What points on your license mean and how they affect insurance

What are driver’s license points and how do they work?

Driver's license points are penalties on your license designed to track problem drivers. Points are assigned when a driver gets a ticket or is convicted of a violation, with the number of points based on the severity of the offense. A speeding ticket will result in fewer points than a DUI. Most states have a points system, sometimes called a demerit system.

Driver’s license points will eventually fall off your license, and as long as you don’t accrue too many in a short period of time, they don’t usually affect your driving privileges. Even though points may eventually fall off your license, the underlying conviction might remain on your record for a longer period, potentially affecting your insurance rates. However, if you get too many points on your license in a short time period, you can face license suspension.

Driver’s license points can and do affect your insurance rates, however. How the points system works varies from state to state, and the impact on your rates varies as well.

Are auto insurance points the same as driver's license points?

No; while both state motor vehicle departments and insurance companies use point systems to track your speeding tickets and other violations, they’re not the same system. DMV points are applied when you are convicted of certain traffic violations. If you accumulate too many points within a certain period of time, your license is typically suspended or revoked.

Insurers use their own points system to calculate rates. The company may have a proprietary points system or follow guidelines set up by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). In some states, such as Minnesota and North Carolina, state regulators set up the points system used by insurers.

Although the point systems are different, the same types of violations will affect both. If you have points on your license, odds are high that the violation for which they were assigned will also affect insurance points.

Which states don't use a driver’s license points system?

There are nine states that don't use a driver's license points system:

In these states, you can still have your license suspended or revoked for having too many violations. It’s tracked, just not with points. And insurance companies will still look at your driving record to calculate your rates, and use their own points system as well.

Can points on your license result in suspension?

Yes, having too many points on your license can result in it being suspended. The threshold for how many points result in suspension varies by state.

In California, for example, your license will be suspended for six months, and you'll be on probation for a year if you get:

4 points in 12 months
6 points in 24 months
8 points in 36 months

Can a violation that doesn’t result in points still affect insurance rates?

Yes, a violation can affect your insurance rates even if it doesn't result in points on your license. Insurance companies look at your driving record and base rates on everything in it. Moving violations affect insurance rates, while non-moving violations such as parking tickets generally do not.

Are insurance points just for violations?

No, insurance points are not solely for violations; they can also be assigned for accidents, even if those accidents didn’t result in any points on your driver’s license, and claims you have filed. A driver with a clean DMV record can still have multiple insurance points and pay more for coverage.

How long do points stay on your record?

Points stay on your license for one to 10 years, depending on the state and the reason for the points. More serious violations, such as DUIs, stay on your record longer.

For example, in California, points for minor offenses remain on your record for three years, but DUI and hit-and-run points last for 10 years. In Nevada, points stay on your record for just a year, but major offenses, including DUI, result in automatic license suspension rather than points.

Can you get license points even if you're not driving a car?

Yes, in some states, points can be applied to your license if you're driving something other than a car, such as a boat or off-road vehicle. In Michigan, if you're convicted of DUI on a snowmobile or other off-road recreational vehicle, points can haunt your driving history. In other states, you can get points on your license for alcohol-related boating violations.

Can you get points on your license for a seatbelt violation?

No, seat belt tickets don't usually result in points on your license, though in some states, points may be assigned if there is a child under 16 without a seatbelt in the car. Insurance companies may still increase your rates if you have a seatbelt ticket on your record because it indicates risky behavior that could result in a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing..

Do red-light camera tickets result in driver's license points?

No, in most states, red-light camera tickets do not result in the same points on your license as a ticket issued in person by law enforcement, although some states, including Arizona and California, do assign points, and laws vary by jurisdiction, even within the same state. Some states entirely ban the use of automated red light enforcement, including Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Maine.

How can you lower your insurance rates with points on your license?

To reduce your insurance rates when you have points on your license, shop around, raise your deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim., take a defensive driving course, ask about discounts and sign up for a usage-based insurance program.

Shop around. Not every company weighs risk factors the same way, and not every company will increase your rates the same way for points on your license.
Raise your deductible. A higher deductible means lower rates and can counteract the increase from a ticket. Make sure you can afford your deductible if you need to pay it.
Ask about discounts. Even with points on your record, there are many discounts you can still qualify for. Ask your insurance company about savings, like bundling home and auto or a good student discount.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies will lower your rates if you take a course to improve your driving skills.
Consider usage-based insurance. Usage-based driving programs are an opportunity to prove you’re a good driver and can earn you a discount that will counteract the poor driving that resulted in points on your license.

FAQ: License points

Can you get points removed from your license?

Yes, you can have points removed from your license if you contest the ticket and win in court, preventing a conviction. After conviction, you may still be able to remove the points by attending traffic school if the ticket qualifies, and the option is available in your state.

How many points is a speeding ticket?

A speeding ticket results in one to six points, depending on state laws and how far over the speed limit you were traveling. Tickets for speeding less than 10 mph over the limit fall on the low end of the points range, while speeding by 21 to 30 mph or more over the limit will fall on the higher end.

How much do points increase your insurance rates?

Points increase your rates from an average of 20% for a speeding ticket to 79% for a DUI, with the rate increase varying by carrierAn insurance carrier is the company that provides your car insurance policy and pays claims., state and the severity of the violation.