Virginia suspends your license when you reach 18 points in a 12-month period
Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles uses a point system to track driving violations. Each violation you receive adds a certain number of points to your record. When your points total reaches 18 within any 12-month rolling period, the DMV will suspend your license automatically. This is not a warning or a fine — it is a mandatory suspension that prevents you from driving legally.
The 12-month window is important to understand. It is not a calendar year. Instead, it is a rolling 12 months: if you get a violation today, that violation counts toward your total for the next 12 months from today. Once 12 months pass from the date of that violation, those points drop off your record and no longer count toward suspension.
Understanding which violations carry how many points, and how long points stay on your record, helps you see how quickly suspension can happen and what you might do to avoid it.
Key Takeaways
- Your license suspends automatically when you accumulate 18 points within a 12-month rolling period; Virginia does not give you a chance to stop before the suspension takes effect.
- Common violations like speeding 1–9 mph over the limit cost 3 points, while reckless driving costs 6 points and hit-and-run costs 12 points.
- Points remain on your record for 3 to 5 years depending on the violation, but only violations within the past 12 months count toward suspension.
- If you receive a suspension notice, you have the right to request a hearing before the DMV to challenge the suspension or present circumstances.
- Completing a defensive driving course can remove up to 5 points from your record, but only once every 12 months and only if you have not had a course removal in the past 5 years.
How points are assigned to common Virginia violations
Virginia assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Minor infractions carry fewer points; serious violations carry more. Here are the violations you are most likely to encounter and their point values:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–9 mph over the limit | 3 |
| Speeding 10–19 mph over the limit | 4 |
| Speeding 20+ mph over the limit | 6 |
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Improper lane change | 3 |
| Failure to obey traffic signal | 3 |
| Driving without a license | 6 |
| Hit-and-run (property damage) | 12 |
| Hit-and-run (injury or death) | 12 |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 6 |
A single serious violation — like hit-and-run or reckless driving — can put you two-thirds of the way to suspension. Multiple smaller violations add up quickly. If you receive three speeding tickets within 12 months, for example, you will have 9 points and be halfway to suspension.
How long points stay on your Virginia driving record
Points do not stay on your record forever, but they stay long enough to affect your insurance and your suspension risk. The length of time depends on the type of violation:
Minor violations (like speeding under 10 mph over the limit or improper lane change) stay on your record for 3 years. Serious violations (like reckless driving, DUI, or hit-and-run) stay for 5 years. Once the time period passes, those points are removed and no longer count toward suspension or appear on your record.
However, remember that only points from violations within the past 12 months count toward the 18-point suspension threshold. A violation from 18 months ago no longer counts toward suspension, even if it is still visible on your record for insurance purposes. This is why the rolling 12-month window matters: you might have points on your record from years ago, but they do not trigger suspension.
What happens when you reach 18 points
When the DMV determines that you have reached 18 points within a 12-month period, you will receive a suspension notice in the mail. This notice tells you the effective date of your suspension, which is usually 10 days after the notice is mailed. Your license is not valid after that date, and driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense.
The suspension itself lasts a minimum of 30 days for a first suspension. If you accumulate 18 points again within 5 years, a second suspension lasts 60 days. A third suspension within 5 years lasts 12 months. These periods are minimums; you cannot drive during the suspension period even if you believe you have paid fines or completed other requirements.
You do have the right to request a hearing before the DMV to challenge the suspension or present your circumstances. You must request this hearing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. At the hearing, you can argue that the points were assessed incorrectly, that you were not the driver, or that other factors should be considered. However, the DMV will not remove points straightforward because you ask; you must have a legal reason to challenge them.
Defensive driving courses and point removal
Virginia allows you to remove up to 5 points from your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. This is one of the only ways to actively reduce your point total before suspension happens. However, there are strict rules about when and how often you can use this option.
You can take a defensive driving course once every 12 months, and you can have points removed by a course only once every 5 years. This means if you took a course and had points removed in 2020, you cannot have points removed by another course until 2025, even if you take multiple courses in the meantime. The course must be approved by the Virginia DMV, and you will need to provide proof of completion to the DMV to request the point removal.
If you are close to 18 points and have not taken a course in the past 5 years, this is worth considering. Removing 5 points can buy you time and lower your insurance costs. However, it is not a solution if you are already at or above 18 points; the course removes points from your record, but it does not prevent a suspension that has already been triggered.
How to check your current point total
You can check how many points are on your Virginia driving record by visiting the DMV website or calling the DMV at 804-367-0538. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. You can also check in person at any DMV office. Knowing your current total helps you understand how close you are to suspension and whether a defensive driving course makes sense for your situation.
Your driving record also shows the date each violation occurred and when each violation will drop off your record. This helps you see which violations are still counting toward the 18-point threshold and which are about to age out. If you are at 15 points and a 3-point violation is about to turn 12 months old, for example, you know that suspension risk will decrease once that violation ages off.
Reinstating your license after suspension
Once your suspension period ends, your license does not automatically come back. You must reinstate it by paying a reinstatement fee to the DMV. The fee is $175 for a first suspension, $250 for a second suspension within 5 years, and $350 for a third suspension within 5 years. You must pay this fee before you can legally drive again.
You can reinstate your license online through the DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. Once you have paid the fee and your suspension period has ended, your license is valid again. However, your points remain on your record, and if you continue to receive violations, you can accumulate points toward a second suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive during my suspension if I have a hardship license?
Virginia does not issue hardship licenses for point-based suspensions. If your license is suspended for reaching 18 points, you cannot drive during the suspension period except in very limited circumstances determined by the court. You must wait until the suspension period ends and you have paid the reinstatement fee.
If I get a ticket dismissed in court, do the points go away?
Yes. If a ticket is dismissed, found not guilty, or nolle prossed (the charge is dropped), no points are assessed. If points were already added to your record before the dismissal, you can request that the DMV remove them once you provide proof of the dismissal. Contact the DMV with a copy of the court order.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Virginia suspension?
Yes. Virginia counts violations from other states if they are reported through the Interstate Compact. Most states report serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Minor violations may not be reported. If you receive a violation out of state, check with the Virginia DMV to see if it has been added to your record.
What if I am close to 18 points — should I take a defensive driving course?
If you have not taken a course in the past 5 years and you are at 13 or more points, a defensive driving course can remove up to 5 points and lower your suspension risk. However, it costs money and takes time. If you are already at 18 points, a course will not prevent suspension, but it may help you avoid a second suspension if you take it after reinstatement.
Can I appeal my suspension if I think the points were wrong?
Yes. You have 10 days from the date the suspension notice is mailed to request a hearing before the DMV. At the hearing, you can argue that points were assessed incorrectly or that violations should not have been reported. You will need evidence to support your claim, such as court records or proof that you were not the driver.