Georgia suspends your license when speeding violations add up to 15 points in 24 months, not based on a fixed number of tickets

Georgia does not suspend your license after a set number of speeding tickets. Instead, the state uses a point system. Each speeding violation adds points to your driving record, and when those points reach 15 within a 24-month period, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will suspend your license automatically. A single speeding ticket can be anywhere from 2 to 6 points depending on how far over the limit you were driving.

This means two drivers could receive different outcomes from the same violation. One driver with a clean record might get a 4-point ticket and stay well below suspension. Another driver who already has 12 points on their record could receive the same 4-point ticket and trigger an when ready suspension. The speed over the limit, not the number of tickets, determines the points you receive.

Key Takeaways

  • Georgia suspends your license when you accumulate 15 points within 24 months, regardless of how many individual tickets caused those points.
  • Speeding violations carry 2 to 6 points each, with higher speeds over the limit resulting in more points.
  • The 24-month window means points from violations more than two years old do not count toward suspension.
  • You can check your current point total through the Georgia DDS website or by requesting your driving record in person.
  • Paying a speeding ticket does not remove points; only time passing or a successful court challenge removes them from your record.

How Georgia's Point System Works for Speeding Violations

Georgia assigns points based on the speed over the posted limit, not the absolute speed you were traveling. A driver going 10 miles per hour over the limit receives fewer points than a driver going 30 miles per hour over the limit, even if both are charged with speeding. The Georgia Code Section 40-6-390 defines these ranges, and the officer's citation will show the exact speed recorded and the points assigned.

The point values for speeding in Georgia are: 2 points for 10 to 14 mph over the limit; 3 points for 15 to 19 mph over the limit; 4 points for 20 to 25 mph over the limit; and 6 points for 26 mph or more over the limit. These points are added to your record when ready when the violation is recorded by DDS, even if you have not yet paid the ticket or gone to court. Paying the ticket does not reduce or remove the points.

The 24-Month Window and How It Affects Your Total

Georgia only counts points accumulated within the most recent 24 months. If you received a 4-point speeding ticket on January 15, 2022, and today is January 16, 2024, that ticket is no longer counted toward your suspension threshold because it has aged out of the 24-month window. However, a ticket from January 16, 2022, would still count if today is January 15, 2024.

This rolling window means your point total can drop without you doing anything, straightforward because older violations age off. However, you cannot rely on this timing to avoid suspension. If you have 12 points and receive a 4-point ticket before an older ticket ages out, you will hit 15 points and face suspension even though one of those points will disappear in a few weeks. DDS calculates your total based on the date you are checking, not on future dates.

What Happens When You Reach 15 Points

When your point total reaches 15 within 24 months, DDS will mail you a notice of suspension. The suspension is not when ready on the day you hit 15 points; it takes time for the violation to be recorded and processed. Typically, you will receive written notice by mail within two to four weeks of the violation being entered into the system. The notice will state the suspension start date, which is usually 30 days after the notice is mailed, giving you time to arrange transportation.

Your license will be physically suspended, meaning you cannot legally drive in Georgia or any other state. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Georgia and carries its own penalties, including fines and possible jail time. The suspension remains in place until you meet the requirements to have it lifted, which typically involves paying a reinstatement fee and waiting out a mandatory suspension period.

How to Check Your Current Point Total

You can view your driving record and current point total through the Georgia DDS website at dds.georgia.gov. You will need your driver's license number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The online record is updated regularly but may lag by a few days, so a violation you just received might not appear when ready.

You can also request a copy of your official driving record in person at any DDS office or by mail. The in-person option gives you an when ready printout showing all violations and points. If you are unsure about your point total or believe an error has been made, requesting the official record is the most reliable way to confirm what DDS has on file. Keep a copy of this record for your own records and for any court proceedings.

Reducing Points Through Court or Defensive Driving

Georgia does not offer a point reduction program for paying tickets or completing defensive driving courses after a violation has been recorded. Once points are added to your record, they remain there for 24 months. However, you can prevent points from being added in the first place by fighting the ticket in court.

If you contest a speeding ticket and the charge is dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation (such as improper equipment), no points will be added to your record. This is the only way to stop points from accumulating. Some drivers choose to hire a traffic attorney to represent them in court, while others represent themselves. The outcome depends on the specific circumstances of the stop and the evidence presented, not on defensive driving completion.

Reinstatement After Suspension for Points

Once your license is suspended for reaching 15 points, you cannot straightforward wait out the suspension and have it automatically lifted. You must pay a reinstatement fee to DDS, which varies but is typically $210 for a points-based suspension. You must also wait a mandatory suspension period, which is usually 30 days for a first suspension due to points.

After paying the fee and completing the suspension period, you can request reinstatement through DDS. Your points do not reset to zero when your license is reinstated; they continue to count down the 24-month clock. If you accumulate 15 points again within 24 months of reinstatement, you face another suspension with a longer mandatory waiting period and higher fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a speeding ticket dismissed to avoid points?

Yes, if you contest the ticket in court and the charge is dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation, no points will be added to your record. You can represent yourself or hire an attorney. The outcome depends on the evidence and circumstances of the stop, not on your driving history or how you plead.

Do points from out-of-state speeding tickets count in Georgia?

Yes, Georgia counts points from speeding violations in other states under the Driver License Compact, an agreement between most U.S. states. A speeding ticket from Florida or South Carolina will add points to your Georgia record and count toward the 15-point suspension threshold.

What if I get two speeding tickets in the same month?

Both tickets will add points to your record within the same 24-month window. If the first ticket is 4 points and the second is 6 points, you now have 10 points. You would need only 5 more points from another violation to reach suspension. Each ticket is counted separately and independently.

Does paying a speeding ticket remove the points?

No. Paying the ticket does not reduce or remove points from your record. Points remain for 24 months from the violation date, regardless of whether you paid when ready or months later. The only way to prevent points is to have the charge dismissed or reduced in court before you pay.

How long does a suspension for points last?

The mandatory suspension period for a first points-based suspension is typically 30 days. After paying the reinstatement fee and waiting the required period, you can request reinstatement. If you accumulate 15 points again within 24 months, the next suspension period is longer and the fees increase.