Arkansas suspends your license when you reach 14 points in a 12-month period, or 20 points in a 24-month period

Arkansas uses a point system to track driving violations. Each traffic violation you receive adds points to your driving record. When you hit 14 points within 12 months, or 20 points within 24 months, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will suspend your license automatically. You do not have to be convicted in court for points to count — points are added when you receive the citation, whether you pay it, fight it, or plead guilty.

The suspension is not permanent. Once suspended, you can regain your license by waiting out the suspension period and meeting reinstatement requirements. However, the point threshold is lower than many states, so violations add up quickly in Arkansas.

Key Takeaways

  • You lose your license at 14 points in 12 months or 20 points in 24 months under Arkansas law.
  • Points are assigned based on the violation type, ranging from 1 point for minor infractions to 6 points for serious offenses like reckless driving.
  • Points stay on your record for three years from the date of the violation, but only violations within the 12-month or 24-month window count toward suspension.
  • You can reduce points by completing a defensive driving course, which removes up to 4 points from your record once every 12 months.
  • If your license is suspended, you must complete the suspension period and pay a reinstatement fee to the DFA before you can drive legally again.

How Points Are Assigned in Arkansas

Different violations carry different point values. A speeding ticket might be 3 points, while reckless driving is 6 points. Careless driving is 4 points. Failure to obey a traffic signal is 3 points. Driving without a license or with an expired license is 6 points. The more serious the violation, the more points you receive.

You can find the full point schedule on the Arkansas DFA website or ask the officer or court clerk when you receive a citation. If you are unsure how many points a specific violation carries, contact the court that issued the ticket — they can tell you the point value before you decide whether to pay or contest it.

The 12-Month and 24-Month Windows

Arkansas looks at two different time periods when deciding whether to suspend your license. If you accumulate 14 or more points in any 12-month period, your license is suspended. If you accumulate 20 or more points in any 24-month period, your license is also suspended. This means you could hit the 12-month threshold first and lose your license, or you could stay under 14 points per year but cross 20 points over two years.

The clock resets based on the violation date, not the date you paid the ticket or went to court. So if you received a ticket on January 15, 2024, that violation counts toward your 12-month window through January 14, 2025, and toward your 24-month window through January 14, 2026. Once the date passes, that violation no longer counts toward suspension, though it remains on your record for three years.

Defensive Driving Courses Can Reduce Points

Arkansas allows you to remove up to 4 points from your driving record by completing an approved defensive driving course. You can do this once every 12 months. The course must be approved by the Arkansas DFA, and you typically complete it online or in person. After you finish, the course provider sends proof of completion to the DFA, and the points are removed within a few weeks.

Taking a defensive driving course before you reach the suspension threshold is the most practical way to avoid losing your license. If you have 12 points and know another violation is likely, completing the course brings you back down to 8 points and gives you more room. However, if you are already suspended, a defensive driving course will not reinstate your license — you must complete the suspension period first.

What Happens When You Reach the Suspension Threshold

When you hit 14 points in 12 months or 20 points in 24 months, the DFA sends you a notice of suspension. The suspension becomes effective 10 days after the notice is mailed. You cannot legally drive during the suspension period, even with a valid license in your wallet. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, jail time, and additional points on your record.

The length of the suspension depends on how many times you have been suspended before. A first suspension is typically 6 months. A second suspension within five years is 12 months. A third or subsequent suspension is 24 months. If you are suspended for other reasons (like a DUI or failure to pay child support), those suspensions may run concurrently or consecutively with a point-based suspension, depending on the circumstances.

Reinstatement After Suspension

To regain your license after a point-based suspension, you must wait out the suspension period and then pay a reinstatement fee to the Arkansas DFA. The fee is $100 for a first suspension, $200 for a second, and $300 for a third or subsequent suspension. You also must provide proof that you have paid any outstanding traffic fines or court costs related to the violations that caused the suspension.

Once the suspension period ends and you have paid the fee, you can explore for reinstatement by visiting a DFA office in person or by mail. You will receive a new license with the same number. Your driving record will show the suspension, but you will be able to drive legally again. However, your points remain on your record for three years, so if you receive new violations, they will add to your existing points.

How to Check Your Current Points

You can request a copy of your driving record from the Arkansas DFA to see exactly how many points you have. You can order it online through the DFA website, by mail, or in person at a DFA office. The record shows every violation, the date it occurred, the point value, and when it will drop off your record. Ordering online is fastest and usually takes a few days.

Checking your record regularly is a good habit, especially if you have received multiple tickets. Knowing how close you are to the 14-point threshold gives you time to take a defensive driving course or be more cautious on the road before you lose your license. If you see an error on your record — a violation you do not remember or a point value that seems wrong — contact the DFA to dispute it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do points from out-of-state tickets count toward suspension in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas counts violations from other states through the Interstate Compact agreement. If you received a ticket in another state, that violation and its points are reported to Arkansas and added to your driving record. The point values may differ slightly by state, but Arkansas uses the point value from the state where the violation occurred.

Can I get my license back before the suspension period ends?

No. You must complete the full suspension period — 6 months for a first suspension, 12 months for a second, or 24 months for a third or more. There is no early reinstatement or hardship license option for point-based suspensions in Arkansas, though you may be able to request a work permit in limited circumstances if you can show the suspension causes extreme hardship. Contact the DFA to ask about this option.

What if I pay a ticket instead of contesting it — do the points still count?

Yes. Points are assigned when the citation is issued, not based on whether you pay, plead guilty, or go to trial. Paying the ticket does not remove the points. Your only options to reduce points are to contest the ticket in court and win, or to complete a defensive driving course after the violation is final.

How long do points stay on my record?

Points remain on your driving record for three years from the date of the violation. After three years, the violation drops off your record and no longer counts toward suspension. However, violations older than three years may still appear on your record for insurance or employment purposes — they just do not count toward the point threshold.

If I complete a defensive driving course, can I remove points from a violation I already contested?

No. A defensive driving course removes points from your record, but it does not erase specific violations. If you contested a ticket in court and lost, or if you paid a ticket, the violation stays on your record. The defensive driving course reduces your total point count by up to 4 points, which may help you avoid suspension, but it does not remove the individual violation.