What happens to your Florida license when you get points
Florida tracks violations using a points system. When you're convicted of a traffic violation, the state adds points to your driving record. Accumulate too many points within a set time, and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will suspend your license — meaning you cannot legally drive until the suspension ends and you meet reinstatement requirements.
The number of points assigned depends on the violation. A minor infraction like following too closely might be 3 points, while reckless driving is 4 points. Serious violations like driving with a suspended license or causing an accident while at fault can be 6 points or more. Points stay on your record for different lengths of time depending on the violation type — typically 3 to 5 years from the conviction date.
Your license is suspended automatically when you reach 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 18 months, or 24 points within 36 months. You do not receive a warning before suspension; DHSMV mails notice to the address on file, but the suspension takes effect on the date specified in that notice.
Key Takeaways
- Florida suspends your license when you accumulate 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 18 months, or 24 points in 36 months.
- Different violations carry different point values — minor infractions are typically 3 points, while serious violations like reckless driving are 4 or more points.
- Points remain on your record for 3 to 5 years depending on the violation, and you cannot remove them by paying a fine.
- You can reduce points by completing an approved defensive driving course, which removes up to 4 points from your record once every 12 months.
- Once suspended, you must wait out the suspension period and then pay a reinstatement fee to DHSMV before you can drive legally again.
How many points each violation costs
Florida assigns points based on the severity and type of violation. Here are the most common ones you will encounter:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding (up to 9 mph over limit) | 3 |
| Speeding (10–29 mph over limit) | 4 |
| Speeding (30+ mph over limit) | 6 |
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Careless driving | 3 |
| Following too closely | 3 |
| Improper lane change | 3 |
| Running a red light or stop sign | 4 |
| Driving with suspended license | 6 |
| Hit and run (property damage) | 6 |
| Hit and run (injury or death) | 12 |
| DUI (first offense) | 6 |
If you cause an accident and are found at fault, you receive 4 points. If the accident involves injury or death, the points are higher and may be combined with other charges. Violations that result in criminal charges — such as DUI or fleeing police — carry 6 or more points and often trigger additional penalties beyond the points system.
How to reduce points through a defensive driving course
Florida allows you to remove up to 4 points from your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. You can do this once every 12 months, meaning you could theoretically remove 4 points per year if you take a course each year. The course does not erase points; it straightforward reduces the total on your record.
To take a defensive driving course, you must find one approved by DHSMV. The state maintains a list of approved providers on its website. Most courses are offered online and take 4 to 8 hours to complete. You pay the course provider directly — costs vary but typically range from $15 to $70. After you finish, the provider sends your completion certificate to DHSMV, and the points reduction appears on your record within 30 days.
You can take a defensive driving course even if your license is not currently suspended, and you can take one even if you have already been suspended in the past. However, you cannot take a course to prevent a suspension that has already happened — the course only works if you take it before reaching the suspension threshold.
When your license gets suspended and how long it lasts
Your license suspension becomes effective on the date listed in the notice DHSMV mails to you. The suspension length depends on how many times you have been suspended before:
- First suspension: 30 days
- Second suspension within 5 years: 6 months
- Third or more suspensions within 5 years: 1 year
During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving on a suspended license is itself a violation that adds 6 points to your record and can result in criminal charges, fines, and jail time. If you are stopped by police during a suspension, your vehicle may be impounded.
The suspension clock starts from the effective date on your notice, not from the date you receive it. If you believe the notice was mailed to an old address and you did not receive it, you can contact DHSMV to request a hearing, but the suspension will remain in effect during the hearing process unless a judge orders otherwise.
How to reinstate your license after suspension
Once your suspension period ends, your license does not automatically become valid again. You must take steps to reinstate it. First, you must wait until the suspension period is completely over — you cannot reinstate early. Then you contact DHSMV and pay a reinstatement fee. The fee is $150 for a suspension due to points accumulation.
You can reinstate your license online through the DHSMV website, by mail, or in person at a DHSMV office. Online reinstatement is the fastest option and typically takes 1 to 2 business days. By mail, allow 5 to 7 business days. In person, you can often complete it the same day, though wait times vary by location.
Before you reinstate, make sure your suspension period has actually ended. If you attempt to reinstate early, DHSMV will reject your request and you will lose the reinstatement fee. You can check your suspension end date by logging into your DHSMV account online or by calling the DHSMV Customer Service Center at 850-617-2000.
How points affect your insurance and driving record
Insurance companies can see every point on your driving record. When you have points, your insurance rates typically increase — the more points, the higher the increase. A single 3-point violation might raise your premium by 10 to 15 percent, while multiple violations or a 6-point violation can raise it 25 to 50 percent or more. Some insurers will not renew your policy if you accumulate too many points.
Points remain visible to insurers for the full time they stay on your record, even after a suspension ends and your license is reinstated. This means you could be paying higher rates for years after a violation, even though you are no longer at risk of suspension. Removing points through a defensive driving course reduces what insurers see and can help lower your rates.
Your driving record is public information. Employers, landlords, and others can request it with your permission. If you are explore for a job that involves driving — delivery, rideshare, commercial driving — a record with points may disqualify you or make you ineligible for certain positions.
What to do if you disagree with a violation or points assessment
If you received a ticket and believe the violation was issued in error, you have the right to contest it in traffic court. You can do this by requesting a hearing within the timeframe listed on your ticket — typically 30 days. You can represent yourself or hire a traffic attorney. If you win the case, the violation is dismissed and no points are added to your record.
If points have already been added to your record and you believe they were assessed incorrectly, you can request a hearing with DHSMV. This is different from contesting the original ticket and is a less common route. You must show that the points were added in error — for example, that the conviction was reversed or that DHSMV recorded the wrong violation. Contact DHSMV directly to request a hearing.
Paying a fine does not remove points from your record. Points are tied to the conviction itself, not to the payment. The only ways to reduce points are to complete a defensive driving course, to have a conviction reversed in court, or to wait for the points to age off your record after 3 to 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get points removed from my record without taking a defensive driving course?
Points age off your record after 3 to 5 years depending on the violation type, but you cannot remove them before that time except by taking an approved defensive driving course. Paying a fine, attending traffic school, or any other action does not remove points — only time or a defensive driving course will.
What happens if I get suspended while I am out of state?
Your Florida suspension is valid only in Florida. However, most states have reciprocal agreements through the Driver License Compact, meaning they will recognize your Florida suspension and may suspend your out-of-state license as well. When you return to Florida, your suspension will be in effect.
Can I drive to work during a suspension if I get a hardship license?
Florida does not issue hardship licenses for points-based suspensions. Hardship licenses are available only for suspensions related to DUI or other specific criminal charges. During a points suspension, you cannot legally drive for any reason.
How do I check how many points are currently on my record?
You can check your points online through the DHSMV website by logging into your account, or you can request a copy of your driving record by mail or in person at a DHSMV office. There is a small fee for a paper copy, but checking online is free.
If I move out of Florida, do the points follow me?
Yes. Your Florida driving record and points follow you to any state you move to. If you obtain a license in another state, that state may see your Florida record through the Driver License Compact and may use it to make decisions about your new license or insurance rates.