What’s Motor Vehicle Record Monitoring? 2025

Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Monitoring checks driver license records continuously (i.e. every day, or every month) to find new suspensions, violations, convictions, etc. Unlike one-time or annual MVR pulls, monitoring gives employers ongoing visibility into driver risk and license validity throughout the year.

Why is Motor Vehicle Record Monitoring Important?

In 2025, MVR Monitoring is a ‘must-have’ as companies face rising crash costs, higher insurance premiums, and increased regulatory scrutiny.

Rising Crash & Liability Costs

The average cost of a fleet vehicle crash exceeds $90,000 and can quickly climb into billion lawsuits when injuries or fatalities are involved. Companies simply can’t afford to have unqualified or high-risk drivers behind the wheel. MVR Monitoring ensures you know a driver’s license status before an incident occurs.

Insurance Pressures

Commercial auto insurance premiums continue to rise in 2025, particularly for fleets with poor loss histories. Insurers are increasingly factoring in proactive safety measures like MVR Monitoring when underwriting or renewing policies. Demonstrating that you monitor drivers continuously can help control premiums, avoid non-renewals, and improve your risk profile.

Regulatory & Compliance Demands

DOT and FMCSA audits are demanding higher levels of safety and becoming more data-driven. Annual MVR checks leave long gaps where violations go undetected, exposing fleets to compliance risks. MVR Monitoring closes that gap, ensuring violations and suspensions are caught in near real time and Driver Qualification (DQ) files remain audit-ready.

Corporate Reputation & Duty of Care

Courts no longer accept “we didn’t know” as a defense. If an accident involves a driver with a suspended or revoked license, annual MVRs will not protect a company from negligence claims. MVR Monitoring proves that you exercised duty of care by monitoring drivers continuously—protecting your brand, customer trust, and bottom line.

For example, if a driver fails to report a DUI conviction and later causes a crash, the employer could be held liable for negligence. In this situation, the company may be responsible for damages that far exceed what standard auto insurance covers.

Read more: 4 Consequences of Ignoring MVR Monitoring

How Does Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Monitoring Works

Embark Safety’s MVR Monitoring software is directly connected to state licensing agencies (DMVs). Once drivers are enrolled, the system automatically tracks their records and sends near real-time email alerts whenever new activity appears—such as violations, suspensions, or expired medical certificates. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of unsafe or unqualified drivers going unnoticed until it’s too late.

But MVR Monitoring is only one part of the solution. With Embark Safety’s all-in-one Driver Management System, you can also:

• Access and score driver MVR reports
• Maintain Driver Qualification (DQ) files
• Collect and manage MVR authorization forms
• Track license and medical certificate expirations
• Monitor FMCSA inspection and CSA violations alongside MVRs
• Correct risky driving with online driver lessons, and more.

Watch How MVR Monitoring Works

How to Get Started

At Embark Safety, our driver record monitoring system automates the process with three simple steps:

1. Baseline Driver Record – Initial MVRs are pulled and scored using our MVR risk criteria.
2. Continuous Monitoring – Drivers are enrolled with state DMVs for ongoing monitoring.
3. Email Alerts – Companies receive instant alerts when new activity appears, such as suspensions, violations, or expired medical certificates.

How Much Does MVR Monitoring Cost

The cost of MVR Monitoring depends on several factors, including the number of drivers you need to monitor and the states where their licenses are issued.

If you are considering implementing a driver record monitoring service, we have done some research for you to compare the costs and benefits: MVR Monitoring Cost vs. MVRs

Ready to get started? Book a demo or contact us for pricing.

What’s Your Company Risk?

Driving is the most dangerous work related activity. Long gaps between MVR reports, like in the annual or periodic MVR, expose companies to risk. A clean driving record in January doesn’t always equate a clean driving record in February. Since drivers do not always self report driving convictions, Motor Vehicle Record monitoring is a means to constantly know where your drivers stand.

Want to learn more about MVR Monitoring vs. Annual MVRs? Download our Case Study or contact us to schedule a demo.