Georgia suspends your license when you reach 15 points in a 24-month period
In Georgia, the Department of Driver Services tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a set number of points. When your total reaches 15 points within any 24-month window, your license is automatically suspended. This is not a warning or a fine — it is a mandatory suspension that prevents you from driving legally until you complete the reinstatement process.
The 24-month period is a rolling window, not a calendar year. This means the state looks back 24 months from today and counts every point you have accumulated in that time. If you get 10 points in January 2024 and 5 more points in December 2024, you hit 15 points and your license suspends. If one of those violations falls outside the 24-month window, it no longer counts toward the total.
Key Takeaways
- Your Georgia license suspends automatically when you accumulate 15 points within any 24-month period.
- Common violations carry between 2 and 6 points; serious violations like reckless driving or DUI carry more.
- The 24-month window is rolling, so points from violations older than 24 months no longer count toward suspension.
- Once suspended, you must complete a defensive driving course and pay a reinstatement fee before you can drive again.
- Some violations result in suspension on their own, regardless of your point total.
How points are assigned to common violations
Georgia assigns points based on how serious the violation is. Minor infractions like speeding 10 miles per hour over the limit carry 2 points. More serious violations carry more points. Here are the violations you are most likely to encounter and their point values:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–10 mph over limit | 2 |
| Speeding 11–14 mph over limit | 3 |
| Speeding 15+ mph over limit | 4 |
| Improper lane change | 2 |
| Following too closely | 3 |
| Failure to obey traffic signal | 3 |
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Hit and run | 6 |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 6 |
If you receive a ticket, the officer will write the violation code on it. You can look up that code on the Georgia Department of Driver Services website to see how many points it carries. Paying the ticket or being found guilty in court both add those points to your record.
Violations that suspend your license when ready
Some violations are so serious that Georgia suspends your license right away, without waiting for you to accumulate 15 points. These are called mandatory suspension violations. You do not get a warning or a second chance — your license is suspended the moment you are convicted.
Mandatory suspension violations include driving under the influence (DUI), driving with a suspended or revoked license, fleeing or eluding police, and certain drug-related offenses. If you are convicted of any of these, the court will notify the Department of Driver Services, and your suspension takes effect. The length of the suspension depends on the specific violation and whether it is a first or repeat offense.
Hit and run (leaving the scene of an accident) also results in automatic suspension, as does driving without a valid license or insurance in some circumstances. If you are unsure whether a violation you received carries automatic suspension, contact the Department of Driver Services or ask your attorney.
What happens when you reach 15 points
When the Department of Driver Services determines that you have reached 15 points, they mail you a notice of suspension. This notice tells you the suspension is effective and gives you information about how to reinstate your license. The suspension is not when ready in the sense that you get a few days' notice, but it is not negotiable — you cannot appeal the point total or ask for a waiver.
Once your license is suspended, you cannot legally drive. Driving on a suspended license is itself a violation and can result in arrest, additional points, fines, and jail time. If you are stopped by police, your license will show as suspended in their system.
To get your license back, you must complete a defensive driving course approved by Georgia and pay a reinstatement fee to the Department of Driver Services. The fee varies but is typically between $200 and $300. You cannot reinstate your license until both requirements are met. After you complete the course and pay the fee, your license is restored, but your points remain on your record for the full 24-month period from the date of each violation.
How points age off your record
Points do not disappear from your driving record permanently, but they stop counting toward suspension after 24 months. This means if you received a ticket on January 15, 2023, the points from that ticket no longer count toward your 15-point suspension limit starting January 15, 2025.
However, the violation itself stays on your record for longer. Insurance companies and employers can see violations for years. The point is that for the purpose of license suspension, only violations within the most recent 24 months matter. If you have 10 points and one of them is about to age off, you have a small window where you are safer from suspension — but only until the next violation.
This is why the 24-month window is rolling rather than fixed. Every day, violations that are 24 months old fall off the calculation. If you stay violation-free, your point total gradually decreases as older violations age out.
Reducing points through defensive driving
Georgia allows you to reduce your point total by taking a defensive driving course — but only under certain conditions. You can remove up to 7 points from your record by completing an approved course, but you can only do this once every 5 years. Additionally, you must have received a ticket for a violation that occurred while you were driving 55 miles per hour or less in a residential or school zone, or you must have been cited for following too closely.
This means defensive driving is not a general way to erase points. It is a specific option for certain violations. If you received a speeding ticket in a school zone or a following-too-closely ticket, you may be able to take a course and have up to 7 points removed. The course typically costs between $50 and $100 and takes a few hours to complete, either in person or online.
If you are close to 15 points and you have a may have access to violation, taking a defensive driving course can be the difference between keeping your license and losing it. However, you cannot use this option more than once every 5 years, so it is not a permanent solution to repeated violations.
Reinstating your license after suspension
Reinstatement requires two steps: completing an approved defensive driving course and paying the reinstatement fee. You can take the course before or after your suspension takes effect, but you cannot drive legally until both are done.
To find an approved course, visit the Georgia Department of Driver Services website and search their list of certified providers. Many courses are offered online and can be completed in a single session. Once you finish, the provider will send proof of completion to the Department of Driver Services.
After the course is recorded and you have paid the reinstatement fee (which you can do online, by mail, or in person at a DDS office), your license is restored. You will receive a new license in the mail or can pick one up at a DDS office. Your points remain on your record, but you are legally allowed to drive again.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I get a ticket but do not pay it, do the points still count?
Points are added to your record when you are convicted, which usually happens when you pay the ticket or are found guilty in court. If you ignore a ticket, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, and your license can be suspended for failure to appear. It is better to address the ticket than to ignore it.
Can I get points removed from my record before 24 months?
Only through a defensive driving course, and only if the violation qualifies (school zone speeding, residential zone speeding, or following too closely). You can remove up to 7 points this way, but only once every 5 years. Other violations must age off naturally after 24 months.
What if I get suspended and then get another ticket while suspended?
Driving on a suspended license is a separate violation that carries its own points and penalties. You could face arrest, jail time, and additional fines. Your suspension period may also be extended. Do not drive until your license is reinstated.
Does a suspension in Georgia affect my license in other states?
Yes. Most states are part of the Driver License Compact, which means they share suspension information. If Georgia suspends your license, other states will recognize that suspension. You cannot straightforward move to another state and get a new license while suspended in Georgia.
How long does reinstatement take after I complete the course and pay the fee?
Your license is usually restored within a few business days of the course being recorded and the fee being processed. If you pay in person and have proof of course completion, you may be able to drive the same day. Online and mail payments take longer — typically 5 to 10 business days.