Arizona suspends your license when you accumulate 8 points within 12 months, 12 points within 24 months, or 18 points within 36 months
Arizona's Department of Transportation tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a specific point value. When your total reaches certain thresholds within defined time windows, the state automatically suspends your license. The suspension is mandatory — there is no discretion involved once you hit the point threshold.
The point accumulation windows overlap. This means a violation from 18 months ago still counts toward your 24-month total, even though it has fallen out of the 12-month window. Understanding which violations cost how many points, and how quickly they stack, is the only way to know where you stand.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona suspends your license at 8 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 18 points in 36 months — whichever threshold you hit first.
- Speeding 1–10 mph over the limit costs 1 point; speeding 11–20 mph over costs 3 points; speeding 21+ mph over costs 8 points.
- Reckless driving, DUI, and at-fault accidents each carry 8 points and trigger suspension when ready if you already have any points.
- Points stay on your record for 36 months from the violation date, so an old violation can still push you over the threshold months later.
- You can request a hearing before the suspension takes effect, but you must do so within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice.
Point values for common Arizona traffic violations
Arizona assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Minor infractions like equipment violations carry no points. Most moving violations carry between 1 and 3 points. The most serious violations — reckless driving, DUI, and at-fault accidents — carry 8 points each.
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–10 mph over limit | 1 |
| Speeding 11–20 mph over limit | 3 |
| Speeding 21+ mph over limit | 8 |
| Failure to obey traffic signal or sign | 3 |
| Unsafe lane change | 3 |
| Following too closely | 3 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| DUI (driving under the influence) | 8 |
| At-fault accident | 8 |
| Hit and run | 8 |
If you receive a ticket, the citation itself will show the point value. You can also check your current point total by logging into your ADOT account online or calling the Motor Vehicle Division at 602-255-0072.
How the three suspension thresholds work together
Arizona uses three overlapping time windows to track points. You are suspended if you reach 8 points in any 12-month period, 12 points in any 24-month period, or 18 points in any 36-month period. The state checks all three windows every time a new violation is added to your record. If you cross any threshold, suspension is triggered.
The overlapping windows mean that violations from long ago can still count against you. A violation from 20 months ago no longer counts toward your 12-month total, but it still counts toward your 24-month and 36-month totals. This is why a single serious violation — like an 8-point reckless driving charge — can suspend your license when ready if you have any other points on your record from the past 24 or 36 months.
Example: You received a 3-point speeding ticket 18 months ago. Last month you got an 8-point reckless driving charge. Your 12-month total is now 8 points (only the reckless driving, since the speeding ticket is outside the 12-month window). You are suspended when ready because you hit the 8-point threshold in 12 months.
When the suspension takes effect and how to request a hearing
The Motor Vehicle Division mails a suspension notice to the address on your driver's license. The suspension becomes effective 10 days after the notice is mailed, unless you request a hearing before that important date. You must request the hearing in writing within 10 days of the notice date — not 10 days from when you receive it, but from when it was mailed.
To request a hearing, contact the Motor Vehicle Division at 602-255-0072 or submit a written request by mail to the address listed on your suspension notice. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points were recorded in error or that circumstances warrant reconsideration. However, the hearing officer cannot waive the suspension based on hardship alone. The hearing is limited to factual disputes about whether the violations actually occurred or were correctly assigned.
If you do not request a hearing, your license is suspended for a set period. A first suspension typically lasts 30 days. Subsequent suspensions last longer — 60 days for a second suspension within 24 months, and 90 days for a third suspension within 36 months.
How violations are recorded and when points drop off
Points are added to your record the moment a violation is recorded by the court. If you pay a ticket or are convicted, the points attach to your license when ready. You do not have to wait for the conviction to be final or for the ticket to be processed by the Motor Vehicle Division — the points count from the court's entry date.
Points remain on your record for 36 months from the violation date. After 36 months, the violation falls off your record entirely and no longer counts toward any suspension threshold. However, this does not erase the violation from your history — it straightforward stops counting toward future suspensions. The violation will still appear on background checks and insurance records.
If you have multiple violations, each one has its own 36-month clock. A violation from 24 months ago and a violation from 6 months ago are both still active and both count toward your current totals, even though they will drop off at different times.
Violations that do not add points but can still suspend your license
Arizona has separate suspension rules for certain violations that do not use the point system. A DUI conviction triggers a mandatory license suspension regardless of your point total — typically 90 days for a first offense. Driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance, and habitual traffic offender status can also result in suspension outside the point system.
Additionally, if you are convicted of certain serious violations — like fleeing police or driving with a revoked license — the court can order an when ready suspension as part of your sentence. These court-ordered suspensions are separate from the Motor Vehicle Division's point-based suspensions and may last longer.
If you have been suspended for any reason other than points, you will need to complete specific requirements to reinstate your license. These may include paying reinstatement fees, completing a defensive driving course, or providing proof of insurance. The Motor Vehicle Division will specify what is required in your suspension notice.
How to check your current point total and driving record
You can view your driving record and current point total through the Arizona Department of Transportation website. Log in with your driver's license number and date of birth. The online system shows all violations from the past 36 months and calculates your point total across all three time windows.
If you do not have online access or prefer to speak with someone, call the Motor Vehicle Division at 602-255-0072. Have your driver's license number ready. The staff can tell you your current point total and explain which violations are on your record. They can also answer questions about whether a specific violation will add points.
Checking your record regularly is useful if you have received multiple tickets. It lets you know how close you are to a suspension threshold and helps you understand the impact of a new violation before you receive it. If you are within a few points of suspension, a single serious violation could trigger an when ready suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get points removed from my record early?
No. Points cannot be removed before the 36-month period ends. However, you may be able to reduce points by completing a defensive driving course, but only if the court orders it as part of your sentence or if you take it voluntarily before being cited. Once a violation is recorded, the points stay for the full 36 months.
What happens if I get suspended while driving for work?
Arizona does not issue occupational licenses that allow you to drive for work during a suspension. Your license is fully suspended, and driving during the suspension period is illegal. You must find alternative transportation or arrange for someone else to drive. Driving on a suspended license carries criminal penalties and additional points.
Do points from other states count toward Arizona suspension?
Arizona counts violations from other states if they are reported through the Interstate Compact system. Most states participate, so a speeding ticket from California or Nevada will appear on your Arizona record and add points. However, some violations may be treated differently depending on how the other state classified them.
If I move out of Arizona, do I still have to serve the suspension?
If you move to another state, Arizona's suspension still applies to your Arizona license. If you obtain a license in the new state, that state may recognize the Arizona suspension and refuse to issue you a license, or it may treat you as a new driver. When you return to Arizona, you must still complete any remaining suspension period before your license is reinstated.
Can I get a restricted license during suspension?
Arizona does not issue restricted licenses during a point-based suspension. Your license is fully suspended for the entire period. After the suspension ends, you must explore for reinstatement and pay the reinstatement fee. Only court-ordered suspensions for specific violations like DUI may may have access to for a restricted license, and only if the court approves it.