Arizona suspends your license when you reach 8 points within 12 months, 12 points within 24 months, or 18 points within 36 months
Arizona's Department of Transportation (ADOT) tracks moving violations on your driving record using a point system. Each violation carries a specific point value — a speeding ticket might be 3 points, while reckless driving is 8 points. When your total reaches certain thresholds within defined time windows, ADOT automatically suspends your license. You do not have to be convicted in court for points to count; ADOT records them based on the citation itself.
The suspension is mandatory and happens without a hearing or warning letter. ADOT mails you a notice of suspension, and your license becomes invalid on the date specified in that notice. You cannot drive legally during the suspension period, even with a restricted license, unless you request a hearing and win it — which is rare and requires showing that the violation was not yours or that the point calculation was wrong.
Key Takeaways
- You lose your license at 8 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 18 points in 36 months — whichever threshold you hit first.
- Points stay on your record for three years from the violation date, so an old ticket can still count toward suspension if you get new violations.
- Traffic school can remove up to 3 points from one violation per year, but only if you were not speeding more than 10 mph over the limit and had no prior violations in the past 12 months.
- A suspension typically lasts 30 days for the first offense, 60 days for the second, and 90 days for the third within a five-year period.
- You can request a hearing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice, but you must show the violation was not yours or the points were miscalculated.
How Points Are Assigned to Common Arizona Violations
Arizona assigns points based on the severity of the violation and whether it involved an accident. Speeding carries 1 to 3 points depending on how far over the limit you were going. Unsafe lane changes, following too closely, and failure to obey traffic signals are typically 3 points each. Reckless driving, aggressive driving, and driving with a suspended license are 8 points. Violations that cause an accident add 2 extra points to the base violation.
Some violations do not carry points at all — parking tickets, equipment violations, and seatbelt violations are examples. However, serious offenses like DUI, hit-and-run, and driving under the influence of drugs carry 8 points and often trigger suspension on their own, even if you have no other violations.
You can view your current point total by logging into your ADOT account online or calling ADOT's Customer Services Bureau. Knowing your point balance is important because you can see how close you are to suspension and plan accordingly.
The Three Time Windows That Trigger Suspension
Arizona uses three overlapping time periods to count points. The first is 12 months: if you accumulate 8 or more points within any 12-month period, your license is suspended. The second is 24 months: 12 or more points within 24 months triggers suspension. The third is 36 months: 18 or more points within 36 months triggers suspension. You are subject to all three rules at once, so hitting any one of these thresholds will result in suspension.
The time windows are rolling, not calendar-based. If you get a violation on January 15, 2024, the 12-month window runs from January 15, 2024 to January 14, 2025. If you get another violation on January 20, 2025, a new 12-month window opens on that date. Points from the first violation still count toward the second window because it falls within 24 months of the first violation.
Once a violation is three years old, it no longer counts toward any suspension threshold. However, it remains on your driving record and can affect insurance rates and future hiring decisions.
Traffic School and Point Reduction
Arizona allows you to remove up to 3 points from one violation per year by completing a traffic school course. However, you are only may be able to access if the violation was for speeding no more than 10 mph over the posted limit, and you had no other violations in the 12 months before the violation you want to reduce. You must also have a valid driver's license at the time you request traffic school.
You can request traffic school within 30 days of receiving your citation. Some courts allow you to request it in person, by mail, or online; check your citation or contact the court listed on it. The course typically costs between $50 and $150 and takes 4 to 8 hours to complete, either in person or online. Once you finish, the court sends proof of completion to ADOT, which removes the 3 points.
Traffic school can only be used once per year, so if you get two speeding tickets in the same year, you can reduce only one of them. It also cannot be used for violations that caused an accident or for serious offenses like reckless driving or DUI.
Suspension Length and Reinstatement Requirements
Your first suspension lasts 30 days. If you are suspended again within five years, the second suspension is 60 days. A third suspension within five years is 90 days. The five-year period resets after you go five years without a suspension.
To reinstate your license after suspension, you must pay a reinstatement fee to ADOT. This fee is $100 for a standard suspension. You must also wait out the full suspension period — you cannot drive during this time, even with a restricted license. Some people obtain an ignition interlock device to shorten the suspension, but this is typically only available for DUI-related suspensions, not point-based suspensions.
After you pay the reinstatement fee and the suspension period ends, your license is automatically reinstated. You do not need to retake the written or driving test. However, if your license has expired during the suspension, you will need to renew it before you can drive.
Requesting a Hearing to Challenge Suspension
You have 10 days from the date on the suspension notice to request a hearing with ADOT. The hearing is your only chance to stop the suspension before it takes effect. To request one, you must mail or hand-deliver a written request to the ADOT office listed on your suspension notice. Email and phone requests are not accepted.
At the hearing, you can argue that the violation was not yours (for example, someone else was driving your car), that ADOT miscalculated your points, or that the citation was issued in error. You cannot argue that the law is unfair or that you did not know about the point system. You can bring documents, witness statements, or other evidence to support your case.
If you win the hearing, ADOT cancels the suspension. If you lose, the suspension takes effect as originally scheduled. Winning a hearing is uncommon because ADOT has the citation on file and the burden is on you to prove it was wrong. Many people hire a traffic attorney to represent them at the hearing, though it is not required.
How to Monitor Your Points and Avoid Suspension
Check your driving record at least twice a year by visiting the ADOT website or calling their Customer Services Bureau at 602-255-0072. Your record shows every violation from the past three years, the points assigned to each, and your current total. Knowing where you stand helps you make decisions about traffic school or defensive driving courses.
If you are close to a suspension threshold, traffic school is your most direct option to reduce points. Even if you are not yet close, taking a defensive driving course (which does not remove points but may lower insurance rates) can help you avoid future violations. Some insurance companies offer discounts for completing these courses.
If you receive a citation, read it carefully and note the violation code and point value. If you believe the citation is wrong, you can contest it in traffic court before points are recorded. Once the citation is final, the points are locked in and can only be removed through traffic school or by waiting three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with a suspended license if I have a work permit?
No. Arizona does not issue work permits for point-based suspensions. A restricted license is only available for certain DUI-related suspensions. During a point-based suspension, you cannot drive at all, even to work or medical appointments.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Arizona suspension?
Yes. If you were licensed in Arizona when you received an out-of-state violation, ADOT records the points on your Arizona record. The point value is based on Arizona's scale, not the other state's scale. If you were not an Arizona resident at the time, the violation typically does not transfer.
What happens if I get a violation while my license is already suspended?
You will face additional charges for driving with a suspended license, which is an 8-point violation itself. This can lead to criminal charges, vehicle impoundment, and a longer suspension period. Do not drive during a suspension under any circumstances.
Can I remove points by taking a defensive driving course instead of traffic school?
No. Defensive driving courses do not remove points in Arizona. Traffic school is the only way to remove points, and it is limited to one violation per year under specific conditions. Defensive driving courses may lower your insurance rates, but they do not affect your point total.
How long does it take ADOT to process a reinstatement after I pay the fee?
Your license is reinstated when ready after you pay the reinstatement fee and the suspension period has ended. You can drive the same day. If you pay before the suspension period ends, your license will not be reinstated until the full suspension time has passed.