.

Warning Signs

  • A citation, accident, or moving violation on your record from a place, date, or vehicle you have no connection to
  • A notice about a license or ID application you never made, sometimes in a state you've never lived in
  • A suspension or restraint on your driving privileges tied to something you didn't do
  • Traffic stops or tickets you're told about that you have no memory of

A single unfamiliar entry is often just an error — see correcting errors on your driving record first if it might be a simple mistake. Identity theft is more likely when the entry has no plausible connection to you at all, or when there's a pattern of multiple unfamiliar entries.

What to Do First

  1. Don't wait to see if it resolves itself — the earlier you act, the easier it typically is to untangle.
  2. File a police report. This creates an official record of the fraud and is usually required before the DMV or credit bureaus will act on your behalf.
  3. Request your official driving record so you have a clear, dated picture of exactly what's on it. See how to get your driving record.
  4. Contact your state's DMV fraud or investigations unit specifically — this is usually a different department and process than a standard record correction request.

A Real Example: How Colorado Handles This

Colorado's process shows how involved this can get when driving privileges are actually affected, and it's worth walking through as a concrete example. After filing a police report, you submit a notarized Affidavit of Identity Theft in person at a DMV office, alongside that police report. From there, Colorado's Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit reviews the case. If your driving privileges were restrained because of the fraudulent activity, resolving that specifically requires a court order of "factual innocence" from the court where the restraint originated — which you then provide to the DMV to lift the restraint. Not every case reaches this level, but it shows why identity theft is treated as a distinct, more serious process than a routine correction.

Reporting to Your Own State

Most states maintain a dedicated fraud-reporting channel — sometimes a specific form, sometimes a phone hotline, occasionally a dedicated investigations unit like Colorado's. This is typically separate from the general record-correction form covered in our correcting errors guide, because it involves confirming fraud occurred, not just fixing a data entry mistake. Search "[your state] DMV report identity theft" or check your state's motor vehicle agency site directly for the specific process.

Beyond the DMV

  • Report it to the FTC through its identity theft reporting service — this creates a federal record and can generate a recovery plan for identity theft more broadly, not just the DMV piece.
  • Place a fraud alert with one of the major credit bureaus, which asks creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.
  • Ask about substituting your license number if your state uses your Social Security number as part of your driver's license number — some states allow you to request an alternate number specifically to reduce this risk going forward.

A Word of Caution

Be careful where you search for help with this. Several well-known "DMV" sites are private companies, not government agencies, despite names that sound official — they may charge for services or information your actual state DMV provides free. When you're dealing with fraud specifically, stick to your state's official .gov site and the FTC's own reporting tools rather than a third-party site that shows up in search results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from a regular driving record error?

A regular error is usually a mistake by an agency — a typo, a report attributed to the wrong person by accident. Identity theft means someone deliberately used your identity, which typically requires a police report and a fraud-specific process rather than a standard correction form.

Can identity theft affect my ability to renew or use my own license?

In serious cases, yes — a fraudulent license or ID issued in your name, or a restraint placed on your record, can complicate your own license status until it's resolved. This is exactly why acting quickly matters.

Will this show up on my credit report too?

Not automatically, since a driving record and a credit report are separate systems — but identity thieves who obtain enough personal information often attempt both types of fraud, which is why credit monitoring and a fraud alert are standard recommendations alongside the DMV-specific steps.

What if I'm not sure whether it's fraud or just an error?

Start with our error-correction guide and request your record. If what you find has no plausible connection to you at all — a different city, a vehicle you've never owned, an application you never made — treat it as potential fraud and involve law enforcement rather than assuming it will sort itself out.

Sources & Methodology

Compiled from official state motor vehicle agency fraud-reporting procedures:

Exact reporting procedures and required forms vary by state; Colorado's process is shown as a detailed real-world example, not a universal standard. This guide reflects information current as of publication — confirm the specific process with your own state's motor vehicle agency.

This article is for general educational purposes only and isn't legal advice. If you believe you're a victim of identity theft, contact your local law enforcement and your state's motor vehicle agency directly.

Next step: Identity theft is about removing something that was never yours. If instead you're trying to deal with a violation that genuinely was yours, see Can You Expunge or Seal a Driving Record? for that separate process.