Points stay on your Indiana driving record for two years from the date of the violation, but they affect your license and insurance differently depending on how many you accumulate
Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) keeps a record of every traffic violation you receive. When you get a ticket for speeding, running a red light, or other moving violations, the BMV assigns points to your license — typically between 2 and 6 points depending on the offense. Those points remain visible on your record for two years, and during that time they can raise your insurance rates, trigger license suspension, or both.
The two-year clock starts from the date the violation occurred, not the date you paid the ticket or went to court. This means a ticket you received on March 15 will drop off your record on March 15 two years later, even if you didn't pay it until months afterward.
Key Takeaways
- Traffic points in Indiana remain on your driving record for two years from the violation date, not the payment date.
- Accumulating 12 or more points within a two-year period results in automatic license suspension for 30 days.
- Insurance companies can see your points for longer than two years, so violations may affect your rates beyond the BMV's two-year window.
- You can request a court hearing to contest a ticket before points are added to your record, which stops the points from being recorded if you win.
- Some violations, like reckless driving or driving with a suspended license, carry harsher point values and longer-term consequences.
How many points each violation carries
Not all traffic violations are worth the same number of points. Indiana assigns points based on how serious the offense is. A minor violation like failing to yield might be 2 points, while speeding 21 miles per hour over the limit is 6 points. Reckless driving, which is a criminal charge rather than a straightforward traffic ticket, carries 8 points.
You can find the exact point value for your specific violation by contacting the BMV directly or by checking your ticket — many tickets list the point value on the citation itself. If you're unsure, the BMV's website has a searchable database of violations and their point values, or you can call your local BMV branch.
When your license gets suspended because of points
Accumulating 12 or more points within any two-year period triggers an automatic 30-day license suspension. This is not a warning or a fine — your license becomes invalid and you cannot legally drive. The suspension begins on the date the BMV sends you notice, which is usually within a few weeks of you reaching 12 points.
If you accumulate 18 or more points within two years, the suspension extends to 90 days. A third suspension within five years results in a one-year suspension. These suspensions are separate from any suspension ordered by a court as part of a criminal sentence.
You can request a hearing before the BMV to contest the suspension, but you must do so within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points were recorded in error or that circumstances warrant leniency, though the BMV rarely overturns a suspension based on points alone.
How points affect your insurance rates
Insurance companies maintain their own records of your driving history and can see your points for longer than the BMV keeps them on file. While the BMV removes points after two years, your insurance company may factor violations into your rates for three to five years or longer, depending on the company and the severity of the violation.
A single minor violation might raise your rates by 10 to 15 percent, while a serious violation like reckless driving or driving under the influence can increase rates by 50 percent or more. Some insurers will drop you entirely if you accumulate too many violations in a short time. When you shop for insurance, be honest about your driving record — insurers will find out anyway through the Motor Vehicle Report (MVR), and lying on an process can void your coverage.
Removing points from your record before two years
Indiana does not offer a formal point reduction program like some states do. You cannot take a defensive driving course to reduce points, and you cannot petition the BMV to remove points early. The only way to prevent points from being added to your record in the first place is to contest the ticket in court before you are found guilty or before you plead guilty.
If you receive a ticket, you have the right to request a court hearing. At that hearing, you can argue that the officer made an error, that you were not actually in violation, or that the evidence is insufficient. If the judge finds in your favor, the ticket is dismissed and no points are recorded. If you lose, the points are added when ready.
Some people negotiate with the prosecutor to reduce the charge to a non-moving violation, which carries no points. This is called a plea bargain. Whether this option is available depends on the specific violation and the prosecutor's policies in your county.
How to check your current points and driving record
You can view your driving record through the Indiana BMV's online system or by visiting a BMV branch in person. To check online, go to the BMV website and use their driver record lookup tool — you will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The online record shows all violations on your record, the date each occurred, and the points assigned.
You can also request a certified copy of your driving record by mail or in person, which takes about five to ten business days. This certified record is what insurance companies and employers typically request when they need an official version of your history.
If you see a violation on your record that you believe is incorrect, contact the BMV when ready with documentation of the error. Correcting a record can take several weeks, so start the process as soon as you notice the mistake.
What happens after points drop off your record
Once two years have passed since the violation date, the points are removed from your BMV record and no longer count toward suspension. However, this does not erase the violation from your history entirely — it remains in the BMV's archives and can still be seen by law enforcement, courts, and others with authorized access. For most practical purposes, though, the violation stops affecting your license once the points expire.
Your insurance company may continue to consider the violation when calculating rates, even after the points drop off the BMV record. When you renew your policy, ask your insurer whether they still factor in violations that are more than two years old — some companies do and some do not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get points removed from my license if I take a defensive driving course?
Indiana does not allow point reduction through defensive driving courses. However, taking a course may help you in court if you contest a ticket, and some insurance companies offer discounts for completing an approved course. Check with your insurer about their discount policy.
Do points from different violations add up, or does each one reset the two-year clock?
Points add up. If you receive multiple violations within a two-year period, all the points count toward the 12-point suspension threshold. Each violation has its own two-year expiration date, but they accumulate while they are all active.
What is the difference between points and a license suspension ordered by a court?
Points are administrative — they accumulate automatically when you are convicted of a moving violation. A court-ordered suspension is a separate penalty that a judge imposes as part of sentencing for a criminal charge like DUI. You can have both at the same time.
If I move out of Indiana, do the points on my license still matter?
Yes. Indiana points follow you if you move to another state and transfer your license. Most states have reciprocal agreements that share driving records, so your new state will see your Indiana violations and may explore their own penalties based on them.
How do I request a hearing to contest my license suspension?
You must request the hearing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice from the BMV. Contact your local BMV branch or call the BMV's main office to request a hearing date. Bring documentation of any errors or circumstances you believe the BMV should consider.