How many points can you get on your license before it’s suspended?
How many points can you get on your license before it's suspended? This is a great question to be asking if you're concerned. The number of points you can get on your driver’s license before it’s suspended depends on a few factors in your state. Nine states have no point system, but in the others, you need at least 12 points within as many months to get your driver’s license suspended. In some cases, you can reduce the points you have on your license or avoid getting your license suspended.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
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UPDATED: Dec 18, 2023
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Dec 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You can accumulate points on your driver’s license in 41 states and in the District of Columbia
- In most cases, 12 points within a year are sufficient to warrant a suspended license, but major traffic violations alone count in most states
- Most states have point expiration periods of two years
How many points can you get on your license before it’s suspended? And can those points affect your auto insurance?
Each state has a different way of assessing points for driver’s licenses. Of course, the number of points you can receive before the state suspends your license differs among states as well. Some of the best auto insurance companies also rely on point systems, but they’re separate from your state’s point system.
Read on to learn more about the number of points you can accumulate on your driver’s license before it’s suspended and when those points expire. And if you want to see rates from top auto insurance companies near you, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above.
How many points can you get on your license in your state?
The number of points you can accumulate on your driver’s license (before your state suspends or revokes your driving privileges) depends on a couple of factors.
The first determinant is the level of your traffic violation. States differentiate between minor and major infractions and assess more points to the latter.
Secondly, the period during which you garnered those points plays a role. For example, in some states, if you reach a balance of 12 points on your license within 24 months, your state will suspend your license.
Now, nine states do not have a point system, but they will determine when to suspend or revoke driver’s licenses based on each driver’s moving violations. That is also true among the states that do have point systems:
- The Michigan Secretary of State requires you to attend a reexamination with a 12-point balance. After reexamination, the state may suspend or revoke your license or leave it unaffected.
- In Montana, the level of your traffic violation can garner a suspension regardless of your point total.
- Tennessee allows you to request an administrative hearing for the opportunity to attend a defensive driving course and prevent a license suspension.
- Texas requires you to pay a surcharge after reaching a specific point total, and the failure to pay it results in a suspension.
With that understanding, let’s examine point systems in most states.
Driver’s License Point Systems
Here is how 41 states and the District of Columbia assess points:
Driver’s License Point Systems by State
State | Points for Minor Violation | Points for Major Violation |
---|---|---|
Alabama | 2 | 6 |
Alaska | 2 | 10 |
Arizona | 2 | 8 |
Arkansas | 2 | 8 |
California | 1 | 2 |
Colorado | 4 | 12 |
Connecticut | 1 | 5 |
Delaware | 2 | 6 |
District of Columbia | 2 | 8 |
Florida | 3 | 6 |
Georgia | 1 | 6 |
Idaho | 1 | 4 |
Illinois | 5 | 55 |
Indiana | 2 | 8 |
Iowa | 2 | 6 |
Kentucky | 3 | 6 |
Maine | 2 | 8 |
Maryland | 1 | 12 |
Massachusetts | 2 | 5 |
Michigan | 2 | 6 |
Missouri | 3 | 12 |
Montana | 2 | 15 |
Nebraska | 1 | 12 |
Nevada | 1 | 8 |
New Hampshire | 2 | 6 |
New Jersey | 2 | 8 |
New Mexico | 2 | 8 |
New York | 21 | 1 |
North Carolina | 1 | 5 |
North Dakota | 1 | 24 |
Ohio | 2 | 6 |
Oklahoma | 1 | 4 |
Pennsylvania | 2 | 5 |
South Carolina | 2 | 6 |
South Dakota | 2 | 10 |
Tennessee | 1 | 8 |
Texas | 2 | 3 |
Utah | 35 | 80 |
Vermont | 2 | 8 |
Virginia | 3 | 6 |
West Virginia | 2 | 8 |
Wisconsin | 2 | 6 |
Minor traffic violations can include running a stoplight, texting while driving, or speeding. Criminal traffic violations include driving under the influence, reckless driving, and being at fault in a fatal accident.
Point Totals for a Suspended License
For most states, you only need a point balance of 12 points before your license is suspended.
Number of Points Needed to Cause a Driver’s License Suspension
State | Point Total | Timeframe (in Months, Respectively) |
---|---|---|
Alabama | 12-14 | 24 |
Alaska | 12 or 18 | 12 or 24 |
Arizona | 8 | 12 |
Arkansas | 14 | Current point balance |
California | 4, 6, or 8 | 12, 24, or 36 |
Colorado | 12 or 18 | 12 or 24 |
Connecticut | 10 | 24 |
Delaware | 14 | 24 |
District of Columbia | 10 | 24 |
Florida | 12, 18, or 24 | 12, 18, or 36 |
Georgia | 15 | 24 |
Idaho | 12-17, 18-23, or at least 24 | 12, 24, or 36 |
Kentucky | 12 | 24 |
Maine | 12 | 12 |
Maryland | 8 | 24 |
Michigan | 12 | 24 |
Missouri | 12, 18, or 24 | 12, 24, or 36 |
Montana | 30 | 26 |
Nebraska | 12 | 24 |
Nevada | 12 | 12 |
New Hampshire | 12, 18, or 24 | 12, 24, or 36 |
New Jersey | 12 | Current point balance |
New Mexico | 7 | 12 |
New York | 11 points | 18 |
North Carolina | 12 (or 8 after the reinstatement of license) | 36 |
North Dakota | 12 | Current point balance |
Ohio | 12 | 24 |
Oklahoma | 10 | 60 |
Pennsylvania | Having a 6-point balance for a second time | Decision after a hearing |
South Carolina | 12 | 12 |
South Dakota | 15 or 22 | 12 or 24 |
Tennessee | 12 | 12 |
Texas | 6 | 36 |
Utah | 200 | 36 |
Vermont | 10 | 24 |
Virginia | 18 or 24 | 12 or 24 |
West Virginia | 12 | 24 |
Wisconsin | 12 | 12 |
Next, we will consider how states subtract points from your driver’s license.
Read more: What is the driver’s license renewal process?
Point Expiration Periods
In most states, points on your driver’s license are eradicated after two years.
Driver’s License Point Expiration Periods by State
State | Years for Points to Expire |
---|---|
Alabama | 2 |
Alaska | 1 year without traffic violations for state DMV to remove 2 points |
Arizona | 1 |
Arkansas | 3 |
California | 3-10 |
Colorado | Points in Colorado do not expire |
Connecticut | 2 |
Delaware | Points are halved after 1 year |
District of Columbia | 2 |
Florida | 5 |
Georgia | 2 |
Idaho | 3 |
Illinois | 4-7 |
Indiana | 2 |
Iowa | 5-12 |
Kentucky | 2 (after conviction) |
Maine | 1 |
Maryland | 2 |
Massachusetts | 6 |
Michigan | 2 |
Missouri | 3 |
Montana | 3 |
Nebraska | 5 |
Nevada | 1 |
New Hampshire | 3 |
New Jersey | 3 points deducted for every year without a violation after your last conviction |
New Mexico | 1 |
New York | 1.5 |
North Carolina | 3 |
North Dakota | Following suspension: 1 point removed after every 3 months without violation, or 3 points removed every 12 months after taking a state-approved driving course |
Ohio | 2 |
Oklahoma | 2 points removed every year without a traffic violation, all points removed after 3 years without a violation |
Pennsylvania | 3 points removed after 1 year without a violation |
South Carolina | 2 (points are half the value after 1 year) |
South Dakota | Depends on the violation |
Tennessee | 2 |
Texas | 3 |
Utah | 3 |
Vermont | 2 |
Virginia | 2 |
West Virginia | 2 |
Wisconsin | Length of ticket on your record |
Note that the California Department of Motor Vehicles assesses more points for commercial drivers with traffic violations. Major commercial violations may remain on your record for 55 years.
In Illinois, it takes four to five years for points to be removed from one’s record for minor violations. Tickets that cause a license suspension require a seven-year wait.
Read on to discover what garners a license suspension in other states.
Other Things That Can Cause Your License Suspension
In the remaining nine states, the following violations cause license suspensions:
Driver’s License Suspensions in States Without Point Systems
State | Violations |
---|---|
Hawaii | A DUI, major traffic violations, refusing or failing to take a blood alcohol test, or violating state insurance laws |
Kansas | A DUI, major traffic violations, a lapse in auto insurance coverage, failure to pay off traffic tickets |
Louisiana | A DUI, a high number of minor traffic violations, major traffic violations, driving without auto insurance, or failure to stop for a school bus |
Minnesota | A DUI, a lapse in auto insurance coverage, major traffic violations, failure to pay off driving tickets (4 violations in 12 months or 5 violations in 24 months) |
Mississippi | A DUI, driving without auto insurance, reckless driving, a high number of traffic violations, an at-fault fatal accident |
Oregon | A DUI, driving without auto insurance, 3 major traffic violations or 20 traffic violations in 5 years, an at-fault fatal accident |
Rhode Island | A DUI, a lapse in auto insurance coverage, 3 reckless driving convictions in a year, a high number of traffic violations, felonies involving vehicles |
Washington | A DUI, a lapse in auto insurance coverage, 3 major traffic violations or 20 traffic violations in 5 years, felonies involving vehicles |
Wyoming | A DUI, a lapse in auto insurance coverage, reckless driving, 4 traffic violations in a year, leaving the scene of an accident |
Next, let’s review how many points you can accumulate on your license with an auto insurance company.
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How many points can you get on your license for auto insurance purposes?
While auto insurance companies need to consider driving records in order to assess risk, they have separate point systems. Many companies work with the Insurance Services Office, currently owned by Verisk.
If you reach a certain level of risk, your auto insurance company may cancel your policy or refuse to renew it. And the level of risk is often based on the amount of claims you file and the number of accidents you have within a certain period, typically three to five years. That is true even with accident forgiveness.
How can you find out your driver’s license point total?
If you are wondering, How many points do I have on my license?, you can contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles in one of three ways:
- Use your state’s online portal.
- Send a letter via snail mail.
- Go directly to a DMV office (or its equivalent) near you.
You may pay a $12-$25 fee in some states, but the information is free of charge in most cases. You will also need to provide your driver’s license number, date of birth, and social security number.
Driver’s License Point Totals: The Bottom Line
As you can see, in most cases, a high number of minor traffic violations or merely one major violation can warrant a driver’s license suspension. The good news is that your points will expire in most states, provided that you either improve your driving record or take other actions. In general, it’s important to remember the following guidelines:
- Be aware of the traffic laws in the state where you’re driving.
- Improve your driving record or maintain a clean record.
- Inquire about the number of points on your driving record.
- Always maintain auto insurance coverage.
- Take a defensive driving course.
Taking a defensive driving course can help you delay suspension or reinstate your license. Also, you can improve your driving, and some auto insurance companies may offer you a discount.
We hope that this information has answered the question, “How many points can I get on my license?” Now, if you need to see rates from top auto insurance companies in your area, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many points on my license lead to suspension?
It varies by state, but typically accumulating 12 points within a certain period can result in license suspension.
Do license points affect auto insurance?
Yes, but auto insurance companies have their own point systems based on claims and accidents, separate from the state’s point system.
How can I check my license point total?
Contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for information on your license points.
Do license points expire?
In most states, points expire after about two years, but it varies by state.
What violations cause license suspension?
Each state has different rules, but violations like DUI, reckless driving, and fatal accidents can lead to license suspension.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.