Georgia suspends your license when you accumulate 15 points within a 24-month period

The Georgia Department of Driver Services tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a specific point value — a speeding ticket might be 2 points, reckless driving 6 points, at-fault accidents 3 points. When your total reaches 15 points in any 24-month window, the state automatically suspends your license for a minimum of three months.

This is a mandatory suspension, not a warning or a fine. Once you hit 15 points, you cannot drive legally in Georgia until the suspension period ends and you complete the reinstatement process. The 24-month clock resets as violations age off your record — a violation from 25 months ago no longer counts toward the total.

Key Takeaways

  • Georgia suspends your license automatically when you reach 15 points within 24 months; there is no discretion or appeal to prevent the suspension itself.
  • The suspension lasts a minimum of three months, and you must pay a reinstatement fee and provide proof of insurance before you can drive again.
  • Points stay on your record for different lengths of time depending on the violation type — most traffic violations remain for three years, but serious violations like DUI stay longer.
  • You can check your current point total through the Georgia DDS website or by requesting a copy of your driving record in person or by mail.
  • If you receive a ticket, you have the right to contest it in traffic court, and a dismissal or reduction removes or lowers the points assigned to that violation.

How points are assigned to different violations

Georgia assigns points based on the severity of the violation and the risk it represents. Minor infractions like a broken taillight carry no points — only a fine. Most common traffic violations fall into the 2 to 4 point range: speeding 1 to 14 miles over the limit is 2 points, speeding 15 to 24 miles over is 3 points, speeding 25 miles or more is 4 points.

More serious violations carry higher point values. Reckless driving is 6 points. Improper passing is 4 points. Failure to yield is 3 points. At-fault accidents are 3 points. Hit-and-run is 6 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is 6 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) is 4 points, though a DUI conviction also triggers a separate administrative license suspension that operates independently of the point system.

You can find the complete point schedule on the Georgia DDS website under the Driver's License section. If you are unsure how many points a specific violation carries, request your driving record from DDS — it will show every violation on file and the points assigned to each one.

How long violations stay on your record

Points do not stay on your record forever, but the timeline depends on the type of violation. Most traffic violations — speeding, improper passing, failure to yield, at-fault accidents — remain on your record for three years from the date of the violation. After three years, those points no longer count toward the 15-point suspension threshold.

Serious violations have longer records. A DUI conviction stays on your record for ten years. Reckless driving stays for five years. Hit-and-run stays for five years. Driving with a suspended or revoked license stays for five years. This means a single serious violation can keep you closer to the suspension threshold for much longer than a routine speeding ticket.

The 24-month window for suspension is separate from how long violations stay on your record. You could have 14 points from violations spread across the past three years, but if none of those violations occurred in the past 24 months, you would not be at risk of suspension. However, if you receive one more 2-point violation within the next 24 months, you hit 15 points and trigger suspension.

What happens when your license is suspended

When you reach 15 points, Georgia DDS mails you a notice of suspension to the address on file with your license. The suspension becomes effective 10 days after the notice is mailed, giving you a brief window to plan. You cannot legally drive during the suspension period — doing so is driving with a suspended license, which is itself a 6-point violation and a criminal offense.

The minimum suspension period is three months. If this is your first suspension, it lasts exactly three months. If you have been suspended before, the length increases: a second suspension is six months, a third is 12 months. After the suspension period ends, your license does not automatically reactivate — you must complete reinstatement steps.

During the suspension, you cannot obtain a hardship license or restricted license in Georgia unless you meet very specific criteria related to employment or medical necessity, and even then the process requires a hearing and approval from DDS. Most drivers straightforward wait out the suspension period.

Steps to reinstate your license after suspension

Reinstatement requires three things: the suspension period must have ended, you must pay the reinstatement fee, and you must provide proof of insurance. The reinstatement fee is $210 as of the current year, though you should confirm the current amount with DDS before submitting payment.

You can reinstate your license by mail, in person at a DDS office, or online through the Georgia DDS website if you have a valid email address on file. If you reinstate online or by mail, you will receive your new license by mail within 7 to 10 business days. If you reinstate in person, you can receive a temporary license when ready and your permanent license by mail.

Proof of insurance means a current auto insurance policy in your name or as a named driver on someone else's policy. You can submit a copy of your insurance card, a declaration page from your insurer, or an electronic proof of insurance from your insurance company's website. The policy must be active on the date you submit the reinstatement request.

How to check your current point total

You can view your driving record and point total through the Georgia DDS website without paying a fee. Go to the DDS homepage, select "Check Your Driving Record," and enter your driver's license number and date of birth. The system will show you every violation on your record, the date of each violation, the points assigned, and the date each violation will age off.

If you prefer not to use the online system, you can request a copy of your driving record in person at any DDS office or by mail. The in-person copy costs $5 and is available when ready. The mail request costs $5 and takes 7 to 10 business days. Include your driver's license number and date of birth with any mail request.

Checking your record regularly is useful if you have received multiple violations. If you are approaching 15 points, you know how much room you have left before suspension becomes automatic. This information can help you decide whether to contest a ticket in court — a dismissal or reduction removes or lowers the points, which might keep you below the suspension threshold.

Contesting a ticket to reduce or remove points

When you receive a traffic ticket in Georgia, you have the right to contest it in traffic court. If you win, the violation is dismissed and no points are assigned. If the court reduces the charge to a lesser violation, the points are reduced accordingly. This is the only way to prevent or lower points after a violation has been issued.

You must contest the ticket within the timeframe specified on the ticket itself — usually 30 days. You can appear in person, hire an attorney, or in some jurisdictions request a trial by written statement where you submit your defense without appearing. If you are close to the 15-point threshold, contesting even a minor violation can be worth the effort and cost.

If you lose in traffic court, you can appeal to superior court, though this is rare and requires an attorney in most cases. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the traffic court decision. Most drivers either pay the fine and accept the points or work with an attorney to negotiate a reduction before trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a hardship license while my license is suspended?

Georgia allows hardship licenses only in limited circumstances — primarily for employment, medical treatment, or court-ordered obligations. You must request a hearing with DDS and prove the hardship is genuine and unavoidable. Most drivers are denied. Contact your local DDS office to learn whether your situation qualifies.

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

Yes. Georgia counts violations from other states if you were driving in Georgia at the time or if the violation is reported to Georgia through the Interstate Compact. A speeding ticket from Florida or South Carolina will appear on your Georgia record and count toward the 15-point threshold.

What if I get another violation while my license is already suspended?

Driving with a suspended license is a 6-point violation and a criminal offense. If you are caught, you face criminal charges, jail time, and a fine in addition to the points. The points from this new violation will count when you reinstate and could trigger another suspension when ready.

How long does reinstatement take?

If you reinstate online or by mail, your new license arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days. If you reinstate in person at a DDS office, you receive a temporary license when ready and your permanent license by mail within the same timeframe. You cannot legally drive until you have completed reinstatement.

Do I have to pay for a new license when I reinstate?

You pay the $210 reinstatement fee, not a new license fee. Your license itself remains valid — reinstatement straightforward removes the suspension flag from your record. If your license is expiring soon, you will need to renew it separately at the normal renewal fee.