Virginia suspends your license when you reach 18 points in a 12-month period, not at a fixed point threshold

Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each type of violation carries a specific point value. When your total reaches 18 points within any 12-month rolling period, the DMV automatically suspends your license for a set amount of time. The suspension length depends on how many times you have been suspended before.

The 12-month window is a rolling calculation, meaning the DMV looks back 12 months from today, not calendar years. If you received 10 points in January and 8 points in November of the same year, you hit 18 points and trigger a suspension. Once January arrives the following year, those January points drop off the calculation, and your total resets.

Understanding which violations cost how many points helps you see how quickly you can reach the suspension threshold. A single serious violation can put you partway there; multiple minor ones accumulate faster than you might expect.

Key Takeaways

  • Virginia suspends your license when you accumulate 18 points within a rolling 12-month period, not at any lower threshold.
  • Common violations like speeding 1–9 mph over the limit cost 3 points, while reckless driving costs 6 points and driving under the influence costs 6 points.
  • Your first suspension lasts three months; a second suspension within five years lasts six months; a third or later suspension lasts one year.
  • Points stay on your record for 11 years from the violation date, but only violations within the past 12 months count toward the 18-point suspension threshold.

Common Virginia violations and their point values

Speeding violations make up a large share of point accumulation. Driving 1–9 mph over the posted limit costs 3 points. Driving 10–19 mph over costs 4 points. Driving 20–29 mph over costs 6 points. Driving 30 mph or more over the limit costs 6 points and may also result in reckless driving charges, which carry additional penalties.

Other frequent violations include improper lane changes (3 points), failure to obey a traffic signal (4 points), and following too closely (4 points). Reckless driving, regardless of the specific behavior, costs 6 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI) costs 6 points, though a DUI conviction also triggers a separate administrative license suspension that happens before the point-based suspension.

Hit-and-run violations, driving with a suspended license, and racing cost 6 points each. Accumulating points from multiple violations in a short period is the most common way drivers reach 18 points. A single speeding ticket will not suspend you, but three or four violations within a year can.

How suspension length is determined

Your first license suspension in Virginia lasts three months. If you receive a second suspension within five years of the first one, that suspension lasts six months. A third suspension within five years lasts one year. If more than five years pass between suspensions, the clock resets and the next suspension is treated as a first suspension (three months).

The suspension begins on the date the DMV mails you notice of the suspension. You cannot drive during the suspension period, even with a restricted or hardship license, unless you obtain a restricted license through a separate process. Once the suspension period ends, your license is automatically reinstated if you have no other suspensions or holds on your record.

How to check your current point total

You can view your driving record through the Virginia DMV website or by visiting a DMV customer service center in person. To check online, go to dmvnow.com, select "View Your Driving Record," and log in with your Virginia driver's license number and date of birth. The record shows every violation from the past 11 years, the date of each violation, and the points assigned.

The online record updates within a few days of a conviction being reported to the DMV. If you were recently convicted of a violation, it may not appear when ready. Calling your local DMV office can sometimes provide faster information about pending violations, though the online system is the official record.

What happens when you reach 18 points

The DMV sends you a suspension notice by mail. The notice states the suspension start date, the length of the suspension, and instructions for what to do when the suspension ends. You must stop driving on the suspension start date. Driving during a suspension is a separate criminal offense in Virginia and can result in jail time, fines, and additional license suspension.

If you receive a violation while your license is suspended, the points from that violation still count toward future suspensions. This means it is possible to accumulate enough points during a suspension to trigger another suspension when ready after the first one ends.

Reducing points through driver improvement

Virginia allows you to reduce your point total by taking an approved driver improvement course. Completing the course removes up to 5 points from your record, but only if you have not taken a course in the past 12 months. You can take the course only once per 12-month period, so the maximum reduction is 5 points per year.

The course must be approved by the Virginia DMV. Many are offered online and take three to four hours to complete. You pay a fee to the course provider (typically $20 to $50) and receive a certificate of completion. You then submit the certificate to the DMV, which processes the point reduction within a few weeks.

Taking a course does not erase violations from your record or affect insurance rates. It only reduces the point total used to calculate suspension may be able to access. If you are close to 18 points, a course can push you back below the threshold and prevent a suspension.

Points and insurance rates

Insurance companies use your driving record to set your rates, but they do not use Virginia's point system directly. Instead, they see the violations themselves and assign their own point values or rate increases. A speeding ticket might cost you more in insurance increases than the 3 Virginia points it carries, or it might cost less. Insurance companies have their own underwriting rules.

A license suspension does appear on your record and typically results in a significant insurance rate increase or policy cancellation. Some insurers will not cover drivers with active suspensions. If your license is suspended, contact your insurance company when ready to understand how it affects your policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Virginia does not issue hardship licenses during point-based suspensions. You cannot drive for any reason during the suspension period. However, you may be able to request a restricted license for specific purposes like work or medical appointments if you meet certain conditions. Contact your local DMV office to discuss your situation.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward the 18-point threshold?

Yes, if the out-of-state violation is reported to Virginia and added to your driving record, it counts toward the suspension threshold. The points assigned may differ from Virginia's point values, depending on the reciprocal agreement between Virginia and the other state. Check your Virginia driving record to see if an out-of-state violation appears.

What if I was convicted but the violation was later dismissed or overturned?

You must request that the DMV remove the violation from your record. Contact the DMV with documentation of the dismissal or reversal, such as a court order. The DMV will investigate and remove the violation if the documentation is valid. This process can take several weeks.

How long do points stay on my record?

Points remain on your Virginia driving record for 11 years from the violation date. However, only violations within the past 12 months count toward the 18-point suspension threshold. After 12 months, a violation stops counting toward suspension even though it remains visible on your full record.

Can I appeal a suspension?

You cannot appeal a suspension based on the point calculation itself, since it is automatic once you reach 18 points. However, you can request a hearing if you believe the DMV made an error in recording a violation or calculating your points. Submit a written request to the DMV within a specified timeframe listed on your suspension notice.