By the Ticket Dismissal HQ editorial teamReviewed Oct 21, 2026Sources cited at the endNot legal advice
A Texas Type 3A driving record is the certified copy of your complete driving history that courts require when you dismiss a ticket with a defensive driving course. It proves you haven’t completed a course in the past 12 months. You order it from the Texas DPS online for $12, and it downloads instantly as a PDF you can print or forward to the court.
Quick answer
- What to order: Type 3A, “Certified Complete Driving History.” Not Type 3 (uncertified), not Type 2.
- Where: the official Texas.gov / DPS driver record portal (txapps.texas.gov). Course providers can order it for you at checkout, usually for a few dollars more.
- Cost: $12 online ($10 record + $2 Texas.gov fee). Instant PDF.
- What you need: your Texas license number, date of birth, the audit number printed on your license, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Then: file it with your course certificate at the court before your 90-day deadline.
Why the court wants it
Under Article 45A.352 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, when you complete the course you must present the court with “a copy of the defendant’s driving record” showing you haven’t completed a driving safety course in the 12 months before the offense. Courts require the certified version so they can rely on it as an official DPS document. That’s the Type 3A.
Texas driving record types
| Type | Name | Certified? | Used for | Online fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Status record | No | Name, DOB, license status only | $6 |
| 2 | 3-year history | No | Employers, insurance quotes | $8 |
| 2A | Certified 3-year history | Yes | Some employers | $12 |
| 3 | Complete history | No | Personal review | $8 |
| 3A | Certified complete history | Yes | Defensive driving / ticket dismissal | $12 |
| AR | Certified abstract | Yes | Court and legal use | $22 |
Fees are set by DPS and include the Texas.gov processing charge; the exact figures can change, so confirm on the portal before you pay.
How to order your Type 3A online, step by step
- Have your license in hand. You’ll need the license number, your date of birth, the audit number (the long number on the bottom right of the card face, or on the back on newer cards), and the last four of your SSN.
- Go to the official portal. Search “Texas driver record request” and use the txapps.texas.gov or dps.texas.gov link; avoid third-party sites that charge $30+ for the same record.
- Select Type 3A. The portal lists every type; pick “3A – Certified Complete Driving History.”
- Pay $12 by card. You’ll get a PDF immediately. Save it and print it.
- File it with the court together with your course certificate and affidavit, before the 90-day deadline the court gave you.
Order it through your course provider instead?
Most Texas course providers, including DefensiveDriving.com, let you add the Type 3A at checkout. It’s one less site to visit, but you’ll pay a small premium over the $12 DPS price and, with some providers, wait for it to be emailed rather than getting it instantly. If you’re comfortable with the DPS portal, do it yourself and pocket the difference. If you’d rather have everything in one place, the add-on is fine.
DefensiveDriving.com Our pick
$28- TDLR-approved 6-hour course, $28 text / $38 video (incl. $3 minimum charge for materials, supervision and administration)
- Type 3A driving record can be added at checkout
- Instant certificate download plus free mail or FedEx delivery
- Ticket-dismissal guarantee up to $250
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Problems and fixes
- “Record not found” or the portal rejects you. Usually the audit number. Newer licenses print it on the back; make sure you’re not entering the license number twice.
- Your record shows a course in the past 12 months. You’re not eligible for the course route this time. See deferred disposition.
- You ordered a Type 3 by mistake. Courts won’t accept the uncertified version. Order the 3A; the $8 is gone.
- You have a new address. The record is tied to your license, not your address, so it doesn’t matter for ordering. Update your address with DPS separately.
Do I need to print the Type 3A record?
Usually, yes: the certified record downloads as a PDF, and most courts want a printed copy filed with your certificate (in person or by mail). Some courts accept the PDF by email or upload. Check the court’s instructions, and don’t alter the PDF; the certification is what makes it a 3A.
Ordering on Texas.gov (“texasonline”)
The DPS driver record service runs on Texas.gov (formerly TexasOnline, which is why older court forms say “texasonline.com form 3a”). Same service, same $12 Type 3A, available the same day as an instant download. You don’t need a paper “form 3A”: selecting record type 3A online is the order.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Type 3A driving record valid for court?
The statute doesn’t set an expiry, but courts want it to be current, so order it after the court grants your request and within the same 90-day window as your course.
Can I get a free Texas driving record?
No. DPS charges for every record type; the cheapest is $6 for a status record, which courts won’t accept.
Do I need the 3A for an insurance discount?
No. Only the course certificate. The 3A is a court requirement for ticket dismissal.
What does the audit number look like?
A 20-digit number printed on your license. On cards issued since 2016 it’s on the back; on older cards it’s on the front, bottom right.
Can I get a Type 3A driving record the same day?
Yes. Ordered online it downloads immediately after payment.
What is the texasonline form 3A?
An old name for ordering a Type 3A record through Texas.gov, the state’s online services portal. Order “Type 3A – Certified Complete Driving History” there.
Does the court need the original or a copy?
A printed copy of the certified PDF is normally accepted. Follow the court’s instructions.
Sources: Texas DPS driver record request service (Texas.gov); Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45A.352.