What Georgia's Point System Tracks

Georgia uses a point system to record traffic violations on your driving record. Every time you are convicted of a moving violation — speeding, running a red light, reckless driving, at-fault accidents — the state assigns points to your license. The number of points depends on the severity of the violation. Points stay on your record for a set time, and if you accumulate too many, the state will suspend your license.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) is the agency that tracks these points. You can view your current point total by requesting your driving record from DDS, either online through their website or in person at a local DDS office. Your insurance company also receives notice of violations and may raise your rates based on the points on your record.

Understanding how many points you have and how long they remain on your record helps you know whether you are at risk of suspension and what steps you might take to reduce them.

Key Takeaways

  • Georgia assigns points for moving violations; the number of points varies by violation type, from 2 points for minor infractions to 6 points for serious violations.
  • Accumulating 15 or more points within a 24-month period triggers a mandatory license suspension in Georgia.
  • Points remain on your driving record for 24 months from the date of conviction, after which they are removed automatically.
  • You can reduce points through defensive driving school, which removes up to 7 points if you complete an approved course.
  • Requesting your official driving record from the Georgia DDS is the only way to know your exact point total and violation history.

Point Values for Common Georgia Violations

Different violations carry different point values. Minor infractions like improper lane change or following too closely typically cost 2 points. Moderate violations such as speeding 15 miles per hour over the limit or failure to obey a traffic signal cost 3 points. More serious violations like speeding 24 miles per hour over the limit, reckless driving, or driving with a suspended license carry 4 to 6 points.

At-fault accidents also add points to your record. A single at-fault accident without injury typically adds 3 points. If the accident involves injury or property damage exceeding a certain threshold, points may be higher or you may face additional charges beyond the point system.

The exact point value for your violation will appear on the citation you receive or on your official driving record. If you are unsure what points were assigned, you can request your record from the Georgia DDS to see the breakdown.

When Georgia Suspends Your License for Points

Georgia law requires the DDS to suspend your license if you accumulate 15 or more points within any 24-month period. This is a mandatory suspension — it happens automatically once you reach 15 points, and you do not have to be convicted of an additional violation for the suspension to take effect.

The suspension period depends on how many times you have been suspended for points in the past. Your first suspension lasts 6 months. A second suspension within 5 years lasts 12 months. A third or subsequent suspension within 5 years lasts 24 months. During a suspension, you cannot legally drive, and driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Georgia.

The DDS will mail you a notice of suspension before your license is suspended, giving you time to plan. If you believe the points were assigned in error, you have the right to contest the suspension, but you must do so within a specific timeframe — usually before the suspension takes effect.

How Long Points Stay on Your Record

Points in Georgia remain on your driving record for 24 months from the date you were convicted of the violation, not from the date of the violation itself. After 24 months, the points are automatically removed from your record and no longer count toward a suspension.

This means that if you receive a speeding ticket in January and are convicted in March, the 24-month clock starts in March. The points will drop off in March of the following year. However, the violation itself may remain visible on your record longer than the points do — the violation history stays on file, but only the points expire.

Knowing when your points will expire helps you understand whether you are close to the 15-point suspension threshold. If you have 10 points and 3 of those points are set to expire in 2 months, you know you will drop to 7 points once that time passes.

Reducing Points Through Defensive Driving School

Georgia allows you to reduce points by completing an approved defensive driving course. If you successfully complete a course, you can have up to 7 points removed from your record. This is one of the few ways to actively lower your point total before the 24-month expiration date.

To use this option, you must have a valid license at the time you take the course, and you can only use defensive driving school once every 5 years. The course must be approved by the Georgia DDS — not all driving schools are approved, so you need to verify before enrolling. Most approved courses can be taken online and take 4 to 6 hours to complete.

After you complete the course, you will receive a certificate. You must submit this certificate to the Georgia DDS to have the points removed. The points do not come off automatically; you have to request the reduction. Processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after the DDS receives your certificate.

Checking Your Point Total and Driving Record

The only official way to know how many points are on your license is to request your driving record from the Georgia DDS. You can do this online through the DDS website, by mail, or in person at a DDS office. Online requests are usually processed within 1 to 3 business days, while mail requests take longer.

When you request your record, you will receive a document that lists every conviction on your record, the date of conviction, the violation type, and the points assigned. This is the same record that insurance companies and employers see when they run a background check on you.

You should request your record if you are unsure whether you are close to suspension, if you want to verify that points have been removed after 24 months, or if you are disputing a violation. Keeping a copy of your record on file helps you track your progress and plan whether to take a defensive driving course.

What Happens After a License Suspension for Points

Once your suspension period ends, you must take steps to restore your license. You cannot straightforward start driving again — you must formally request reinstatement from the Georgia DDS. The reinstatement process requires you to pay a reinstatement fee (the amount varies) and, in some cases, provide proof of insurance or pass a written test.

After reinstatement, your license is restored, but the points that caused the suspension remain on your record for the full 24 months from the date of conviction. This means you can be suspended again if you receive new violations and accumulate 15 points within the next 24 months. If you are suspended a second time within 5 years, the suspension period is longer and the reinstatement process may be more complex.

Many people who have been suspended find it helpful to take a defensive driving course after reinstatement, both to reduce any remaining points and to refresh their knowledge of safe driving practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get points removed before 24 months without taking a defensive driving course?

No. Points automatically expire after 24 months, and defensive driving school is the only way to remove them early. You cannot petition the DDS to remove points for any other reason, and traffic court judges cannot remove points as part of a sentence.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Georgia suspension?

Yes. Georgia counts violations from other states under the Interstate Compact agreement. If you are convicted of a violation in another state, those points transfer to your Georgia record and count toward the 15-point suspension threshold.

What is the difference between points and a ticket fine?

A ticket fine is the money penalty you pay to the court. Points are a separate record kept by the DDS that tracks your driving history. You can pay a fine and still have points on your record, or you can contest the ticket in court to try to avoid both the fine and the points.

If I take defensive driving school, will my insurance rates go down?

Removing points from your DDS record does not automatically lower insurance rates. However, some insurance companies offer discounts for completing a defensive driving course, regardless of points. You should contact your insurance company to ask whether they offer this discount.

How do I know if a driving school is approved by Georgia DDS?

The Georgia DDS website maintains a list of approved defensive driving schools. You can search by county or school name to verify that a course is approved before you enroll. Taking a course from a non-approved school will not result in points being removed from your record.