California suspends your license when you reach 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses a point system to track traffic violations. Each violation adds points to your record. When you hit the threshold for your time period, the DMV will suspend your license automatically — you do not have to be convicted in court for this to happen. The suspension is separate from any criminal penalties or fines.

The thresholds depend on how long you have been driving and what type of license you hold. A standard driver gets suspended at 4 points within 12 months. If you are a commercial driver or a driver under 18, the thresholds are lower. Points stay on your record for 36 months from the violation date, but only violations within the current 12-, 24-, or 36-month window count toward suspension.

A suspension is not permanent. The DMV will lift it once you meet the requirements — usually after a waiting period and proof that you have completed a traffic safety course. However, if you accumulate points again after a suspension, a second suspension can happen faster and last longer.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard drivers lose their license at 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months.
  • Commercial drivers and drivers under 18 face lower thresholds and lose their license sooner.
  • Points come from traffic violations, accidents you caused, and some criminal convictions — not from parking tickets.
  • A suspension is temporary; you can request a hearing and may be able to reduce points through traffic school.
  • Violations drop off your record 36 months after the date they occurred, but the DMV counts points within the active window.

How points are assigned for common violations

Not every traffic violation adds the same number of points. Minor infractions like speeding 1 to 15 miles per hour over the limit cost 1 point. Speeding 16 miles per hour or more over the limit, running a red light, or unsafe lane changes each add 1 point. Reckless driving adds 2 points.

At-fault accidents add 1 point each, even if no citation was issued. If you caused an accident and received a citation for the violation that caused it — such as unsafe speed — you get points for the citation, not double points. Hit-and-run, driving under the influence (DUI), and vehicular assault each add 2 points and carry much heavier consequences beyond the point system.

Parking tickets, fix-it tickets (equipment violations you corrected), and violations you fought in court and won do not add points. If you were cited but the charge was dismissed, reduced, or you were found not guilty, no points are recorded.

Different thresholds for commercial drivers and young drivers

If you hold a commercial driver's license (CDL), you lose your license at 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months — the same as a standard driver. However, violations committed while driving a commercial vehicle count separately and can trigger suspension faster. You can also lose your CDL for violations committed in a personal vehicle if they are serious enough.

Drivers under 18 face stricter rules. You lose your license at 4 points in 12 months, just like an adult, but the DMV may also suspend your license for a single serious violation — such as reckless driving, DUI, or a speed contest — even if you have no prior points. Additionally, if you are under 18 and receive a citation for a violation, your parent or guardian is notified by mail.

Drivers aged 18 to 19 have a middle ground: they lose their license at 4 points in 12 months, but some violations (like DUI or reckless driving) can trigger suspension on their own without waiting for a point threshold.

What happens when you reach the suspension threshold

When you hit the point threshold, the DMV sends you a notice of suspension by mail. The notice tells you the suspension start date, how long it will last, and what you must do to get your license back. A first suspension typically lasts 6 months for a standard driver, though it can be shorter if you complete a traffic safety course before the suspension begins.

You have the right to request a hearing before the suspension takes effect. You must request it within 10 days of the notice date. At the hearing, you can argue that the points were recorded in error, that a violation should not have been cited, or that you have circumstances the DMV should consider. However, the hearing officer will not dismiss points straightforward because you think the fine was unfair or the stop was inconvenient.

If you do not request a hearing, or if the hearing upholds the suspension, your license is suspended on the date listed in the notice. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense and can result in arrest, fines, and jail time.

How to reduce points through traffic school

California allows you to mask one point by completing an approved traffic safety course, usually called traffic school or defensive driving school. This does not erase the point from your record, but it hides it from the DMV's point count for suspension purposes. You can mask one point once every 18 months.

To be may be able to access, you must have been cited for a non-criminal traffic violation (speeding, running a red light, unsafe lane change, and similar infractions may have access to). You cannot mask points from DUI, reckless driving, hit-and-run, or violations that caused an accident. You also cannot mask a point if you have masked a point in the past 18 months.

You must request traffic school before your court date or by the important date listed on your citation. If the court approves your request, you pay the course fee (typically $50 to $100) and complete the course, usually online. Once you finish, the course provider reports completion to the court and the DMV. The point is masked when ready and does not count toward suspension.

When points drop off your record

Points remain on your driving record for 36 months (3 years) from the violation date. After 36 months, the DMV removes the point entirely — it no longer appears on your record and does not count toward any future suspension threshold. However, the DMV still keeps a record that the violation occurred; it just does not assign points to it.

This matters because the DMV looks at points within rolling time windows. If you received a violation 35 months ago and get another violation today, the old violation still counts because it is within the 36-month window. But if you received a violation 37 months ago, it does not count, even if you get another violation today.

Some violations, such as DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run, stay on your record longer than 36 months for insurance and criminal purposes, but they stop counting toward DMV suspension after 36 months.

How to reinstate your license after suspension

To get your license back after a suspension, you must wait out the suspension period and then meet the DMV's reinstatement requirements. For a first suspension, you typically must wait 6 months, then pay a reinstatement fee (currently $100 to $200, depending on the reason for suspension) and provide proof of financial responsibility — usually an SR-22 form from your insurance company.

If you caused an accident or received a DUI, the DMV requires an SR-22, which is a certificate proving you carry liability insurance. Your insurance company files this with the DMV at no extra cost once you ask for it. Without an SR-22, the DMV will not reinstate your license.

You must also show that you have completed a traffic safety course if the DMV requires it. Once you have met all requirements, you can visit a DMV office or explore online to reinstate your license. Reinstatement usually takes a few days to a few weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my license back before the suspension ends?

Not before the waiting period, but you can reduce the suspension length by completing a traffic safety course before the suspension starts. Some first suspensions can be reduced from 6 months to 3 months this way. You cannot shorten a suspension that has already begun.

Do I lose my license when ready when I get a ticket?

No. A ticket adds points to your record, but your license is only suspended when you reach the threshold for your time window. The DMV sends you a notice first, and you have 10 days to request a hearing. Your license is suspended on the date listed in the notice, not on the date you received the ticket.

What if I was cited but the charge was dismissed?

If the charge was dismissed, reduced, or you were found not guilty in court, no points are added to your record. You should ask the court to send a certified copy of the dismissal to the DMV to make sure the point is not recorded by mistake.

Can I mask multiple points at once?

No. You can mask one point per traffic school course, and you can only take traffic school once every 18 months. If you have 3 points, you would need to take traffic school three separate times over 36 months to mask all of them — and only if you remain may be able to access each time.

Does a DUI count as points toward suspension?

Yes. A DUI adds 2 points to your record and counts toward the suspension threshold. However, a DUI also triggers an automatic license suspension separate from the point system — the DMV suspends your license for 6 months to 1 year based on the DUI alone, regardless of other points on your record.