Maryland suspends your license when you reach 8 points within a 24-month period
Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a specific number of points. When your total reaches 8 points within any 24-month window, your license is automatically suspended for a set period. The suspension is not optional — it happens without a hearing or warning letter once the MVA processes the violation.
The suspension length depends on how many times you have been suspended before. A first suspension typically lasts 6 months. A second suspension within 5 years lasts 9 months. A third or later suspension lasts 12 months. You cannot drive during this period, even with a restricted license, unless you go through a separate process to request a work-related restriction.
Key Takeaways
- Eight points accumulated within 24 months triggers an automatic license suspension in Maryland.
- Common violations carry 1 to 8 points each — speeding 1 to 8 mph over the limit is 1 point, while reckless driving is 6 points.
- Your suspension length is 6 months for a first suspension, 9 months for a second within 5 years, and 12 months for a third or later.
- Points remain on your record for 3 years from the violation date, but only violations within the most recent 24 months count toward suspension.
- You can request a work-related restriction during your suspension if you need to drive for employment.
How points are assigned to common violations
Maryland assigns points based on the severity and type of violation. Speeding violations carry the fewest points — 1 point for exceeding the limit by 1 to 8 mph, 2 points for 9 to 12 mph over, 3 points for 13 to 15 mph over, and 4 points for 16 mph or more over the posted limit. A single speeding ticket for going 20 mph over the limit puts you at 4 points when ready.
More serious violations jump to higher point values. Failure to obey a traffic signal or stop sign is 3 points. Improper lane change is 2 points. Reckless driving is 6 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI) is 12 points — enough to suspend your license on a single violation, even if you had a clean record before. Hit-and-run is 8 points. Leaving the scene of an accident is 4 points.
Not all violations add points. Parking tickets, equipment violations (like a broken taillight), and some administrative violations do not appear on your driving record as points. Only moving violations — things you did while driving — count toward the 8-point suspension threshold.
The 24-month window and how it resets
Maryland looks only at violations within the most recent 24 months when deciding whether to suspend your license. If you received a violation 25 months ago, it no longer counts toward the 8-point total, even though it remains visible on your record for 3 years.
This means you can reduce your point total by staying violation-free. If you have 7 points from a violation 18 months ago and receive a new 2-point violation today, you now have 9 points and face suspension. But if you wait 6 more months without any new violations, that first violation falls outside the 24-month window and disappears from the calculation — you would drop back to 2 points.
The 24-month window is rolling, not calendar-based. It is measured backward from today. This matters because it means you cannot straightforward wait until January 1st for points to vanish — they vanish 24 months after the violation date itself.
What happens when your license is suspended
Once the MVA processes a violation that pushes you to 8 or more points, they mail you a suspension notice. The notice tells you the suspension start date, the length, and how to request a hearing if you believe there is an error. The suspension typically begins 30 days after the notice is mailed, giving you time to arrange alternative transportation.
During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that can result in fines up to $500, jail time, and an additional 12-month suspension added to your existing one. Police can stop you straightforward for running your license plate, and the suspension will show when ready in their system.
You regain your license automatically when the suspension period ends, but you must pay a reinstatement fee to the MVA. The fee is $100 for a first suspension, $150 for a second, and $200 for a third or later. You also must pass a vision test and provide proof of insurance before your license is reissued.
Requesting a work-related restriction during suspension
If you need to drive for work during your suspension, you can request a restricted license from the MVA. A work-related restriction allows you to drive only to and from your job and only during hours necessary for employment. You cannot use it for personal errands, school, or any other purpose.
To request a restriction, you must submit a form to the MVA along with a letter from your employer stating that your job requires driving and that you have no alternative transportation. The MVA reviews the request and decides whether to grant it. There is no fee for a work-related restriction, but approval is not may provide — the MVA considers whether your job truly requires driving and whether public transportation is available.
A work-related restriction does not shorten your suspension. If you are suspended for 6 months, the restriction lasts for those same 6 months. Once the suspension period ends, your full driving privileges return.
How to check your current point total
You can view your driving record and current point total through the MVA website or by visiting an MVA office in person. Online, you can order a copy of your driving record for a small fee — typically $3 to $5 — and it will show every violation on file and the points assigned to each one. The record also displays the violation date, which helps you calculate which violations fall within your 24-month window.
Your insurance company also receives copies of your driving record and may increase your rates based on points. Some insurers offer discounts if you complete a defensive driving course, which can reduce points by 1 or 2 depending on the course and your record.
Reducing points through defensive driving courses
Maryland allows you to reduce points on your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. The reduction is typically 1 point per course, though some courses may reduce 2 points. You can take a course once every 3 years, so the reduction is modest but can help keep you below the 8-point threshold.
Courses are offered online and in-person by private providers approved by the MVA. They usually take 4 to 8 hours to complete and cost between $30 and $100. You must complete the course before the violation reaches 3 years old — after that, the violation falls off your record entirely and no longer counts.
Taking a course does not erase the violation from your record or prevent your insurance company from seeing it. It only reduces the point value. If you have already been suspended, a course will not restore your license early, but it can help prevent a future suspension if you take it before accumulating 8 points again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my license back early if I complete a driving course?
No. A defensive driving course reduces points on your record but does not shorten a suspension that has already begun. You must wait out the full suspension period — 6, 9, or 12 months depending on whether it is your first, second, or later suspension. After the suspension ends, you pay the reinstatement fee and your license is restored.
What if I get a violation while my license is already suspended?
A new violation while suspended is treated as a separate offense. The points from that violation will be added to your record and will count toward a future suspension once your current one ends. You will also face additional penalties for driving on a suspended license itself, which can include fines and jail time.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Maryland suspension?
Yes. Maryland's MVA receives reports of violations you receive in other states through the Interstate Compact system. Those points count toward your 8-point total just as if you received the violation in Maryland. The point value assigned may differ slightly by state, but Maryland honors the violation.
How long do points stay on my record?
Points remain visible on your driving record for 3 years from the violation date. However, only violations within the most recent 24 months count toward the 8-point suspension threshold. After 24 months, a violation stops affecting your suspension risk, but it stays on your record for insurance and employment purposes until 3 years have passed.
Can I request a hearing to contest the suspension?
Yes. The suspension notice the MVA mails includes instructions for requesting a hearing. You have a limited time to request one — typically 30 days from the notice date. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the violation was recorded in error or that there are other circumstances the MVA should consider, though the point system itself is not negotiable.