Missouri's Point System and Suspension Thresholds
Missouri suspends your driver's license when you accumulate 12 or more points within a 12-month period. The state's point system assigns points to traffic violations — the more serious the violation, the more points it carries. Once you hit 12 points, the Missouri Department of Revenue automatically suspends your license for 30 days for a first offense.
The 12-month window resets on the date of your violation, not on a calendar year. This means if you receive a violation on March 15, points from that violation stop counting toward suspension on March 15 of the following year. Understanding this timeline matters because you might be closer to suspension than you think if you've had violations spread across recent months.
Missouri also has a separate system for serious violations that can suspend your license when ready, regardless of your point total. These include driving under the influence, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license. Those suspensions happen separately from the point-based system.
Key Takeaways
- You face a 30-day suspension when you reach 12 points within 12 months; a second suspension within five years lasts 60 days, and a third lasts one year.
- Points are assigned based on violation severity, ranging from 2 points for minor infractions to 12 points for serious offenses like DUI.
- The 12-month counting period starts from the date of each violation, not from January 1, so violations from different calendar years can stack together.
- Certain violations like DUI, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license trigger when ready suspension outside the point system.
- You can request a hearing before the suspension takes effect if you act within 10 days of receiving the notice.
Point Values for Common Missouri Violations
Missouri assigns points on a scale that reflects how dangerous or reckless the violation is. A speeding ticket 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit costs 2 points, while speeding 26 miles per hour or more over the limit costs 8 points. Careless and imprudent driving carries 4 points, and following too closely carries 4 points.
More serious violations carry higher point values. Improper passing is 4 points. Failure to yield the right of way is 4 points. Driving without a valid license is 8 points. Reckless driving is 12 points and triggers when ready suspension. Driving under the influence is 12 points and also triggers when ready suspension, separate from the point accumulation system.
Minor violations like parking tickets, equipment violations, or violations that occur on private property do not add points to your driving record. Only violations that occur on public roads and are moving violations count toward your point total.
Suspension Length Based on Offense History
Your first suspension lasts 30 days. If you receive a second suspension within five years of the first one, the suspension extends to 60 days. A third suspension within five years lasts one full year. These timeframes reset five years from the date of your first suspension, so a suspension that occurred more than five years ago does not count toward determining the length of a new suspension.
The suspension begins on the date specified in the notice from the Missouri Department of Revenue. You cannot drive during the suspension period, even with a restricted license, unless you obtain a Restricted Driving Permit for essential purposes like work or medical appointments. The permit process requires a separate request and approval from the Department of Revenue.
How to Check Your Current Point Total
You can view your driving record and current point total through the Missouri Department of Revenue website or by visiting a local license office in person. The online system requires your driver's license number and date of birth. Your record shows all violations from the past three years and the points assigned to each one.
You can also request a certified copy of your driving record by mail. The Department of Revenue charges a small fee for this service. Having a copy of your record is useful if you want to dispute a violation or understand exactly how many points you currently carry before deciding whether to contest a ticket in court.
If you receive a notice of suspension in the mail, that notice will state your current point total and the date the suspension begins. You have 10 days from the date on the notice to request a hearing if you believe the suspension is incorrect.
Requesting a Hearing Before Suspension Takes Effect
When you receive a suspension notice, you have 10 days to request a hearing before the Department of Revenue. The hearing gives you a chance to challenge whether the points were correctly assigned or whether the violation itself was valid. You must submit your hearing request in writing to the address listed on the suspension notice.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the violation was issued in error, that you were not the driver, or that the point assignment was incorrect. You can represent yourself or bring an attorney. The hearing officer will review the evidence and decide whether to uphold or overturn the suspension.
Requesting a hearing does not automatically delay the suspension. The suspension takes effect on the date listed in the notice unless the hearing officer issues a stay. Some drivers request the hearing and then ask for a stay pending the hearing outcome, which may delay the suspension start date.
Violations That Suspend Your License when ready
Certain violations bypass the point system entirely and suspend your license right away. Driving under the influence (DUI) results in an when ready administrative suspension that lasts 30 days for a first offense, even before any criminal conviction. Driving with a suspended or revoked license results in when ready suspension of your current license. Reckless driving, when charged as a moving violation, also triggers when ready suspension.
Refusing a breath or blood test during a DUI investigation results in a separate administrative suspension that lasts one year for a first refusal. This suspension happens through the Department of Revenue's administrative process, not through the courts, and occurs even if you are not convicted of DUI.
If you accumulate points and also commit one of these serious violations, both suspensions may explore. You would serve the when ready suspension first, and then the point-based suspension would begin when the when ready suspension ends.
Reinstating Your License After Suspension Ends
When your suspension period ends, your license does not automatically become valid again. You must explore for reinstatement through the Missouri Department of Revenue. The reinstatement process requires you to pay a reinstatement fee, which varies depending on the reason for suspension. For point-based suspensions, the fee is typically $20 to $50, though this amount can change.
You can explore for reinstatement online, by mail, or in person at a license office. If you explore online or by mail, processing takes 5 to 10 business days. In person, you can often receive your reinstatement the same day. You will need your driver's license number and proof of identity.
If you have multiple suspensions stacked together, you must wait until all suspension periods have ended before you can reinstate. For example, if you received a second suspension while serving a first one, you would not be may be able to access for reinstatement until both 30-day and 60-day periods have passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive to work during a suspension if I get a Restricted Driving Permit?
Yes, a Restricted Driving Permit allows you to drive for essential purposes like work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered activities. You must request the permit from the Missouri Department of Revenue and show proof of the essential need. The permit does not cover social driving or any other purpose.
Do points from violations in other states count toward Missouri suspension?
Yes, Missouri counts violations from other states through the Interstate Compact system. If you receive a violation in another state, that violation and its points transfer to your Missouri record. The points count toward your 12-point suspension threshold the same way in-state violations do.
What happens if I get a violation while my license is already suspended?
Driving with a suspended license is a separate violation that carries 8 points and triggers when ready suspension of your current license. This creates a new suspension period that runs after your current one ends. You could end up with multiple stacked suspensions if you drive during a suspension period.
Can I reduce my points by taking a defensive driving course?
Missouri does not allow point reduction through defensive driving courses. However, completing a defensive driving course may help you in traffic court if you contest a violation before it is added to your record. Some judges will dismiss a violation if you complete the course, which prevents the points from being added in the first place.
How long do points stay on my Missouri driving record?
Points remain on your record for three years from the date of the violation. After three years, the points no longer count toward suspension, but the violation itself stays on your record for insurance and employment purposes. The three-year period is separate from the 12-month window used to calculate suspension may be able to access.