Research Studies & Reports

DMV’s Research & Development Branch has been conducting research and producing studies and reports since the 1950s. Research & Development reports help DMV to measure the impact of new laws on making drivers safer. We also identify areas where we can improve our processes, explore new approaches to solving existing problems, and branch out into new opportunities to serve you better. 

Request printed copies of studies and reports by mail at:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Research and Development Branch
2415 1st Ave. Mail Station: F-126
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 914-8125

Please include the report number, the number of copies requested, and your name, address, and phone number.

393 Results

Report ID Date Published Title Section Links
IR1 1987/ 08

Use of Proxy Measures in Evaluating Post licensing Control Treatments

By: Mary K. Janke & Raymond C. Peck

To describe and evaluate the usefulness of alternative (accident proxy) measures in traffic safety studies.

III
IM5 1981/ 11

Use Tax Survey

By: Mary K. Janke

To compare reported purchase prices in use-tax transactions with wholesale Kelley Blue Book prices, in order to determine whether purchasers of used vehicles from private parties tended to underreport the amount they paid.

VII
IM4 1981/ 07

An Estimate of the Rate at Which Vehicle Values Depreciate for Use in Calculating Vehicle License Fees

By: Michael Ratz

To determine how much vehicle license fee (VLF) revenue is lost due to the VLF depreciation structure underestimating the actual retail value of used vehicles.

VII
IM3 1981/ 06

Multiple Sales Use Tax Survey

By: David W. Carpenter

To determine loss in use tax resulting from unreported vehicle transfers.

VII
IM1 1993/ 09

Pilot of the Driving Performance Evaluation

By: Robert A. Hagge

To determine the consistency of the test examiners in scoring the Driving Performance Evaluation (DPE) drive test.

II
53a 1976/ 06

1976 Language Survey – Follow-up to 1975 Field Office Survey

By: Research Staff

To conduct another survey like the 1975 language survey (report no. 53) to determine the number of non-English-speaking persons attempting to utilize services provided at DMV facilities. This survey to be conducted at selected offices to enable management to put customer communication needs into a better perspective.

VII
263 2023/ 04

2022 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information System

By: Heather Rees, Andrew McCullough, Sladjana Oulad Daoud, Ainsley Mitchum, and Dario Sacchi

In this thirty-first annual legislatively mandated report, 2019 and 2020 driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents cross-tabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, postconviction sanctions, driver license suspension/revocation actions, and on drivers in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes. In addition, this report provides 1-year proportions of DUI recidivism and crash rates for first and second DUI offenders arrested each year over a period of 30 years. Also, the long-term recidivism curves for the cumulative proportions of DUI reoffenses are shown for all DUI offenders arrested in 2005. The proportions of convicted first and second DUI offenders arrested in 2019 who were referred to, enrolled in, and completed DUI programs are also presented. Additionally, the numbers and percentages of DUI offenders who installed ignition interlock devices are presented by county and DUI offender status.

V
262 2022/ 05

2021 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information System

By: Sladjana Oulad Daoud

In this thirtieth annual legislatively mandated report, 2018 and 2019 driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents cross-tabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, postconviction sanctions, driver license suspension/revocation actions, and on drivers in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes. In addition, this report provides 1-year proportions of DUI recidivism and crash rates for first and second DUI offenders arrested each year over a period of 29 years. Also, the long-term recidivism curves for the cumulative proportions of DUI reoffenses are shown for all DUI offenders arrested in 2005. Two analyses were conducted to evaluate if referrals to alcohol and drug education programs were associated with reductions in 1-year subsequent DUI incidents and crashes among those convicted of the reduced charge of alcohol- or drug-related reckless driving, and if referrals to the 9-month DUI program were associated with reductions in 1-year subsequent DUI incidents and crashes when compared to referrals to the 3-month DUI program among first DUI offenders. The proportions of convicted first and second DUI offenders arrested in 2018, who were referred to, enrolled in, and completed DUI programs are also presented. Additionally, the numbers and percentages of DUI offenders who installed ignition interlock devices are presented by county and DUI offender status.

V
261 2021/ 07

2020 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information System

By: Sladjana Oulad Daoud

In this twenty-ninth annual legislatively-mandated report, 2017 and 2018 driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents cross-tabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, postconviction sanctions, driver license suspension/revocation actions, and on drivers in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes. In addition, this report provides 1-year proportions of DUI recidivism and crash rates for first and second DUI offenders arrested in each year over a time period of 28 years. Also, the long-term recidivism curves of the cumulative proportions of DUI reoffenses are shown for all DUI offenders arrested in 2005. An analysis was conducted to evaluate if referrals to the 9-month DUI program were associated with reductions in 1-year subsequent DUI incidents and crashes when compared to referrals to the 3-month DUI program among first DUI offenders. The proportions of convicted first and second DUI offenders arrested in 2017, who were referred to, enrolled in, and completed DUI programs are also presented. Additionally, the numbers and percentages of DUI offenders who installed ignition interlock devices are presented by county and DUI offender status.

V
260 2020/ 06

2019 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information System

By: Oulad Daoud, Tashima

In this twenty-eighth annual legislatively-mandated report, 2016 and 2017 driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, postconviction sanctions, driver license suspension/revocation actions, and on drivers in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes.

V