Nova Scotia Driver's Abstract: Fee, How to Order and What It Shows
Nova Scotia's driver abstract costs $18.65 from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It can't be ordered online. Here's how to apply in person or by mail, and what the 5-year record shows.
How do I get a driver's abstract in Nova Scotia?
Apply to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in person at an RMV customer service centre, or by mail to Service Nova Scotia, PO Box 1652, Halifax, NS B3J 2Z3. The fee is $18.65. The RMV says a driver's abstract is not available online. Abstracts show 5 years of collisions, Motor Vehicle Act convictions and Criminal Code convictions, and 10 years of alcohol-related convictions and revocations.
- Fee: $18.65
- Not available online: in person or by mail only
- Use Form 1, the Employer Release Authorization Form, or a signed letter
- Shows 5 years of convictions and collisions; 10 years for alcohol-related offences
- Processing time: not published by the RMV
The short answer
A Nova Scotia driver's abstract costs $18.65 and comes from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), part of Service Nova Scotia. The RMV states that a driver's abstract is not available online. You apply in person at an RMV customer service centre or by mail to Service Nova Scotia, PO Box 1652, Halifax, NS B3J 2Z3.
The abstract shows a 5-year history of collisions, Motor Vehicle Act convictions, Criminal Code convictions and departmental postings, and a 10-year history of alcohol-related convictions and revocations. The RMV doesn't publish a processing time.
What a Nova Scotia driver abstract shows
The RMV describes an abstract as a copy of your driving record. It is also called a client record abstract. It includes:
- Summary Offence Tickets and convictions under the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act
- Criminal Code of Canada convictions, sent in by the Nova Scotia Department of Justice
- Offences committed in other provinces by Nova Scotia licence holders
- Collisions resulting in death or personal injury, or with more than $2,000 in damage
- Departmental postings and processes, such as suspensions and revocations
How far back: every type of abstract carries a 5-year history of collision and Motor Vehicle Act conviction events, Criminal Code convictions and departmental postings, and a 10-year history of alcohol-related convictions and revocations.
The employer version shows less
The RMV issues different versions depending on who receives the abstract. The employer version lists convictions, traffic accidents, judgements, and suspensions and revocations. The client version you request for yourself is more detailed. It also includes appeals, defensive driving entries, prohibition orders and payment information.
How to order
In person
Apply at an RMV customer service centre. You can pay by cash, debit, Visa, American Express, Mastercard, or a cheque or money order payable to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
By mail
Mail your request to Service Nova Scotia, PO Box 1652, Halifax, NS B3J 2Z3, Canada. Pay by cheque or money order payable to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
What to submit
- Form 1 (Application for Driver Licensing and Identification Services), or
- the Employer Release Authorization Form if the abstract is going to an employer, or
- if you don't have a form, a signed and dated letter giving your name, your master number and the reason for the abstract (if the abstract is for you).
The forms are on Access Nova Scotia's driver forms page (linked in Sources).
Living outside Nova Scotia
The RMV offers an out-of-province abstract service. You need a credit card, a printer and a fax machine, and you use the Out of Province Abstract Application Form.
Certified letter
If you need official confirmation of one specific fact, such as how long you've held a licence, the RMV issues a certified letter for $13.20. Call 1-800-898-7668 (toll free) or 902-424-5851 for details.
Also need a criminal record check?
Employers who hire drivers often ask for a criminal record check as well. A driver abstract only covers driving-related offences. SafeHire runs an online Canadian criminal record check, a name and date of birth search of the RCMP's CPIC database conducted with a police service. It costs $64.99, and you don't need an appointment or to live in a particular city. Order a criminal record check online, or see our Halifax and Nova Scotia pages for local police options.
SafeHire does not sell driver's abstracts. Order yours from the RMV as described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a driver's abstract in Nova Scotia?
$18.65, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Can I get a Nova Scotia driver's abstract online?
No. The RMV states that a driver's abstract is not available online. Apply in person at an RMV customer service centre or by mail. If you live outside the province, use the out-of-province service by fax.
How long does it take?
The RMV does not publish a processing time for in-person or mailed requests.
How far back does a Nova Scotia driver abstract go?
Five years for collisions, Motor Vehicle Act convictions, Criminal Code convictions and departmental postings. Ten years for alcohol-related convictions and revocations.
Can my employer get my abstract?
The RMV issues an employer version of the abstract, requested with the Employer Release Authorization Form, which you complete.
Sources
- Service Nova Scotia, Registry of Motor Vehicles, "Driver Abstracts": novascotia.ca/sns/rmv/licence/abstracts.asp (checked 2026-10-17)
- Access Nova Scotia, "Forms and Applications" (driver abstracts): novascotia.ca/sns/access/drivers/forms-and-applications.asp (checked 2026-10-17)
- Schedule of Fees for Documents and Services, Motor Vehicle Act (Nova Scotia): novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/mvdsfee.htm (checked 2026-10-17)
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