California suspends your license when you accumulate 4 points within 12 months, 6 points within 24 months, or 8 points within 36 months.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses a point system to track traffic violations. Each violation carries a point value — typically 1 point for minor infractions like speeding, and 2 points for serious violations like reckless driving or a DUI. When your total reaches the thresholds above, the DMV will send you a notice of suspension and you must stop driving on your license.
The point count resets on a rolling basis. A violation from three years ago no longer counts toward your total, so points do expire — but only after 36 months from the violation date. If you receive a ticket today and another one 35 months from now, both count. If you receive one 37 months from now, only the new one counts.
Not all violations add points. Parking tickets, equipment violations (broken taillight, expired registration), and some non-moving infractions do not appear on your driving record and do not count toward suspension. Only moving violations — actions you took while driving — add points.
Key Takeaways
- Four points in 12 months, six points in 24 months, or eight points in 36 months triggers an automatic suspension notice from the DMV.
- Most traffic violations are worth 1 point; DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run are worth 2 points each.
- Points expire 36 months after the violation date, so older violations stop counting once they reach that age.
- You have the right to request a hearing before the DMV suspends your license, and you must do so within 10 days of receiving the notice.
Point Values for Common California Violations
Most moving violations in California carry 1 point. These include speeding (any amount over the limit), unsafe lane changes, following too closely, running a red light or stop sign, and improper turns. A single speeding ticket will not suspend your license, but four of them within 12 months will.
Serious violations carry 2 points each. These include driving under the influence (DUI or DWI), reckless driving, hit-and-run, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and vehicular assault. A single 2-point violation combined with two 1-point violations within 12 months reaches the 4-point suspension threshold.
Some violations carry no points but still appear on your record. These include parking violations, equipment citations (expired registration, broken lights), and non-moving infractions. They do not count toward suspension but may affect your insurance rates or your ability to renew your registration.
How the DMV Notifies You of Suspension
The DMV does not suspend your license when ready after a violation. Instead, the court reports the conviction to the DMV, which then tracks your points. Once your total reaches a suspension threshold, the DMV mails you a formal notice called an Order to Appear and Show Cause or a Notice of Suspension. This notice tells you the date your suspension will take effect — usually 10 days after you receive it.
The notice also informs you of your right to request a hearing. You must request the hearing in writing within 10 days of receiving the notice. If you do not request a hearing, your suspension becomes final on the date stated in the notice, and you cannot legally drive.
If you move and do not update your address with the DMV, you may not receive the notice at all. The suspension will still take effect on the date listed in the notice. You can check your driving record online through the DMV website or by mail to confirm whether points have been recorded against your license.
Requesting a Hearing Before Suspension Takes Effect
You have a right to a hearing before the DMV suspends your license. To request one, you must send a written request to the DMV office that issued the suspension notice within 10 days of receiving it. Include your name, driver's license number, and the date of the notice. You can request the hearing by mail, in person at a DMV office, or online through the DMV website if that option is available in your county.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points on your record are incorrect — for example, that a violation was dismissed in court, that you were not the driver, or that the conviction was not properly reported. You cannot argue that the law is unfair or that you did not deserve the ticket. The hearing officer will review the facts and decide whether the suspension should proceed.
If you request a hearing, your suspension is delayed until after the hearing takes place. This can take several weeks. During that time, you can continue to drive on your current license. If the hearing officer upholds the suspension, your license will be suspended on the date they specify.
What Happens When Your License Is Suspended
Once your license is suspended, you cannot legally drive in California. Driving on a suspended license is itself a violation and can result in arrest, fines up to $1,000, and additional jail time. If you are caught driving during a suspension, the DMV may extend the suspension period or revoke your license entirely.
A suspension typically lasts 6 months for a first offense. After the suspension period ends, you must visit a DMV office and pay a reissue fee (currently $100 to $200, though this varies) to restore your driving privileges. You cannot straightforward wait for the suspension to expire and resume driving — you must actively request reinstatement.
During the suspension, your vehicle registration may also be affected. If your license is suspended, you cannot renew your registration, and driving an unregistered vehicle compounds your legal problems. Some employers, insurance companies, and housing providers may also learn of the suspension through background checks.
How to Reduce Points on Your Record
California allows you to reduce one point from your record by completing a traffic safety course (also called traffic school). You can do this once every 18 months, and you can remove only one point per course. If you have 5 points in 12 months, taking one course brings you to 4 points — still at the suspension threshold. You would need to take another course 18 months later to drop below it.
You are not automatically allowed to take traffic school. The court must grant you permission when you receive a ticket, usually by checking a box on the citation or by requesting it in writing before your court date. Some violations — DUI, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license — do not may have access to for traffic school. If you are may be able to access, the course typically costs $50 to $100 and takes 4 to 8 hours to complete online or in person.
Traffic school removes the point from your DMV record but does not erase the conviction itself. Your insurance company may still see the violation, and it may still affect your rates. The point removal is the main benefit for DMV suspension purposes.
Checking Your Current Points and Driving Record
You can view your driving record through the California DMV website by creating an account or by requesting a copy by mail. Your record shows all violations reported to the DMV in the past three years, the point value of each, and the date each violation will expire. This is the same record the DMV uses to calculate suspension thresholds.
If you see a violation on your record that you believe is incorrect — for example, a ticket that was dismissed in court — you can contact the court that issued the ticket and ask them to report the dismissal to the DMV. The court must send the updated information to the DMV, which can take 30 to 60 days to process. Do not assume the DMV knows about a dismissal just because the court does.
You should check your record at least once a year, especially if you have received any traffic citations. This gives you time to request a hearing if you are close to a suspension threshold, or to take a traffic safety course if you are may be able to access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my license when ready after getting a ticket?
No. The court reports the conviction to the DMV, which tracks your points. Only when your total reaches 4, 6, or 8 points (depending on the time period) does the DMV send you a suspension notice. You then have 10 days to request a hearing. Your license is suspended only if you do not request a hearing or if the hearing officer upholds the suspension.
Can I drive to work during a suspension?
Not on your regular license. California does not issue restricted licenses that allow you to drive only to work or school during a suspension. You must stop driving entirely, or you can request a restricted license through the court that suspended you — but this requires a separate legal process and is not may provide.
What if I was not the driver when the ticket was issued?
You can request a hearing and present evidence that you were not driving — for example, a witness statement or proof you were elsewhere. The hearing officer will review the evidence. If the ticket was issued to you in error, you can also contact the court and ask them to dismiss the citation, which will stop the point from being reported to the DMV.
How long do points stay on my record?
Points expire 36 months (three years) after the violation date. Once a point expires, it no longer counts toward suspension. However, the violation itself may remain visible on your record for longer, and your insurance company may still see it.
Can I get my license back early if I take traffic school?
No. Traffic school removes one point from your record, which may prevent a future suspension, but it does not restore a license that is already suspended. Once suspended, you must wait out the suspension period (usually 6 months) and then pay a reissue fee to restore your driving privileges.