Pennsylvania suspends your license when you reach 6 points within 12 months
Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. When your record reaches 6 points in any 12-month period, PennDOT will suspend your license. The suspension lasts until you meet reinstatement requirements, which typically include paying a fee and waiting a set period.
The 6-point threshold is fixed by state law and does not change based on your age, driving history, or the type of violations. However, the specific violations that land on your record — and how many points each carries — vary depending on what you were cited for and whether you were convicted.
Understanding which violations add points, how long they stay on your record, and what happens after suspension can help you make informed decisions about traffic matters and know what to expect if you receive a citation.
Key Takeaways
- Your Pennsylvania license is suspended when you accumulate 6 points within a 12-month period, and the suspension remains in effect until you complete reinstatement steps.
- Different violations carry different point values — speeding 26 mph over the limit is 6 points alone, while speeding 1–5 mph over is 2 points.
- Points remain on your record for 12 months from the conviction date, so a violation from 13 months ago no longer counts toward the 6-point threshold.
- You can request a hearing before PennDOT to contest a suspension, and some violations can be reduced or dismissed through traffic court.
- Reinstatement requires paying a fee (currently $100 for a standard suspension) and waiting out any mandatory suspension period before you can drive again.
How points are assigned to different violations
Pennsylvania assigns points based on the severity of the violation. A single violation can range from 2 points to 6 points. Speeding violations are among the most common and illustrate how the scale works: speeding 1–5 mph over the limit is 2 points, while speeding 26 mph or more over the limit is 6 points on its own.
Other common violations and their point values include reckless driving (6 points), careless driving (3 points), following too closely (3 points), improper passing (4 points), and failure to obey a traffic signal (4 points). Parking violations and equipment violations typically do not add points to your driving record.
The violation must result in a conviction — either a guilty plea or a finding of guilt after a hearing — for points to be added. If you are found not guilty or the citation is dismissed, no points are recorded.
When points drop off your record
Points remain on your Pennsylvania driving record for exactly 12 months from the date of conviction, not from the date you received the ticket. Once 12 months have passed since your conviction date, that violation no longer counts toward the 6-point threshold for suspension.
This means if you received two violations 13 months apart, the first one will have dropped off by the time the second is convicted. However, the violation itself stays on your record permanently for insurance and employment purposes — only the points expire after 12 months.
If you are close to the 12-month mark on an older violation, you may want to delay resolving a new citation until after that date passes, since the timing can mean the difference between suspension and staying under the threshold. A traffic attorney can advise you on the specific dates on your record.
What happens when you reach 6 points
When PennDOT determines that you have reached 6 points within 12 months, they send you a notice of suspension by mail. The notice includes the suspension start date, the length of the suspension, and instructions for reinstatement. You do not have to wait for the notice to arrive to request a hearing — you can contact PennDOT as soon as you know you have been convicted of a violation that will push you to 6 points.
The suspension takes effect on the date stated in the notice. During the suspension period, you cannot legally drive in Pennsylvania or any other state. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, possible jail time, and additional license penalties.
The length of the suspension depends on whether it is your first suspension. A first suspension typically lasts 30 days, though this can vary based on the specific violations involved. Subsequent suspensions within a certain period may be longer.
How to request a hearing before suspension takes effect
Pennsylvania law gives you the right to request a hearing before your license is suspended. You must request the hearing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice from PennDOT. The hearing is held before a PennDOT hearing officer and gives you the chance to present evidence or arguments about why the suspension should not take effect.
Common reasons for requesting a hearing include errors in the point calculation, disputes about whether a conviction actually occurred, or evidence that one of the violations should have been dismissed. However, if the convictions are accurate and the points are correctly calculated, the hearing officer will likely uphold the suspension.
You can represent yourself at the hearing or hire a traffic attorney. If you request a hearing, the suspension is typically delayed until after the hearing is held, so you can continue driving during the process. Contact PennDOT's Bureau of Driver Licensing to find out how to request a hearing in your case.
Reinstatement requirements and fees
To reinstate your license after a suspension, you must pay a reinstatement fee to PennDOT. The current fee is $100 for a standard suspension. You must also wait out the suspension period — you cannot reinstate your license before the suspension end date, even if you pay the fee early.
After the suspension period ends and you have paid the fee, you can explore for reinstatement by mail, online through PennDOT's website, or in person at a Driver License Center. You do not have to retake the written or road test unless your license has been suspended for other reasons (such as medical suspension) or has expired.
Once your reinstatement is processed, your license is restored and you can drive again. However, the violations that caused the suspension remain on your record for insurance and employment purposes for a longer period — typically three to five years depending on the violation type.
Options if you want to contest a violation before points are added
If you have received a citation but have not yet been convicted, you have options to potentially avoid points being added to your record. You can plead not guilty and request a hearing in traffic court, where you can present a defense or the officer may not appear to testify. If you are found not guilty or the citation is dismissed, no points are recorded.
You can also explore whether the violation can be reduced to a lesser offense that carries fewer points or no points. Some jurisdictions offer traffic school or defensive driving courses as an alternative to conviction, though this varies by location and violation type. An attorney can advise you on what options are available for your specific citation.
The key is to act before you are convicted. Once a conviction is entered into the system, the points are locked in and cannot be removed until the 12-month period expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with a suspended license if I have a work permit?
No. Pennsylvania does not issue work permits or restricted licenses for point-based suspensions. If your license is suspended for reaching 6 points, you cannot drive for any reason during the suspension period, even for work. You must wait until the suspension ends and you complete reinstatement.
Do points from other states count toward Pennsylvania's 6-point threshold?
Yes. Pennsylvania's point system includes violations from other states if you were convicted there. PennDOT receives records from other states and adds those points to your Pennsylvania record. This means an out-of-state speeding conviction can contribute to a Pennsylvania suspension.
What if I was convicted but never received a suspension notice?
Contact PennDOT's Bureau of Driver Licensing to check your record. It is possible the notice was mailed to an old address or lost in the mail. If you have reached 6 points, you should know this before you are stopped by police, since driving on a suspended license carries criminal penalties. You can request a copy of your driving record online or by mail.
Can I get points removed from my record before 12 months pass?
No. Points automatically expire 12 months from the conviction date and cannot be removed early. However, if you believe a conviction was entered in error or the violation was dismissed, you can request that PennDOT correct your record. This requires documentation from the court showing the conviction was overturned or the case was dismissed.
What happens if I get another violation while my license is suspended?
Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense. You will face additional charges, fines, and possible jail time. Your license suspension will also be extended, and you may face a longer suspension period when you eventually reinstate. It is critical to not drive during a suspension period.