Where to Check Your Florida Driver License Points
You can check your driver license points through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) website, by phone, or in person at a local DMV office. The fastest method is the online portal at flhsmv.gov, where you can look up your current point total without creating an account — you only need your driver license number and date of birth.
If you prefer not to use the website, call the DHSMV Customer Service line at 1-850-617-2000 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time). A representative can tell you your points over the phone. You can also visit any Florida DMV office in person and ask a clerk to pull your record; this takes a few minutes and requires no appointment.
Points stay on your record for five years from the date of the violation, not from the date you paid the fine or completed traffic school. This means a violation from 2019 will drop off in 2024, even if you just paid it recently.
Key Takeaways
- The DHSMV website at flhsmv.gov lets you check your points when ready using your license number and date of birth, with no login required.
- Points in Florida range from 3 to 6 per violation and stay on your record for five years from the violation date, not the payment date.
- Accumulating 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 18 months, or 24 points in 36 months triggers a license suspension.
- Traffic school removes up to 4 points from your record if you have not attended in the past 12 months, but you must complete it before your court date or important date.
How Points Are Added to Your Florida Record
Florida assigns points based on the type of violation. Most common moving violations carry 3 or 4 points — speeding 1 to 15 miles over the limit is 3 points, while speeding 30 miles or more over the limit is 6 points. Reckless driving, fleeing police, and at-fault accidents are among the violations that carry 4 points. Serious violations like DUI or leaving the scene of an accident carry 6 points.
Points are added to your record when you are convicted of the violation, not when you are ticketed. If you pay a fine without contesting the ticket, that counts as a conviction. If you fight the ticket in court and lose, points are added after the judgment. If you win or the charge is dismissed, no points are added.
You can receive points for violations in other states as well. Florida has a reciprocal agreement with most states through the Driver License Compact, meaning violations you commit in other states are reported to Florida and added to your record as if they happened in Florida.
When Your License Gets Suspended for Too Many Points
Florida suspends your license automatically when you reach certain point thresholds within specific time windows. The thresholds are: 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 18 months, or 24 points in 36 months. The suspension is mandatory — the DHSMV does not have discretion to waive it, and you cannot request a hardship exemption.
When you hit the threshold, the DHSMV mails you a notice of suspension to the address on file with your license. The suspension takes effect 30 days after the notice is mailed, giving you a window to request a hearing if you believe the points were recorded in error. The first suspension lasts 30 days, the second lasts 90 days, and the third and any subsequent suspension lasts one year.
During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, jail time, and additional points on your record. If you are stopped, your vehicle can be impounded.
Using Traffic School to Remove Points
You can remove up to 4 points from your record by completing an approved traffic school course. Florida allows you to attend traffic school once every 12 months, and you must complete the course before your ticket's court date or the important date set by the court or DHSMV.
Not all violations are may be able to access for traffic school removal. Violations that disqualify you include DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, and violations involving drugs or alcohol. If your ticket is may be able to access, the court or the ticket itself will state that traffic school is an option.
Traffic school courses are offered online, by mail, and in person at various providers throughout Florida. Costs range from $25 to $70 depending on the provider and format. Once you complete the course, the provider sends proof of completion to the DHSMV, and the points are removed from your record within 30 days. You will still owe any fine associated with the ticket — traffic school only removes points, not the financial penalty.
Checking Points Before They Affect Your License
Checking your points regularly helps you stay aware of how close you are to suspension. If you are within a few points of a threshold, you know that one more violation will trigger a suspension. This is especially important if you drive for work or rely on your license for daily transportation.
If you see points on your record that you believe are incorrect — for example, a violation you fought and won, or a ticket from another state that should not have been reported — you can request a hearing with the DHSMV. You have 30 days from the date the notice of suspension is mailed to request a hearing, but you can also contact the DHSMV earlier to dispute points before suspension occurs.
To dispute points, contact the DHSMV at 1-850-617-2000 or visit a local DMV office with documentation of the error — a court dismissal, acquittal, or proof that the violation was from another state and should not have been transferred. The DHSMV will investigate and correct your record if the error is confirmed.
What Happens After a License Suspension Ends
When your suspension period ends, your license is automatically reinstated — you do not need to reapply or pay a reinstatement fee in Florida. However, you must have a valid license to drive legally, so check that your license has not expired during the suspension period. If it has, you will need to renew it before driving.
After reinstatement, your points remain on your record for the full five-year period from the violation date. This means if you were suspended with 12 points, those points are still counted toward future thresholds until they age off. Accumulating more points quickly after reinstatement can trigger another suspension.
If you are suspended a second time within five years, the suspension period is longer (90 days instead of 30), and a third suspension within five years lasts one year. These escalating penalties make it important to avoid violations after a suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for points to show up on my record after I get a ticket?
Points are added when you are convicted, not when you are ticketed. If you pay the fine, points typically appear within 10 to 30 days. If you go to court, points are added after the judgment. You can check your record online at any time to see the current status.
Can I remove points by paying a fine or taking a defensive driving course?
Paying a fine does not remove points — it only settles the financial penalty. A Florida-approved traffic school course removes up to 4 points, but only if the violation is may be able to access and you complete the course before your court important date. Defensive driving courses offered in other states do not remove Florida points.
What if I get points from a violation in another state?
Most states report violations to Florida through the Driver License Compact. Those points are added to your Florida record and count toward your suspension thresholds. You can dispute them if the violation was recorded in error, but you will likely need documentation from the other state's court.
Do points ever disappear from my record?
Points drop off your record five years after the violation date. However, they still count toward suspension thresholds during those five years. Traffic school can remove up to 4 points when ready, but only once per 12 months and only for may be able to access violations.
What should I do if I am close to suspension?
Check how many points you have and how many months remain in your current threshold window. If you have an may be able to access ticket, complete traffic school before the important date to remove 4 points. Avoid new violations, as even one more ticket could push you over the threshold and trigger a suspension.