MVR Checks as a Tool by Peter Crowe
Posted October 24, 2025
Author – Peter Crowe, Account Executive – Horst Insurance
I Don’t Need to Run MVRs on my Drivers. Or Do I?
If your business has a company-owned Auto Fleet (trucks, delivery vehicles, construction pickups, sales fleet), you already understand the value of ensuring you hire safe drivers, and may already have guidelines and requirements around conducting Motor Vehicle Record checks on your drivers. But what if you’re a small business? Or don’t have a fleet? Do you have any exposure? Absolutely! If your employees are driving on company business, whether in your vehicles or theirs, our business is at risk. Maybe it’s a Project Manager checking in on a job site. Maybe it’s a Salesperson driving from appointment to appointment. Maybe it’s an intern running an errand to the post office. If they are on the road, they are representing your business, at your direction. “Well, isn’t their personal auto insurance primary?” Perhaps, and likely. But that only goes so far (especially with potentially anemic liability limits on their personal policy). In a catastrophic event, your business will no doubt get brought into any legal action.
“So how can we protect ourselves?” There are many areas to be addressed when considering Auto Liability, Safety, and Prevention (vehicle safety checks, safe driving habits, etc.) which can, and should, be addressed in your Employee Handbook and/or Safety Manual. But let’s focus here on one often misunderstood, yet very valuable, tool you can use – the Motor Vehicle Record check. MVRs are a representation of an individual’s driving history, and can sometimes outline unsafe driving patterns that may exist with a certain driver (DUI, speeding violations, reckless driving infractions, etc.). Even something as simple as checking to make sure a license is still valid.
“Can we even run MVRs on our drivers?” That’s a question that needs to be posed to your legal team, but the short answer is yes…but there is a consistent (and legal) process to follow. You could have employees run their own, you could institute an internal process to run them, or even have your broker run them (again, a legal process to follow and we can help if you have questions). The important thing is to be aware of the risk that exists, and have a strategy to address. Consider the benefits of doing so:
- Accident Prevention
- Risk Identification
- Reduce liability and lower insurance premiums
- Better hiring decisions
- Mitigating potential hiring negligence
As with any Risk Management directive, an MVR process can’t be implemented in a vacuum. There are procedures that must be adhered to (provide written notice, receive consent, follow consistent protocol with all employees, etc.). But instituting an internal process of running MVRs on your drivers can be an essential tool in your proverbial Risk Management Toolbox to help protect your employees, and your business. If you would like more information, or need help designing a plan that’s right for you, please contact our office for assistance.
