Indiana suspends your license when you reach 12 points within a rolling 24-month period

In Indiana, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) tracks points on your driving record. When your total reaches 12 points in any 24-month window, your license is automatically suspended. This is not a warning or a fine — it is a mandatory suspension that takes effect whether you expect it or not.

The suspension lasts a minimum of 30 days for a first suspension. If you accumulate points again after your license is reinstated, a second suspension within five years lasts 60 days. A third suspension within five years lasts 180 days. Each suspension requires you to pay a reinstatement fee and meet other conditions before you can drive legally again.

Points stay on your record for two years from the date of the violation, not from the date you paid the ticket. This means a ticket from January 2023 stops counting toward suspension in January 2025, even if you paid it months later.

Key Takeaways

  • Twelve points within 24 months triggers an automatic suspension; Indiana does not give you a choice or a grace period.
  • Points are assigned based on the violation itself, not on how fast you were going or how serious the accident was — a speeding ticket is always the same number of points.
  • Your first suspension lasts 30 days minimum, your second lasts 60 days, and your third lasts 180 days, with reinstatement fees required each time.
  • Points expire two years after the violation date, so older tickets stop counting even if you are still paying them off.

How Indiana assigns points to different violations

Not every traffic violation adds the same number of points. Indiana groups violations by severity, and the BMV assigns points accordingly. A minor violation like an unsafe lane change is 2 points. A moderate violation like speeding 1–15 mph over the limit is 2 points. Speeding 16–25 mph over the limit is 4 points. Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit is 6 points.

More serious violations carry higher points. Reckless driving is 4 points. Improper passing is 4 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is 6 points. At-fault accidents where you caused injury or property damage are typically 4 points, though the exact number depends on the circumstances. Driving under the influence (DUI) or operating while intoxicated (OWI) is 8 points on its own, meaning you are two-thirds of the way to suspension with a single conviction.

If you receive a ticket, the ticket itself or the court paperwork will show how many points the violation carries. You can also call the BMV at 317-615-7293 or visit their website to look up your current point total.

The 24-month rolling window explained

The 24-month window is rolling, which means it moves forward with time. It is not a calendar year. If you received a ticket on March 15, 2024, that violation counts toward suspension until March 15, 2026. On March 16, 2026, it stops counting, even if you are still paying the fine.

This matters because you can accumulate points, have some of them age out, and then accumulate more without hitting 12. For example: you get a 4-point ticket in January 2024. In June 2024, you get another 4-point ticket. In December 2024, you get a third 4-point ticket. At that moment, you have 12 points and your license is suspended. But if you had waited until January 2025 to get that third ticket, the first ticket would have aged out, and you would have only 8 points.

The BMV tracks this automatically. You do not have to calculate it yourself, but understanding how it works helps you see why a ticket you received months ago still matters today.

What happens when you reach 12 points

The suspension is automatic. You do not receive a warning first, and you do not get to choose when it starts. The BMV sends you a notice by mail, usually within two weeks of the violation that pushed you over 12 points. The notice tells you when your suspension begins and how long it lasts.

Your suspension begins on the date shown in the notice, not on the date you receive it. If you continue to drive after that date, you are driving with a suspended license, which is a separate criminal offense in Indiana and carries its own penalties, including jail time and additional fines.

To reinstate your license after the suspension period ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee (currently $50 in Indiana, though this can change) and provide proof that you have met any other conditions, such as completing a defensive driving course if the BMV required it. You cannot straightforward wait out the 30 days and start driving again — you must actively reinstate your license through the BMV.

How to check your current point total

You can look up your driving record and point total through the Indiana BMV in three ways. The fastest is online: visit the BMV website at in.gov/bmv, log in with your driver's license number and date of birth, and view your record when ready. You can also call the BMV at 317-615-7293 during business hours and speak to a representative who will read your record to you over the phone.

The third option is to visit a BMV branch in person and request a copy of your driving record. There is a small fee for a printed record, but it is useful if you need documentation for insurance, an employer, or your own records. Bring your driver's license and be prepared to wait, as branch visits can take time during busy hours.

Check your record at least once a year, especially if you have received any tickets. Errors do happen — a ticket might be recorded under the wrong violation code, or points might be applied twice by mistake. If you spot an error, contact the BMV when ready with proof of the correct information, such as a court document or a copy of the ticket.

Suspensions for other reasons beyond points

Reaching 12 points is not the only way your license gets suspended in Indiana. Your license can also be suspended for failing to pay child support, failing to pay court-ordered fines, failing to appear in court, or accumulating too many unpaid parking tickets. Some of these suspensions are handled by different agencies — the Indiana Department of Revenue handles child support suspensions, for example — but the result is the same: you cannot legally drive.

If your license is suspended for a non-traffic reason, you will receive a notice from the relevant agency explaining why and what you must do to reinstate it. These suspensions often require you to resolve the underlying issue (pay the debt, appear in court, etc.) before the BMV will reinstate your license, even if you pay the reinstatement fee.

How to avoid reaching 12 points

The most obvious way is to avoid traffic violations. But if you do receive a ticket, you have options that can reduce or eliminate the points. In Indiana, you can request a traffic safety school or defensive driving course for certain violations. Completing the course removes up to 4 points from your record, though you can only use this option once every 24 months.

You can also contest the ticket in court. If you believe the officer made an error or if you have evidence that you did not commit the violation, you can request a hearing. If the court finds in your favor, the ticket is dismissed and no points are added. If you lose, the points are added as normal, but you have not lost anything by trying.

Some violations cannot be reduced through traffic school — DUI and reckless driving, for example. For these, your only option is to contest the ticket in court or accept the points and the suspension if you accumulate enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to work during my 30-day suspension?

No. A suspension means you cannot drive for any reason, including work, school, or emergencies. Some states offer "hardship licenses" that allow limited driving, but Indiana does not. You must find alternative transportation or wait until your license is reinstated.

Do points from out-of-state tickets count toward my Indiana suspension?

Yes. Indiana counts violations from other states through the Interstate Compact, an agreement between states to share driving records. A speeding ticket you received in Ohio or Kentucky will add points to your Indiana record and can contribute to suspension.

What if I pay my ticket before the points are added?

Paying the ticket does not remove the points. The points are added when the violation is recorded, not when you pay. Paying on time is important for avoiding additional fines and court costs, but it does not affect your point total.

How long does a suspension stay on my record?

The suspension itself stays on your record permanently, but the points that caused it age out after two years. After two years, those points no longer count toward a future suspension, though the suspension record remains visible on your driving history.

Can I get my license back early if I complete a driving course?

No. A defensive driving course can remove up to 4 points from your record, which might prevent a future suspension, but it cannot shorten a suspension that has already begun. You must wait out the full suspension period and then pay the reinstatement fee.