Georgia's Point System and License Suspension Threshold

In Georgia, your license is suspended when you accumulate 15 points within a 24-month period if you are 21 or older. Points are assigned to your driving record when you are convicted of traffic violations — not when you receive a ticket, but when the violation is resolved in court or through a plea. The 24-month window is a rolling period: it measures backward from today, so older violations drop off the count as time passes.

Georgia's Department of Driver Services (DDS) tracks these points and issues a suspension notice when you hit 15. The suspension is automatic — you do not have to wait for a hearing or receive a warning first. Once suspended, you cannot legally drive until you meet the reinstatement requirements, which include paying a reinstatement fee and serving a suspension period.

Key Takeaways

  • Fifteen points accumulated within 24 months triggers a mandatory license suspension for drivers 21 and older in Georgia.
  • Points are assigned only after a traffic conviction, not when you receive a ticket, and the 24-month window is rolling, not calendar-based.
  • Common violations that add points include speeding (1 to 6 points depending on how far over the limit), reckless driving (6 points), and at-fault accidents (4 points).
  • You can request a hearing before DDS within 10 days of receiving a suspension notice, but this does not stop the suspension from taking effect.
  • Reinstatement requires paying a fee (currently $210 for a first suspension), serving the suspension period, and obtaining proof of insurance.

How Points Are Assigned to Your Driving Record

Georgia assigns points based on the specific violation you are convicted of. Speeding violations carry 1 to 6 points: 1 point for 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit, 2 points for 11 to 14 mph over, 3 points for 15 to 18 mph over, 4 points for 19 to 23 mph over, 5 points for 24 to 33 mph over, and 6 points for 34 mph or more over the limit. Reckless driving is 6 points. Improper passing is 4 points. At-fault accidents are 4 points each. Failure to obey traffic signals or stop signs is 3 points.

Points are recorded only after conviction, which means after you plead guilty, plead no contest, or are found guilty in court. If you pay a ticket without going to court, you are entering a guilty plea and points will be added. If you contest the ticket and are found not guilty, no points are added. Some violations, such as serious offenses like driving under the influence (DUI), carry points but also trigger separate license suspension rules that may be more severe than the point system.

The 24-Month Rolling Window

Georgia measures the 24-month period backward from the current date, not by calendar year. This means if you received a conviction on January 15, 2023, that violation stops counting toward your 15-point total on January 15, 2025. If you accumulate 10 points by June 2024 and then receive no more violations, those 10 points will begin dropping off one by one as each conviction reaches its two-year anniversary.

The rolling window is important because it means you can avoid suspension by staying violation-free long enough for older convictions to age out. However, if you continue to receive violations, points accumulate quickly. For example, three speeding convictions at 20 mph over the limit (4 points each) plus one reckless driving conviction (6 points) equals 18 points — enough to trigger suspension even if spread across several months.

What Happens When You Reach 15 Points

When DDS determines that you have reached 15 points within 24 months, they mail you a suspension notice. This notice includes the effective date of the suspension, the reason (accumulation of points), and information about your right to request a hearing. The suspension takes effect on the date stated in the notice, typically 10 days after the notice is mailed. You cannot drive legally after that date, even if you request a hearing.

The length of the suspension depends on whether this is your first suspension or a repeat offense. A first suspension lasts 6 months. A second suspension within five years lasts 12 months. A third or subsequent suspension within five years lasts 24 months. These periods are mandatory and cannot be shortened, though you may be able to reduce the suspension period by completing a defensive driving course in some cases.

Requesting a Hearing Before Suspension Takes Effect

You have the right to request a hearing before DDS within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. To request a hearing, you must contact DDS in writing or by phone and state that you want to contest the suspension. The hearing officer will review whether the points on your record are accurate and whether they were properly recorded. However, requesting a hearing does not stop the suspension from taking effect on the date listed in the notice.

At the hearing, you can present evidence that violations were incorrectly recorded or that you were not the driver at the time of a violation. You cannot argue that the point system itself is unfair or that you deserve leniency because of hardship. If the hearing officer finds that the points are correct, the suspension stands. If errors are found, points may be removed and the suspension may be cancelled if you fall below 15 points.

Reinstatement Requirements After Suspension

To reinstate your license after a suspension, you must complete three steps. First, you must serve the full suspension period — 6 months for a first suspension, 12 months for a second, or 24 months for a third or more. You cannot drive during this time, even with a restricted license. Second, you must pay a reinstatement fee to DDS, currently $210 for a first suspension. Third, you must provide proof of financial responsibility (auto insurance) before your license is restored.

You can explore for reinstatement on or after the last day of your suspension period. DDS will not reinstate your license before that date. Once you submit the reinstatement fee and proof of insurance, DDS will process your request and mail you a new license or a notice that your license has been restored. You should not drive until you receive confirmation that reinstatement is complete.

Violations That Do Not Count Toward the 15-Point Threshold

Some violations result in suspension through separate rules rather than point accumulation. A DUI conviction, for example, triggers an automatic administrative suspension that is separate from the point system. Driving with a suspended license, driving without a valid license, and certain commercial vehicle violations also have their own suspension rules. Additionally, some minor violations like parking tickets do not add points to your driving record at all.

If you are unsure whether a specific violation added points to your record, you can request a copy of your driving record from DDS. You can order this online, by mail, or in person at a DDS office. Your record will show every conviction on file and the points assigned to each one. Reviewing your record is useful if you are close to 15 points and want to understand how much room you have before suspension.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. The suspension period is mandatory and cannot be shortened. You must wait the full 6, 12, or 24 months depending on whether this is your first, second, or third suspension. After the period ends, you can explore for reinstatement by paying the fee and providing proof of insurance.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Georgia's 15-point limit?

Yes. Georgia counts convictions from other states if they would be violations under Georgia law. The points assigned may differ from what the other state assigned, but the conviction itself is recorded on your Georgia driving record and counts toward the 15-point threshold.

What if I was not the driver when the violation occurred?

You can request a hearing and present evidence that you were not driving. This is one of the few defenses available at a DDS hearing. You will need documentation such as witness statements, vehicle registration showing someone else owned the car, or other proof that you could not have been the driver.

Can I take a defensive driving course to remove points?

Georgia allows you to remove up to 7 points from your record by completing an approved defensive driving course, but only once every 12 months and only if you have not taken a course in the past 12 months. The course does not prevent suspension if you are already at 15 points, but it can help you avoid future suspension if you are close to the threshold.

How do I check how many points are on my driving record?

You can order a copy of your driving record from the Georgia Department of Driver Services online at dds.georgia.gov, by mail, or in person at a DDS office. The record will show all convictions and points within the past three years. You can also call DDS at 678-413-8400 to ask about your current point total.