License points are like tattoos – constant, seemingly permanent reminders of your not-so-great decisions. But fortunately, unlike those garish rose petals surrounding your ex’s initials, your driver's license points can be removed in time.
Here, we’ll give a rundown of license points, starting with a state-by-state breakdown of how long do they linger and moving on to a list of things you should know about license points but likely don’t. We will end with a few tips on how to clear up your record.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
The State-by-State Breakdown: Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
Each state institutes different rules regarding how long points remain on your driving record. And many states, including Washington, decline to use the point system. If you’re in one of these states, check with your local DMV to learn more about the consequences for traffic offenses (in addition to the usual fines and tickets).
Here is a compilation of state license point rules from the DMV’s website:
- Alabama: Two years
- Alaska: Two points are reduced for every year of violation-free driving
- Arizona: Three years
- Arkansas: Three years
- California: Three years
- Colorado: Two years
- Connecticut: Two years
- Delaware: Two years
- Florida: Three years
- Georgia: Two years
- Hawaii: None – There is no point system in this State
- Idaho: Three years
- Illinois: None (no point system)
- Indiana: Two years
- Iowa: None
- Kansas: None
- Kentucky: Two years
- Louisiana: None
- Maine: One year
- Maryland: Three years
- Massachusetts: Six years
- Michigan: Two Years
- Minnesota: None
- Mississippi: None
- Missouri: Eighteen months
- Montana: Three years
- Nebraska: Two years
- Nevada: One year
- New Hampshire: Three years
- New Jersey: Three points deducted for every year of driving violation free
- New Mexico: One year
- New York: 18 months
- North Carolina: Three years
- North Dakota: Three years; however, one point is deducted for every three-months of violation-free driving.
- Ohio: Three years.
- Oklahoma: Points are reduced to zero if you drive three-consecutive years without another violation.
- Oregon: None
- Pennsylvania: Three points are removed for every 12 months of violation-free driving
- Rhode Island: None
- South Carolina: Two years
- South Dakota: Generally, points begin falling off after 12 months
- Tennessee: Two years
- Texas: Three years
- Utah: Two years, provided you maintain a spotless driving record in the meantime
- Vermont: Two years
- Virginia: Two years
- Washington: None
- Washington, D.C.: Two years
- West Virginia: Two years
- Wisconsin: Five years
- Wyoming: None
Keep in mind, however, that this list only considers how long points stay on your record and driver's license. Other violations – like speeding or passing a stopped school bus – may remain on your record much longer. These penalties will vary state-by-state.
The 411 on Driver's License Points: What You Should Know
Points are points, but the how varies by state: From not applying points at all, to imposing BOTH points and tickets, the penalty structures are not one-size-fits-all. Here is an overview of a few things you should know about license points.
#1: Insurance companies typically don’t care what point system your state uses.
DMV points are applied when you’re convicted of a traffic violation, and your license is suspended once you rack up a certain number. Conversely, insurers use their own point systems in deciding how much to raise your premiums, and your rate will rise by a pre-determined amount once you hit a certain points threshold. As such, the insurance consequences generally increase in severity the more points you accumulate.
#2: You can lose your license if you accrue too many points.
This may seem obvious, but many drivers don’t think about it when they blow through a stop sign for the sixth time in a month. Even though states use different systems, no matter where you are (assuming you are in a points state), the more serious the violation, the more points you get – and your penalties will vary.
For example, in California, points ranging from zero to three are assigned based on the seriousness of your offense. Your license will be suspended for six months and you can face a year of probation if you rack up:
- Four points in 12 months
- Six points in 24 months
- Eight points in 36 months
#3: Texting tickets are really, really bad.
Almost all states (41, to be exact!) ban texting while driving. However, less than half deem texting while driving a moving violation. If you are in a state where texting violations add points to your record or are considered moving violations, an insurer may raise your premiums accordingly – so tread carefully.
This can happen in the following states:
- Alabama: Adds two points to your driver's license.
- Colorado: Adds two points.
- D.C.: Adds one point and is a moving violation; It adds three points if the texting caused an accident.
- Florida: Adds three points and a moving violation for a second ticket within five years; It adds two points if the texting ticket was received in a school zone and six points if the texting caused an accident.
- Georgia: Adds one point.
- Kentucky: Adds three points.
- Maryland: Adds one point and is a moving violation. It adds three points if the texting caused an accident.
- Missouri: Adds two points.
- Nebraska: Adds three points.
- New York: Adds five points.
- New Jersey: Adds three points for a third offense.
- North Dakota: Considers texting while driving a moving violation.
- Nevada: The first offense is not considered a moving violation, but repeat offenses result in adding four points.
- Vermont: Adds two points for the first offense and five points for a subsequent offense.
- Virginia: Adds three points.
- West Virginia: Adds three points for the third offense.
- Wisconsin: Adds four points.
#4: Some states assign points even if you aren’t driving a car.
You need not be driving a truck, van, or compact car to face points: This means that if you are driving a snowmobile, RV, or another type of vehicle, you may still rack up points if you break the traffic laws.
#5: In some states, if you’re caught on a red-light camera, you may get a ticket but no points.
Typically, if you run a red light, you get points. But in some states, you may only face a ticket.
Other states add points for running red lights regardless of whether you get caught on camera.
For instance, Arizona adds two points for red light tickets whether you are caught by a camera or a police officer, but New Jersey adds two points only if you get a ticket from a police officer.
Can I Get Rid of My Points? How? And When?
If you’re feeling the effects of points through your risking insurance premium rates, there are ways to ease the pain.
Many states allow drivers to take defensive driving courses to dismiss violations before they hit their records (with a few exceptions, like DUIs or other major offenses). And in some states, drivers can also earn “safe driving points” to mitigate their bad ones.
Check with your insurer or your local DMV to see which rules apply in your state, however, in MOST states, you can:
- Complete a traffic safety course – Many states offer drivers this opportunity, which involves a state-approved course. The DMV will not remove points from your history if you submit a course completion record from a non-approved school, so triple-check that the course you’ve selected is state-sanctioned.
- Maintain an impeccable driving record for a certain amount of time – States that offer the option to clean up your record generally require violation-free driving for a certain (often extended) period. For example, in Massachusetts, those with no more than three moving violations on their records for the past five years can have one point removed from each citation for every three-year period of safe driving.
Get Started with A Few Taps on Our App.
No matter where you are and what you’ve done, the best option is to keep your record squeaky clean. Here at Off the Record, we’ve created an app specially designed to help drivers manage their records with ease – and without the stress of the traditional criminal process.
With just a few taps on our iOS or Android apps or a click or two online (plus a quick snap of your ticket), we will connect you with a knowledgeable attorney in your region. The attorneys in our network are experienced in helping clients get their points reduced and reinstate their licenses after revocation.
And if it doesn’t work? We’ve got you covered:
We offer a money-back guarantee, so if you don’t win, you don’t pay. It’s that simple. We can do this because our attorneys are just that successful.
Ready to learn more about driver's licence points? Need To Consult With A Traffic Lawyer? Give us a shout today!
Image credit: Steven Polunsky CC BY 2.0
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