Vermont suspends a junior license after 4 points in a 12-month period

In Vermont, a junior license — issued to drivers aged 16 to 18 — is suspended automatically when you accumulate 4 or more points within 12 months. This is a lower threshold than for adult drivers, who face suspension at 10 points in a 12-month period or 12 points in a 24-month period.

The suspension is not optional. Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) tracks points from the date each violation occurred, and once you hit 4 points, your license is suspended when ready. You will receive a notice by mail, but the suspension takes effect whether or not you have opened the envelope.

Points stay on your record for 12 months from the violation date. This means a violation from January counts toward your total through January of the following year, then drops off. If you receive two violations in the same month, both points count toward the 4-point threshold, but they also drop off on different dates 12 months later.

Key Takeaways

  • Vermont suspends a junior license at 4 points within 12 months, compared to 10 points for adult drivers.
  • Points are tracked from the date of each violation, not the date you were convicted or paid a fine.
  • Violations drop off your record 12 months after the violation date, not 12 months after conviction.
  • The suspension is automatic — you do not have to do anything to trigger it, and you cannot request a hearing to prevent it based on points alone.
  • A junior license suspension lasts a minimum of 30 days, and you must meet specific conditions before you can request reinstatement.

What violations add points to a junior license

Not every traffic ticket adds points. Moving violations — those involving how you operate the vehicle — add points. Parking tickets, equipment violations (like a broken taillight), and some administrative violations do not.

Common violations that add points include speeding, running a red light or stop sign, improper passing, unsafe lane changes, and following too closely. A single speeding ticket might be 2 or 3 points depending on how far over the limit you were. A reckless driving conviction is typically 4 points by itself, which alone would suspend a junior license.

You can find the point value of a specific violation on your citation or on the Vermont DMV website. If you are unsure whether a violation you received adds points, contact the DMV directly at (802) 828-2000 or visit your local DMV office with your citation.

How the 12-month counting period works

Vermont counts points within a rolling 12-month window, not a calendar year. This means the clock starts on the date of each violation, not January 1st.

For example: if you received a 2-point violation on March 15 and another 2-point violation on April 10, you would have 4 points on April 10 and your license would be suspended that day. The March violation would drop off on March 15 of the following year, and the April violation would drop off on April 10 of the following year. If you received no new violations between those dates, you would have only 2 points from April 10 through April 10 of the next year.

This rolling system means you cannot straightforward wait until January 1st for points to disappear. You must wait 12 months from each individual violation date.

What happens when your junior license is suspended

A suspension means you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Vermont and carries fines, jail time, and additional license penalties.

The suspension lasts a minimum of 30 days. After 30 days, you can request reinstatement, but you must meet certain conditions first. You must pay a reinstatement fee (currently $95 as of 2024, though this may change) and provide proof that you have completed a driver improvement course or other requirement the DMV specifies in your suspension notice.

During the suspension, you cannot drive at all — not for work, school, or emergencies. Vermont does not issue hardship licenses or work permits for point-based suspensions of junior licenses. If you need to drive, you must wait until the suspension is lifted and you have been reinstated.

Reinstatement after a junior license suspension

To get your license back after a suspension, you must contact the Vermont DMV and request reinstatement. You cannot straightforward show up and drive again.

The DMV will tell you what you need to do before reinstatement. This often includes completing a driver improvement course, which costs money and takes several hours. Some courses are offered online, while others are in-person. You must complete the course before you submit your reinstatement request.

Once you have completed the required course and paid the reinstatement fee, submit your request to the DMV. Processing typically takes one to two weeks. Your license will be reinstated on the date the DMV approves your request, and you can drive again when ready.

How to avoid reaching 4 points

The most direct way to avoid suspension is to not receive moving violations. However, if you have already received citations, you have limited options.

In some cases, you may be able to contest a citation in traffic court. If you believe the violation was issued in error or if you have a valid defense, you can request a hearing. If the court finds in your favor, the violation is dismissed and no points are added. If you lose, the points are added as if you had not contested it.

You cannot remove points through a defensive driving course or any other means once they are on your record. Vermont does not offer point reduction programs for junior drivers. Your only path forward is to wait for violations to age off your record after 12 months, or to request a hearing to contest the violation itself.

The difference between junior and adult license suspension thresholds

Vermont treats junior drivers more strictly than adult drivers because the state recognizes that inexperienced drivers pose a higher crash risk. An adult driver can accumulate up to 10 points in 12 months or 12 points in 24 months before suspension. A junior driver is suspended at 4 points in 12 months — one-quarter of the adult threshold.

This difference reflects Vermont's graduated licensing system, which imposes stricter rules on younger drivers and gradually relaxes them as drivers age and gain experience. Once you turn 18 and your junior license expires, you will be issued an adult license, and the point threshold will increase to 10 points in 12 months.

If you have points on your record when you turn 18, those points carry over to your adult license. However, they will be counted under the adult threshold, not the junior threshold, going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a warning before my junior license is suspended?

No. Vermont suspends your license automatically when you reach 4 points. You will receive a notice in the mail after the suspension takes effect, but the suspension is not conditional on you reading it or acknowledging it. The DMV does not send a warning before the fourth point is added.

Can I get my junior license back before 30 days?

No. Vermont law requires a minimum 30-day suspension for point-based suspensions. You cannot request reinstatement before that period has passed, and there is no hardship exception for junior drivers.

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

If you are cited for a moving violation while your license is suspended, that violation will add points to your record. When your license is reinstated, those points will be counted toward the 4-point threshold. You could be suspended again when ready if you have accumulated 4 or more points by that time.

Do points from before I turned 16 count?

No. Points are tracked separately for junior and adult licenses. Violations you received before your junior license was issued do not count. However, violations you receive while holding a junior license will carry over to your adult license when you turn 18.

Can I contest a violation to avoid points?

Yes. You can request a hearing in traffic court to contest the violation. If the court dismisses the citation, no points are added. If the court finds you guilty, the points are added. Contesting a violation does not may provide it will be dismissed — it depends on the evidence and the judge's decision.