Indiana suspends your license when you reach 15 points within a two-year period
Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each type of violation carries a set number of points. When your total reaches 15 points in any two-year rolling window, the BMV will automatically suspend your license for a fixed period. The suspension is not optional — it happens by law once you hit that threshold.
The two-year window means the BMV looks back 24 months from today. If you received a violation 25 months ago, those points drop off the calculation. But if you have violations spread across the past two years that add up to 15 or more, you will receive a suspension notice in the mail.
Understanding which violations carry how many points, and how long a suspension lasts, helps you know where you stand and what to expect if you receive a notice.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana suspends your license automatically when you accumulate 15 or more points within any two-year period.
- Different violations carry different point values — a speeding ticket might be 2 to 4 points, while reckless driving is 8 points.
- Your first suspension typically lasts 30 days, but a second suspension within five years lasts 60 days, and a third lasts one year.
- Points remain on your record for two years from the violation date, then drop off the calculation.
- You can request a hearing with the BMV to challenge the suspension if you believe the record is wrong.
Common violations and their point values in Indiana
The point value depends on the type of violation. Minor infractions like speeding carry fewer points than serious moving violations. Here are the violations you are most likely to encounter:
| Violation Type | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–15 mph over limit | 2 |
| Speeding 16–25 mph over limit | 4 |
| Speeding 26+ mph over limit | 6 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Unsafe lane change | 2 |
| Improper passing | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Running a red light or stop sign | 4 |
| Driving without a valid license | 6 |
| Hit and run (property damage) | 6 |
| Hit and run (injury) | 8 |
| Driving under the influence (first offense) | 8 |
A single speeding ticket for going 20 mph over the limit is 4 points. Three such tickets in two years puts you at 12 points — close to suspension. One more violation of any kind pushes you over 15 and triggers a suspension notice.
How long your license will be suspended
The length of suspension depends on whether this is your first, second, or third suspension within five years. Indiana law sets these periods in statute.
First suspension: 30 days. You will receive a notice from the BMV stating the suspension start date. Your license becomes invalid on that date. You cannot drive legally during this period.
Second suspension within five years: 60 days. If you receive a second suspension notice within five years of the first one, the suspension period doubles. The clock for the five-year window starts from the date of your first suspension notice, not the date you received the ticket that caused it.
Third or subsequent suspension within five years: One year. A third suspension within the same five-year window results in a 12-month suspension. After five years from your first suspension, the count resets — a new suspension would be treated as a "first" suspension again.
How the two-year rolling window works
Points do not straightforward expire on a fixed date each year. Instead, Indiana uses a rolling two-year window. This means the BMV always looks back exactly 24 months from today.
If you received a violation on March 15, 2023, those points count toward your total through March 14, 2025. On March 15, 2025, they drop off. If you receive a new violation on March 16, 2025, the BMV recalculates your total without the old violation.
This rolling window can work in your favor if you are close to 15 points. Waiting for older violations to age out of the two-year window reduces your total. But it also means a cluster of violations within a short time period can push you over the threshold quickly.
What happens when you receive a suspension notice
The BMV will mail you a formal suspension notice. The notice includes the suspension start date, the length of the suspension, and information about how to request a hearing if you dispute the suspension.
You have the right to request a hearing before the suspension takes effect. You must request the hearing in writing within 10 days of receiving the notice. Send your request to the BMV at the address listed on the notice. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points on your record are incorrect — for example, if a ticket was dismissed or if the violation was recorded under the wrong code.
If you do not request a hearing, or if the hearing upholds the suspension, your license will be suspended on the date stated in the notice. You cannot legally drive during the suspension period. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Indiana.
Reducing points through traffic school or plea agreements
Indiana allows you to reduce points in two ways: by taking an approved defensive driving course, or by negotiating with the prosecutor at the time of the ticket.
Defensive driving course: If you complete an approved defensive driving course, you can reduce up to 4 points from your record. You can do this once every 24 months. The course must be approved by the BMV — not all online courses may have access to. You pay a fee (typically $20 to $50) and must complete the course before the violation is finalized on your record. This is most useful if you are close to 15 points and want to avoid suspension.
Plea agreement: When you receive a ticket, you can sometimes negotiate with the prosecutor to reduce the charge to a lesser violation that carries fewer points. For example, a reckless driving charge (8 points) might be reduced to unsafe lane change (2 points). This negotiation happens before you plead guilty. You do not have to accept the original charge as written.
Reinstating your license after suspension
When your suspension period ends, your license is not automatically reinstated. You must take action to restore it.
Contact the BMV and request reinstatement. You will need to pay a reinstatement fee (currently $50 in Indiana, though this may change). Once you pay the fee and the BMV processes your request, your license becomes valid again. This usually takes a few business days.
If you received a suspension for accumulating points, there are no additional requirements — no retesting, no probation period. You straightforward pay the fee and your license is restored. However, if your suspension was for a different reason (such as unpaid fines or a conviction), additional steps may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive during my suspension if I get a work permit?
Indiana does not issue work permits for point-based suspensions. You cannot drive legally during the suspension period, even for work. If your suspension is for a different reason (such as unpaid child support), you may be able to request a work permit, but that is a separate process.
Do points from out-of-state tickets count toward my Indiana suspension?
Yes. If you were ticketed in another state, and that state reported the violation to Indiana, the points will appear on your Indiana record and count toward the 15-point threshold. The point value may differ from what Indiana would assign, depending on the reciprocal agreement between states.
What if I was found not guilty of a ticket — do those points still count?
No. If you were acquitted or the ticket was dismissed, the violation should not appear on your record and should not count toward your total. If it does appear, you can request a hearing and present the court documents showing the dismissal or acquittal.
How do I check how many points are currently on my record?
You can request a copy of your driving record from the Indiana BMV online, by mail, or in person at a BMV branch. The record will show all violations from the past three years and the points assigned to each. You can use this to calculate your current total within the two-year window.
If I move out of Indiana, do the points follow me?
Your Indiana driving record remains with Indiana. If you obtain a license in another state, that state will not automatically know about your Indiana points. However, if you are convicted of a violation in the new state, and that state reports it to Indiana, it will be added to your Indiana record. If you later return to Indiana, the points are still there.