Pennsylvania suspends your license when you reach 6 points within 12 months

In Pennsylvania, the point system works like this: when you accumulate 6 points in any 12-month period, PennDOT (the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) will suspend your driving privileges. The suspension is automatic — you do not have to be convicted of a crime for points to count. A traffic violation, a parking ticket that goes to court, or even an accident where you are found at fault can add points to your record.

The 12-month window is a rolling period. If you get 3 points in January and 3 points in December of the same year, you hit 6 points and trigger a suspension. If you get 3 points in January and 3 points in February of the next year, those are in different 12-month windows and do not combine.

The length of your suspension depends on how many points you have accumulated and whether this is your first suspension. A first suspension typically lasts 30 days if you have 6 to 9 points. If you reach 11 points or more, the suspension is longer and may require you to take a defensive driving course before you can drive again.

Key Takeaways

  • Six points accumulated within any 12-month period triggers an automatic license suspension in Pennsylvania.
  • Common violations that add points include speeding (2 to 5 points depending on how far over the limit), reckless driving (4 points), and following too closely (3 points).
  • Your suspension length depends on your total points and whether you have been suspended before; a first suspension for 6 to 9 points is typically 30 days.
  • You can request a hearing with PennDOT to contest the suspension, but you must do so within 30 days of receiving the notice.
  • Points stay on your record for 12 months from the date of the violation, so older violations eventually stop counting toward the 6-point threshold.

What violations cost how many points

Different violations carry different point values. Speeding is the most common violation, and the points depend on how far over the speed limit you were driving. Going 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit costs 2 points. Going 6 to 10 miles per hour over costs 3 points. Going 11 to 15 miles per hour over costs 4 points. Going 16 to 25 miles per hour over costs 5 points. Going 26 miles per hour or more over the limit costs 5 points and may also result in reckless driving charges.

Other common violations include following too closely (3 points), improper passing (3 points), failing to obey a traffic signal (3 points), and driving without a valid license (3 points). Reckless driving, which is a more serious charge than speeding, costs 4 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) costs 6 points by itself, which means a single DUI conviction will trigger a suspension when ready.

Accidents where you are found at fault also add points — typically 3 to 4 points depending on the circumstances. A hit-and-run or leaving the scene of an accident costs 4 points. If you are found at fault in an accident but no violation citation is issued, you may still receive points through PennDOT's accident report process.

How the 12-month rolling window works

The 12-month period is not a calendar year. It is a rolling window that moves forward each day. If you received a violation on March 15, 2024, that violation counts toward your point total until March 15, 2025. On March 16, 2025, that violation drops off and no longer counts.

This matters because you might be close to 6 points but not quite there. If you have 5 points from violations in March 2024, and you get a 2-point violation in April 2024, you now have 7 points and your license will be suspended. But if you wait until April 2025 to get that 2-point violation, the March 2024 violation has aged out and you only have 2 points.

PennDOT tracks this automatically. When you reach 6 points, you will receive a notice in the mail telling you the suspension date. You do not have to do anything to trigger the suspension — it happens on its own once the points are recorded in the system.

First suspension versus repeat suspensions

Your first suspension is typically shorter than a repeat suspension. If you accumulate 6 to 9 points, your first suspension lasts 30 days. If you accumulate 10 to 14 points, your first suspension lasts 60 days. If you accumulate 15 or more points, your first suspension lasts 90 days.

If you are suspended a second time within five years, the suspension periods are longer. A second suspension for 6 to 9 points lasts 60 days instead of 30. A second suspension for 10 to 14 points lasts 90 days instead of 60. A third or subsequent suspension within five years can last 120 days or longer.

Before you can get your license back after a suspension, you may be required to pay a reinstatement fee and, depending on your point total, complete a defensive driving course. The course costs money and takes time, but completing it can reduce points from your record.

How to request a hearing to contest the suspension

When PennDOT sends you a suspension notice, it includes information about your right to request a hearing. You have 30 days from the date on the notice to request one. The hearing is held before a PennDOT hearing officer, and you can present evidence that the violation was not valid or that the points were recorded in error.

To request a hearing, you typically need to contact PennDOT's Bureau of Driver Licensing in writing or by phone. The notice will tell you the exact address or phone number to use. You must include your driver's license number and the reason you believe the suspension should not happen.

A hearing does not automatically overturn the suspension. The hearing officer will review the violation record and the evidence you present. If the violation was issued correctly and the points were calculated correctly, the suspension will stand. However, if there is an error in the record — for example, if a violation was dismissed in court but PennDOT still has it on file — a hearing is your chance to correct it.

Defensive driving courses and point reduction

Pennsylvania allows you to reduce points on your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. You can take the course once every 12 months, and each course removes up to 4 points from your record. The course must be approved by PennDOT, and you pay a fee to take it — usually between $50 and $150 depending on the provider.

Taking a defensive driving course does not prevent a suspension if you have already reached 6 points. However, it can help you avoid a future suspension by reducing your point total before you hit the threshold. For example, if you have 5 points and you complete a defensive driving course, you now have 1 point, and you would need 5 more points before suspension.

Some insurance companies also offer discounts if you complete a defensive driving course, so the course can save you money in two ways: lower insurance premiums and fewer points on your record.

What happens during a suspension

During a suspension, you cannot legally drive in Pennsylvania or any other state. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that can result in fines, jail time, and additional points on your record. A first offense for driving with a suspended license can cost you $200 to $500 in fines and up to 30 days in jail.

Your suspension notice will tell you the exact dates when you cannot drive. Some suspensions are hard suspensions, meaning you cannot drive at all. Other suspensions may be work-restricted, meaning you can drive only to and from work or for other essential purposes, but this is rare in Pennsylvania and usually only happens in specific circumstances.

After the suspension period ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to PennDOT before your license is restored. The fee is typically $50 to $100. Once you pay it, your license is active again, but the points remain on your record for 12 months from the violation date.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. If you receive a traffic violation in another state, Pennsylvania will add points to your record based on the equivalent violation in Pennsylvania. For example, if you get a speeding ticket in New York, PennDOT will add points as if you had received that speeding ticket in Pennsylvania. The violation must be reported to Pennsylvania through the interstate compact system, which can take several weeks.

Can I get points removed from my record before they age out?

Yes, by completing a defensive driving course. You can remove up to 4 points per course, and you can take one course every 12 months. You cannot remove points by paying a fine or by waiting — the only ways to remove points early are through a defensive driving course or by having a violation dismissed or overturned in court.

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

The new violation will add points to your record, and when your current suspension ends, those new points will still be there. If the new points push you over 6 points again within 12 months, you will face another suspension when ready after the first one ends. This is why it is important not to drive during a suspension.

Does paying a traffic ticket fine reduce my points?

No. Paying the fine does not remove points from your record. The fine and the points are separate. You pay the fine to resolve the ticket, but the points remain on your record for 12 months from the violation date. The only ways to reduce points are through a defensive driving course or by having the violation dismissed in court.

How do I know if a violation has been added to my record?

You can check your driving record through PennDOT's website or by requesting a copy by mail. Your record shows all violations, points, and suspensions. You should check your record periodically to make sure it is accurate and to know how close you are to 6 points.