Check your Florida driver's license points through the Department of Motor Vehicles website or by mail

Florida tracks violations and points on your driving record through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), officially called the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). You can see your current points balance and violation history without visiting an office — the state offers three main routes: an online lookup, a phone call, or a written request by mail.

The fastest method is the online system at DHSMV.org. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The system shows your current points total, any suspensions or restrictions, and a list of violations recorded against your license. Points appear when ready after a conviction is entered into the state system, which typically happens within 10 to 30 days of a court disposition.

If you do not have internet access or prefer not to use the online tool, you can call the DHSMV at 1-850-617-3800 during business hours. A representative can read your record over the phone. You will need to provide your driver's license number and date of birth for verification.

Key Takeaways

  • Florida's DHSMV website lets you check your points and violations when ready using your driver's license number and date of birth.
  • Points stay on your record for five years from the date of conviction, but your license can be suspended before that if you accumulate too many.
  • Twelve points in 12 months, 18 points in 18 months, or 24 points in 36 months triggers a mandatory suspension.
  • Traffic school or defensive driving courses can remove up to three points from your record if you meet the court's requirements.
  • Your record includes not just points but also suspensions, restrictions, and the specific violation codes for each incident.

How Florida's points system works

Florida assigns points to violations based on severity. A minor infraction like speeding 1 to 15 miles over the limit costs 3 points. Reckless driving is 4 points. At-fault accidents are 4 points. Driving with a suspended license is 6 points. Fleeing police or causing serious injury is 12 points. These points accumulate on your record regardless of whether you paid a fine or went to court.

The state uses a rolling window system. If you reach 12 points within any 12-month period, your license is suspended for 30 days. If you reach 18 points within 18 months, the suspension is 3 months. If you reach 24 points within 36 months, the suspension is 12 months. These thresholds reset based on the date of each violation, not a calendar year, so a violation from January 2023 and one from January 2024 are counted separately for the 12-month window.

Points remain on your record for five years from the date of conviction. After five years, they drop off automatically — you do not need to do anything. However, a suspension can happen long before the five-year mark if your points accumulate quickly.

What information appears in your online record

When you log into the DHSMV system, you will see several sections. The driving record summary shows your current points total and any active suspensions or restrictions. The violation history lists each ticket or accident with the date, violation code, points assigned, and whether it resulted in a conviction. Some violations show "not guilty" or "dismissed" if the charge was resolved in your favor.

The record also displays any administrative actions taken against your license — suspensions, revocations, or restrictions like mandatory ignition interlock devices. If your license is currently suspended, the reason and the date it will be reinstated appear here. Reinstatement usually requires paying a reinstatement fee (typically $150 to $500 depending on the reason) and sometimes completing a driver improvement course.

One important note: the online system may take 10 to 30 days to update after a court disposition. If you were recently convicted and do not see the violation yet, check back in a few days. If more than 30 days have passed, contact the DHSMV directly to confirm the conviction was reported to the state.

Requesting your record by mail or in person

If you prefer a paper copy of your driving record, you can request one by mail or visit a local DHSMV office. Mail requests go to the DHSMV Records Bureau, and processing takes 5 to 10 business days. You will need to include your driver's license number, date of birth, and a check or money order for the record fee (usually $7 to $10, depending on the type of record).

In-person requests at a local DHSMV office are faster — you typically receive a printed record the same day. Bring your driver's license and be prepared to pay the fee in cash or card. Office hours and locations vary by county, so check the DHSMV website for the office nearest you.

How to reduce or remove points from your record

Florida allows you to remove up to three points by completing an approved traffic school course (also called a defensive driving course). You are may be able to access once every 12 months, and you must not have completed traffic school in the past 12 months. The course is typically four to eight hours long and can be taken online or in person. Costs range from $15 to $50 depending on the provider.

Traffic school is not automatic — you must first be ordered by the court to take it, or you must request it as part of a plea agreement. Some courts allow you to take traffic school in lieu of paying a fine. Others require you to complete it after conviction. Ask the court clerk or your traffic attorney whether traffic school is an option for your specific violation.

Points cannot be removed any other way. Paying a fine does not reduce points. Waiting does not reduce points. Only traffic school completion removes them, and only up to three points per 12-month period. After five years, points drop off automatically, but that does not help if you are close to suspension now.

What to do if your record contains errors

If you see a violation on your record that you believe is wrong — a ticket you were found not guilty of, an accident that was not your fault, or a violation that belongs to someone else — you can dispute it. Contact the DHSMV directly with the violation code and date. You will need to provide documentation: a court order showing dismissal or acquittal, a police report, or other evidence supporting your claim.

The DHSMV will investigate and contact the court or law enforcement agency that reported the violation. If the violation was reported in error, it will be removed from your record. This process can take 30 to 60 days. In the meantime, the incorrect points still count toward suspension thresholds, so if you are close to suspension, contact the DHSMV when ready rather than waiting for the dispute to resolve.

Understanding suspension and reinstatement

If your points trigger a suspension, the DHSMV will mail you a notice of suspension. The notice includes the suspension start date, duration, and the reinstatement requirements. You cannot drive during the suspension period — doing so is a criminal offense in Florida.

To reinstate your license after suspension, you must pay a reinstatement fee (typically $150 to $500) and sometimes complete a driver improvement course. The specific requirements depend on why your license was suspended. If the suspension was due to points accumulation, you may only need to pay the fee. If it was due to a serious violation like DUI, additional requirements explore.

You can pay the reinstatement fee online through the DHSMV website, by mail, or in person at a local office. After payment is processed, your license is reinstated when ready if you pay online or by phone, or within 5 to 10 business days if you pay by mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a violation to show up on my Florida driving record?

Most violations appear within 10 to 30 days of a court conviction. The court sends the disposition to the DHSMV, and the state enters it into the system. If more than 30 days have passed since your conviction and you do not see it online, contact the DHSMV to confirm the court reported it.

Can I check someone else's driving record?

No. Florida law restricts access to driving records. You can only view your own record using your driver's license number and date of birth. Insurance companies, employers, and law enforcement can request records under specific circumstances, but the general public cannot.

Do points from out-of-state violations count in Florida?

Yes. Florida is part of the Driver License Compact, an agreement between states to share violation information. If you are convicted of a traffic violation in another state, that violation and its points transfer to your Florida record. The points are converted to Florida's point system based on the severity of the violation.

What happens if I get suspended while my license is already suspended?

If you accumulate enough points to trigger another suspension while already suspended, the suspensions stack. The new suspension begins after the current one ends. For example, if you are suspended for 30 days and then accumulate 18 points in 18 months, you will face a 3-month suspension after the 30-day suspension ends.

Can I dispute a violation if I paid the fine?

Paying a fine is usually considered an admission of guilt and makes disputing the violation much harder. If you believe the violation was issued in error, you should have contested it in court before paying. If you have already paid, contact the DHSMV with documentation (such as a police report or witness statement) supporting your claim, but success is unlikely without a court order.