Georgia suspends your license when you reach 15 points within a 24-month period
Georgia's Department of Driver Services uses a point system to track traffic violations. Each violation adds a set number of points to your driving record. When your total reaches 15 points in any 24-month window, the state automatically suspends your license for a minimum of 30 days. This is not a warning or a fine — it is a mandatory suspension that prevents you from driving legally.
The 24-month period is a rolling window. If you get 10 points in January 2024 and 5 points in December 2024, you hit 15 points and face suspension. If you then get 2 more points in January 2025, those points count toward a new 24-month window starting in January 2025, but the January 2024 points drop off the calculation after 24 months have passed.
Georgia does not offer a points reduction program or a defensive driving course that erases points from your record. Points stay on your record for the full 24 months. The only way to avoid suspension is to stay below 15 points during any 24-month period.
Key Takeaways
- Fifteen points accumulated within 24 months triggers a mandatory license suspension in Georgia, with a minimum suspension period of 30 days.
- Each traffic violation carries a specific point value — for example, speeding 1–10 mph over the limit is 2 points, while reckless driving is 4 points.
- Georgia's point system uses a rolling 24-month window, so points from violations older than 24 months no longer count toward your total.
- You cannot reduce points through defensive driving courses or other programs; points remain on your record for the full 24-month period.
- The Department of Driver Services mails a suspension notice to your address on file, and you have the right to request a hearing before the suspension takes effect.
How Georgia assigns points to specific violations
Georgia assigns points based on the severity and type of violation. Minor infractions carry fewer points; serious violations carry more. The point values are set by state law and do not change based on your driving history or the circumstances of the violation.
Common violations and their point values include: speeding 1–10 mph over the limit (2 points), speeding 11–14 mph over the limit (3 points), speeding 15 mph or more over the limit (4 points), improper lane change (2 points), following too closely (3 points), failure to obey a traffic signal (3 points), reckless driving (4 points), and hit-and-run (6 points). Serious violations like driving under the influence (DUI) carry 4 points, though a DUI conviction also triggers an automatic license suspension separate from the point system.
If you receive a ticket, the citation itself will show the point value assigned to that violation. You can also check your driving record through the Georgia Department of Driver Services website or by requesting a copy in person or by mail. Your record shows every violation from the past three years and the points assigned to each one.
What happens when you reach 15 points
When the Department of Driver Services determines that you have accumulated 15 or more points within 24 months, the state issues a Notice of Suspension. This notice is mailed to the address on file with your driver's license. The notice includes the effective date of the suspension, the reason for the suspension, and your rights regarding the suspension.
Your license suspension becomes effective on the date stated in the notice, typically 10 to 15 days after the notice is mailed. During the suspension period, you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Georgia and can result in arrest, fines, and additional license suspension.
The minimum suspension period is 30 days. However, if you accumulate 15 points a second time within five years of a prior suspension, the suspension period increases to 60 days. A third suspension within five years results in a 12-month suspension. These escalating penalties explore only if you receive multiple suspensions within the five-year window.
Your right to request a hearing before suspension
Georgia law gives you the right to request a hearing before your license suspension takes effect. You must request the hearing in writing within 10 days of receiving the Notice of Suspension. The hearing is held before a hearing officer employed by the Department of Driver Services, not a judge.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points on your record are incorrect — for example, that a violation was dismissed in court or that the point value was miscalculated. You can also present evidence that you were not the driver at the time of a violation, though this is rare. The hearing officer will review your record and the evidence you present and will issue a written decision.
If the hearing officer finds that the points are correct and total 15 or more, the suspension will proceed as scheduled. If the officer finds an error in the point calculation or in the violations on your record, the suspension may be cancelled or delayed. Requesting a hearing does not automatically stop the suspension; it only gives you the chance to challenge the accuracy of the record before the suspension takes effect.
How to check your current point total
You can check your driving record and current point total through the Georgia Department of Driver Services. The easiest method is to visit the DDS website and use the online driving record lookup tool. You will need to provide your driver's license number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The online record is available when ready and shows all violations and points from the past three years.
You can also request a copy of your driving record by mail or in person at a DDS office. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days. In-person requests are processed the same day. There is a small fee for a paper copy of your record, though the online version is free.
Your record shows the date of each violation, the violation code, the point value, and the date the violation will drop off your record (24 months after the violation date). This allows you to see exactly how many points you currently have and when points from older violations will no longer count toward the 15-point threshold.
Steps to take if you receive a suspension notice
If you receive a Notice of Suspension, take these steps when ready:
- Check the notice for the effective date of the suspension and the violations listed. Verify that the violations and point values are correct by comparing them to your driving record.
- If you believe any violation is incorrect or was dismissed in court, gather documentation (court records, dismissal letters, or proof of payment) and request a hearing within 10 days of receiving the notice.
- If you do not dispute the suspension, arrange alternative transportation before the effective date. Driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense.
- After the suspension period ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the Department of Driver Services before your license is restored. The fee is typically $210, though it may vary.
- Once your license is reinstated, your point total resets to zero, but the violations remain on your record for three years.
How points drop off your record over time
Points remain on your Georgia driving record for 24 months from the date of the violation. After 24 months, the points no longer count toward the 15-point suspension threshold. However, the violation itself remains on your record for three years from the date of the violation.
This distinction matters because future employers, insurance companies, and courts can see violations on your record for three years, even though the points no longer affect your license status after 24 months. A violation that is 25 months old will not cause a suspension, but it will still appear on your driving record if someone requests it.
You cannot request early removal of points or violations from your record. The only exception is if a violation is dismissed or overturned in court — in that case, you can request that the violation be removed from your record entirely, which also removes the associated points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive during my suspension if I get a work permit?
Georgia does not issue work permits or hardship licenses for point-based suspensions. If your license is suspended due to accumulated points, you cannot legally drive for any reason during the suspension period. Your only option is to use alternative transportation or wait for the suspension to end.
What if I got a ticket but paid it without going to court — do the points still count?
Yes. Paying a ticket is an admission of guilt and does not remove the points. The violation and its points are recorded on your license regardless of whether you paid the fine or contested it in court. The only way to avoid points is to have the violation dismissed or overturned in court before you pay.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Georgia's 15-point suspension?
Yes. Georgia counts violations from other states under the Interstate Compact agreement. If you receive a ticket in another state, that violation and its points will appear on your Georgia driving record and count toward the 15-point threshold.
How much does it cost to reinstate my license after suspension?
The reinstatement fee in Georgia is typically $210, though you should confirm the current fee with the Department of Driver Services. You must pay this fee before your license is restored. If you cannot pay the fee, your license will remain suspended until you do.
If I get points after my suspension ends, do they start counting from zero again?
Yes. After your license is reinstated and you pay the reinstatement fee, your point total resets to zero. Any new violations you receive after reinstatement start a new 24-month window. However, violations from before the suspension may still be on your record if they have not yet reached the three-year mark.