Indiana suspends your license when you accumulate 12 points within a two-year period

Indiana tracks traffic violations using a point system. Each violation you receive adds a certain number of points to your driving record. When those points reach 12 in any two-year span, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will suspend your license automatically. The suspension lasts at minimum 90 days, though serious violations can trigger longer suspensions or when ready suspension without waiting for points to accumulate.

The two-year window is important: points from violations older than two years stop counting toward suspension. So if you received a violation two years and one month ago, that violation's points drop off your record, even if you have other recent violations.

You do not have to wait for a letter from the BMV to know you are at risk. You can check your current point total by visiting the Indiana BMV website, calling them, or visiting a branch in person with your driver's license.

Key Takeaways

  • Twelve points accumulated within two years triggers an automatic license suspension of at least 90 days.
  • Different violations carry different point values—a speeding ticket might be 2 to 4 points, while reckless driving is 6 points.
  • Points older than two years fall off your record and no longer count toward suspension.
  • You can check your point total through the Indiana BMV website, by phone, or in person before you reach 12 points.
  • Some violations cause when ready suspension regardless of your point total, including DUI, driving with a suspended license, and serious at-fault accidents.

How many points each type of violation costs

Indiana assigns points based on the severity of the violation. A minor speeding ticket typically costs 2 to 4 points depending on how far over the limit you were driving. Reckless driving is 6 points. Unsafe lane changes, following too closely, and improper turns are usually 3 points each. At-fault accidents where you caused injury or property damage are 4 to 6 points.

Some violations carry no points but still result in suspension. These include driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without a valid license, and certain commercial vehicle violations. The BMV treats these as separate grounds for suspension outside the point system.

You can request a copy of your driving record from the Indiana BMV to see exactly which violations are on your record and how many points each one carries. This record is the official source—it is what the BMV uses to determine suspension.

When suspension happens when ready, without waiting for 12 points

Some violations are serious enough that Indiana suspends your license right away, regardless of your point total. A DUI conviction results in automatic suspension. Driving with a suspended or revoked license also triggers when ready suspension. Refusing a breath or blood test during a DUI stop results in an automatic suspension separate from any criminal case.

Serious at-fault accidents—ones where you caused injury to another person or significant property damage—can result in when ready suspension while the BMV investigates. You will receive a notice in the mail explaining the suspension and your right to request a hearing.

If you are suspended for any of these reasons, you cannot straightforward wait out the suspension period and drive again. You must follow the BMV's reinstatement process, which may include paying a reinstatement fee, completing a driver safety course, or providing proof of insurance.

How to check your point total before you reach 12

The Indiana BMV offers three ways to check your current points. Online, you can visit the BMV website and use their driving record lookup tool. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The online system shows your points, violations, and the date each violation will drop off your record.

You can also call the Indiana BMV directly. Their phone line can provide your point total over the phone, though you may need to provide identifying information. A third option is to visit a local BMV branch in person with your driver's license and request a copy of your driving record on the spot.

Checking your record is free and takes only a few minutes. If you are close to 12 points, knowing your exact total helps you understand how much room you have before suspension becomes automatic.

What happens when you reach 12 points

When the BMV's system detects that you have reached 12 points, they mail you a suspension notice. This notice tells you the suspension start date, the length of the suspension (at minimum 90 days), and your options for requesting a hearing. You have the right to request a hearing to contest the suspension, though the hearing must be requested within a certain timeframe stated in the notice.

Your license becomes invalid on the suspension start date. Driving during suspension is illegal and carries serious penalties, including criminal charges, additional fines, and a longer suspension. If you are stopped while suspended, you can face jail time in addition to other consequences.

The suspension period depends on your violation history. A first suspension is typically 90 days. A second suspension within five years is usually 180 days. A third or subsequent suspension can last one year or longer.

How to get your license back after suspension

To reinstate your license after the suspension period ends, you must visit an Indiana BMV branch in person. Bring your driver's license (or state ID if your license was suspended), proof of your identity, and proof of insurance. Some suspensions also require you to pay a reinstatement fee, which varies depending on the reason for suspension.

Before you can reinstate, you must also may support that all the conditions of your suspension have been met. If your suspension included a requirement to complete a driver safety course, you must bring proof of completion. If it required you to install an ignition interlock device (usually for DUI-related suspensions), you must show proof that the device was installed and maintained.

Once you have met all requirements and the suspension period has ended, the BMV will reinstate your license on the spot. You can then drive legally again. Your points do not reset to zero—they continue to count down over the two-year period until they fall off.

How to reduce points through a driver safety course

Indiana allows you to reduce your points by completing a defensive driving course approved by the BMV. Completing the course removes up to 4 points from your record. You can take the course once every 24 months, so if you have 8 points and take a course, you drop to 4 points.

The course is available online or in person through various providers. It typically takes 4 to 8 hours to complete, depending on the format. You pay a fee to the course provider—this is not free, and the cost varies. After you finish, the provider sends proof of completion to the BMV, and the points are removed within a few weeks.

Taking a defensive driving course is optional, but it is one of the few ways to actively reduce your points before you reach 12. If you are approaching suspension, a course can buy you time and lower your risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to work during a suspension if I have a special permit?

Indiana does not issue work permits or hardship licenses during a suspension. You cannot drive for any reason during the suspension period, including to work. Your only legal option is to use other transportation or wait until the suspension ends and you have reinstated your license.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward my Indiana suspension?

Yes. If you receive a violation in another state and it is reported to Indiana, those points count toward your 12-point total. Indiana and other states share violation information through a system called the Interstate Compact. The points assigned may differ slightly from what the other state assigned, but Indiana will add them to your record.

What happens to my points if I pay a ticket versus contesting it in court?

Paying a ticket is an admission of guilt, and the points are added to your record when ready. If you contest the ticket in court and the judge finds you not guilty, no points are added. If you are found guilty, the points are added. Some courts offer traffic school or plea agreements that reduce the points assigned, so asking about these options when you appear is worth doing.

How long does a suspension stay on my record after it ends?

A suspension itself remains on your driving record permanently, but it no longer affects your ability to drive once the suspension period ends and you have reinstated. The points from violations that caused the suspension continue to count for two years from the violation date, then drop off.

Can I request a hearing to challenge my suspension?

Yes. When you receive a suspension notice, it includes instructions for requesting a hearing. You must request the hearing within the timeframe stated in the notice, usually 10 days. At the hearing, you can present evidence or arguments about why the suspension should not happen, though the BMV must follow the point system rules, so successful challenges are uncommon unless there is an error in your record.