Points on your license

How points work

In a state with a point system, each moving violation carries a set number of points, with more for serious offenses. The state adds them up over a period, and a total above its limit leads to a warning, a required course or a suspension. See how many points suspend a license in each state.

The numbers differ from state to state, and a handful of states do not use points at all. Those states still record every conviction and can still suspend a license for repeated violations.

How to check your points

Your driving record lists the convictions that carry points, and in many states it shows the running total. Each of our state pages explains how that state's points work. Check the points on your license.

How long points last

It varies by state. Points commonly stop counting toward a suspension after one to three years. The conviction behind them usually stays on the record longer than the points do. See how long points stay on your license, state by state.

Points and insurance

Insurers do not use the state's points. They read the convictions and crashes on your record and apply their own scoring, so a violation can raise your premium even after the state's points have expired.

Reducing points

Some states take points off, or stop a ticket adding them, if you complete an approved defensive driving course. See how to get points off your license.