Virginia suspends your license when you reach 18 points within 12 months

Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles uses a demerit point system to track traffic violations. Each violation adds points to your driving record. When your total reaches 18 points in any 12-month period, the DMV will suspend your license automatically. The suspension lasts a minimum of 30 days for a first offense, but can extend longer depending on how far over 18 points you go and whether you have prior suspensions.

The 12-month window is a rolling period, not a calendar year. This means the DMV counts backward 12 months from today. If you received a violation 13 months ago, those points drop off the calculation. If you received one 11 months ago, they still count toward your total.

You do not receive a warning letter when you approach 18 points. The DMV sends suspension notice by mail to the address on your license, usually 10 to 14 days before the suspension takes effect. If you move and do not update your address with the DMV, you may not receive the notice until after your license is already suspended.

Key Takeaways

  • Virginia suspends your license when you accumulate 18 or more points within any 12-month rolling period.
  • Different violations carry different point values—a reckless driving charge is 6 points, while a speeding ticket is typically 3 to 6 points depending on how far over the limit you were.
  • The DMV mails suspension notice to your registered address, so updating your address after a move is critical to receiving the notice in time.
  • A first suspension lasts at least 30 days, but the length increases if you accumulate significantly more than 18 points or have prior suspensions on your record.

How Virginia assigns points to different violations

Not all traffic violations carry the same point value. Virginia's DMV assigns points based on how serious the violation is and how much danger it creates on the road. The most common violations and their point values are listed below.

Speeding violations range from 3 to 6 points depending on how far over the speed limit you were driving. Speeding 1 to 9 miles per hour over the limit is 3 points. Speeding 10 to 19 miles per hour over is 4 points. Speeding 20 to 29 miles per hour over is 5 points. Speeding 30 miles per hour or more over the limit is 6 points. Reckless driving in Virginia is a criminal charge, not just a traffic violation, and carries 6 points on its own. Improper lane changes, failure to yield, and following too closely are each 3 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license adds 6 points. Hit-and-run violations add 6 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) adds 6 points, though a DUI conviction also triggers a separate administrative license suspension that happens before the point suspension.

Points remain on your driving record for 3 years from the date of the violation, even if your license is not suspended. However, only points from the past 12 months count toward the 18-point suspension threshold. This means a violation from 2 years ago still shows on your record but does not push you toward suspension.

What happens when you reach 18 points

When the DMV calculates that you have reached 18 points in a 12-month period, it issues a suspension order. The order is mailed to your address on file. The suspension typically takes effect 10 to 14 days after the notice is mailed, giving you time to receive it and arrange your driving situation.

The length of your first suspension depends on how many points you have accumulated. If you have exactly 18 to 23 points, your license is suspended for 30 days. If you have 24 to 29 points, the suspension is 60 days. If you have 30 or more points, the suspension is 90 days. These are minimum lengths; the DMV may impose a longer suspension if you have prior suspensions or if your violations show a pattern of dangerous driving.

During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Virginia and carries fines, jail time, and additional points on your record. If you are caught driving during suspension, you face a Class 2 misdemeanor charge, which can result in up to 6 months in jail and a $250 fine for a first offense.

How to check your current point total

You can view your driving record and current point total through the Virginia DMV website or by visiting a DMV office in person. To check online, go to the DMV's official website and select "Driving Records." You will need to provide your driver's license number, date of birth, and Social Security number. The online record shows all violations from the past 3 years and your current point total.

If you prefer to check in person, visit any Virginia DMV location with your driver's license. Staff can print your record on the spot. There is no fee to view your own record. If you want an official certified copy of your record to send to an insurance company or court, the DMV charges a small fee, usually $7 to $10.

Checking your record regularly—especially after receiving a traffic ticket—helps you track whether you are approaching the 18-point threshold. If you are close, you may want to explore options like traffic school or contesting the violation in court before additional violations push you over the limit.

Options if you are approaching suspension

If you have accumulated 12 or more points in the past 12 months, you are at risk of suspension with just a few more violations. Virginia offers a few paths to reduce your point total before suspension occurs.

Traffic school (Driver Improvement Course) is the most direct option. Completing an approved Driver Improvement Course removes 5 points from your record. You can take this course once every 12 months. The course is typically 4 to 6 hours long and can be taken online or in person. The cost ranges from $50 to $150 depending on the provider. You must have a valid license to enroll, and you cannot use traffic school to reduce points from a reckless driving conviction or a DUI.

Contesting a violation in traffic court is another option. If you believe a ticket was issued in error or if you have a valid defense, you can request a court date and present your case to a judge. If the judge finds in your favor, the violation is dismissed and no points are added to your record. This requires time and sometimes legal representation, but it removes the violation entirely rather than just reducing points.

If you have already been suspended, you cannot use traffic school to reduce points during the suspension period. You must wait until your license is reinstated.

Reinstating your license after suspension

To reinstate your license after a suspension ends, you must visit a Virginia DMV office in person. You cannot reinstate online or by mail. Bring your driver's license (if you still have it) and a valid form of identification. There is a reinstatement fee of $145. Some suspensions also require you to pass a written knowledge test or vision test before reinstatement; the DMV will specify this in your suspension notice.

If your suspension was due to accumulating points, the DMV may also require you to complete a Driver Improvement Course before reinstatement. This is separate from the optional course you can take to reduce points. The required course is typically 8 hours and covers safe driving practices and Virginia traffic laws. You must complete this course before your reinstatement appointment.

After reinstatement, your point total resets to zero for the purpose of calculating the next suspension. However, all violations remain on your 3-year driving record. If you accumulate 18 points again within 12 months of reinstatement, you face a second suspension, which lasts 60 days minimum (compared to 30 days for a first suspension).

How points affect your insurance and driving record

Points on your Virginia driving record are visible to insurance companies. Most insurers review your record when you renew your policy or when you switch insurers. Each point typically increases your premium by 5 to 10 percent, though the exact increase varies by insurer and the type of violation. A single 6-point reckless driving charge can raise your premium by 30 percent or more.

Points also affect your insurability. If you accumulate too many points, some insurers will not renew your policy. You may be forced to switch to a high-risk insurer, which charges significantly higher premiums. In Virginia, if you cannot find an insurer willing to cover you, you can request coverage through the Virginia FAIR Plan, which is a last-resort insurer of record.

Points remain on your record for 3 years from the violation date. After 3 years, the violation and its points drop off your record entirely. However, if you are convicted of a serious violation like DUI or reckless driving, that conviction may stay on your criminal record longer and affect your insurability even after the points expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get points removed from my record without taking traffic school?

Points drop off your record automatically after 3 years from the violation date. Before that, traffic school is the only way to remove 5 points at a time. Contesting a violation in court removes the violation entirely, but this requires proving the ticket was issued in error or that you have a valid legal defense.

What if I get a ticket while my license is already suspended?

Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense. You will face additional charges, fines, and jail time on top of the existing suspension. When your suspension ends and you reinstate your license, the new violation's points will be added to your record and may trigger another suspension when ready.

Does paying a ticket mean I have to accept the points?

Paying a ticket is the same as pleading guilty to the violation. The points are automatically added to your record. If you want to avoid points, you must contest the ticket in court or request traffic school before paying. Some courts allow you to defer the ticket or reduce the charge if you complete traffic school, but you must request this before paying.

How long does a suspension stay on my record?

The suspension itself does not appear on your driving record after it ends. However, the violations that caused the suspension remain on your record for 3 years. Insurance companies can see that you had a suspension by reviewing your full driving history, even after the suspension is over.

Can I get a hardship license during suspension?

Virginia does not issue hardship or restricted licenses for point-based suspensions. You cannot legally drive during the suspension period, even for work or medical appointments. If you need to drive during suspension, you must wait for the suspension to end and then reinstate your license at a DMV office.