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Public Abstract Request System (PARS)

Benefits | Fees | Driver record abstracts | Password management | Confidential information | Criminal background check | Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act | Requesting a PARS account

PARS is a secure online service that allows authorized accountholders to receive driver record abstracts quickly and easily using the Web. Participants have instant access to driver record abstracts delivered via Portable Document Format (PDF) images. Typical account holders include insurance companies, attorneys, school bus contractors, businesses, and other large volume requesters.

PARS includes an Employer Notification program option that, in addition to the standard PARS program functionality, provides employers with current information regarding the driving record of their employees who hold a commercial driver license (CDL). Any employer who owns or leases commercial motor vehicles or assigns a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle can belong to this program (employers of non-commercial drivers are not eligible). The Employer Notification program identifies any enrolled CDL holder with recent activity on their driving record.

Benefits

• Instant access to driver records.
• No annual fees for the Web-based service.
• No enrollment or minimum monthly user fees.
• No charge for adding/moving employees to and from the Employer Notification program.
• While a $2 fee increase will apply to all paper requests for driver abstracts effective January 1, 2010, PARS users will not be affected by the fee increase.

Fees

• A $5 fee is charged for each abstract search generated. Type carefully, as requested driver records with incomplete or inaccurate information will result in incurring a fee with a "No Record Found" abstract being generated.
• Fee payments are automatically debited using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. Upon enrollment, the authorized system user will log into PARS using their secure password and provide account information to initiate their ACH account. The ACH system is a secure, private network that connects banks to one another by way of the Federal Reserve Board or other ACH operators. This network enables secure electronic payments to be processed.

Driver record abstracts

Driver record abstracts are computer-generated images of DMV's driver records. Most driver record entries are retained for the preceding five years; however, certain convictions can result in a driver record being retained indefinitely.

Driver abstracts contain the following standard information:

• Name and address
• Driver license or identification card number
• Gender and date of birth
• Former names
• Dates and types of traffic convictions, accidents, restrictions, and withdrawals

Password management

You must obtain a Wisconsin Login Account to request access to PARS. The state's Web Access Management System (WAMS) allows authorized individuals to access state Internet applications using the same means of identification for all state Web applications. Each PARS users must have their own unique Wisconsin login account. Logins and passwords cannot be shared. Instructions for obtaining a WAMS password will be provided as part of the application procedure.

Confidential information

Social Security numbers are used for driver licensing purposes and are not available to the public. Identification (ID) card information is also confidential and can only be released to the courts, district attorneys, county corporation counsels, city, village or town attorneys, law enforcement agencies, the ID card holder, or to the parent/legal guardian of an ID card holder who is under 18 years of age.

Criminal background check requirements

Users of PARS with direct access to DMV data are required to have a criminal background check performed by the requesting agency or business. DMV will not authorize access until documentation is received from the requester about the type of background check that was conducted and the results for each employee requesting access. Instructions for obtaining and submitting criminal background check results will be provided after application materials have been received and approved.

Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act

The Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act requires that an MV2896 (DPPA) form accompany any request for driver record information. Only one MV2896 form needs to be completed as part of the application process. This form is provided with the application materials.

Requesting a PARS account

Please contact DMV to request application materials and begin the enrollment process:

Citations and Withdrawals Section
P.O. Box 7917
Madison, WI  53707-7917

• E-mail: pars@dot.wi.gov 
• Call: (608) 266-0928 

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Questions about the content of this page:
Bureau of Driver Services, pars@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: November 10, 2009