Where to Check Your Florida License Points
You can check your points through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) website, by phone, or in person. The fastest method is the online portal at Florida's official DHSMV website, where you log in with your driver's license number and date of birth. You'll see your current point total, any violations on record, and the date each violation will drop off your record.
If you prefer not to go online, call the DHSMV at 1-850-617-2000 during business hours. A representative can tell you your points over the phone. You can also visit a local Driver License office in person — bring your driver's license or ID, and staff will print your driving record for a small fee (usually around $7.50).
Your points appear on what Florida calls your driving record. This is the official history of violations tied to your license. Every traffic conviction — speeding, running a red light, reckless driving — adds points. The number of points depends on the violation type.
Key Takeaways
- Check your points online at the DHSMV website using your license number and date of birth, or call 1-850-617-2000 during business hours.
- Florida adds points for traffic violations, and accumulating 12 points in 12 months triggers a suspension notice.
- Points stay on your record for different lengths of time depending on the violation — most drop off after three to five years.
- You can request a hearing if you receive a suspension notice, and some violations can be reduced through traffic school.
How Florida's Point System Works
Florida assigns points based on the type of violation. A speeding ticket is typically 3 points. Reckless driving is 4 points. Leaving the scene of an accident is 6 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) is 6 points. These points accumulate on your record regardless of whether you paid the fine or contested the ticket — the conviction is what triggers the points.
The state uses points to track dangerous driving patterns. If you reach 12 points within 12 months, the DHSMV will send you a notice of suspension. If you reach 18 points within 18 months, or 24 points within 36 months, your license will be suspended automatically. This is separate from any suspension ordered by a court for a specific violation like DUI.
Points do not stay on your record forever. Most violations drop off after three years from the conviction date. Some serious violations, like DUI, stay for five years. Once a violation drops off, those points no longer count toward your total, though the violation itself remains visible on your full driving history.
What Happens When You Reach 12 Points
When you accumulate 12 points in a 12-month period, the DHSMV mails you a notice of suspension. This notice tells you that your license will be suspended on a specific date — usually 30 days after the notice is mailed — unless you request a hearing. You have the right to request that hearing, and you should do so if you want to contest the suspension or explain your situation to a hearing officer.
To request a hearing, you must contact the DHSMV in writing or through their website before the suspension date listed on your notice. The hearing officer will review your driving record and the circumstances. They may reduce your points, extend your suspension, or uphold it. Even if your suspension is upheld, you can later request a license reinstatement once you meet the requirements — typically paying a reinstatement fee and waiting a set period.
If you do not request a hearing and your license is suspended, you cannot legally drive. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines and possible jail time.
Reducing Points Through Traffic School
Florida allows you to reduce points by completing an approved traffic school course. You can remove up to 4 points from your record once every 12 months by taking a defensive driving course. The course is usually offered online and takes about four hours to complete. You must pay a course fee, which varies by provider but typically ranges from $25 to $50.
You can only use traffic school if you were not involved in an accident and have not taken a traffic school course in the past 12 months. You must also complete the course before your suspension takes effect — once your license is suspended, traffic school will not prevent that suspension, though it may help you later.
After you complete the course, the provider sends a certificate to the DHSMV. The 4-point reduction is applied to your record, and your new total is calculated. This reduction happens automatically; you do not need to request it separately.
Understanding Your Driving Record Details
When you view your driving record online or request a copy, you will see each violation listed with the date it occurred, the type of violation, the points assigned, and the date it will drop off your record. You will also see any suspensions, restrictions, or endorsements on your license — for example, if you are required to use an ignition interlock device after a DUI.
Your record shows convictions only, not arrests or tickets that were dismissed. If you were ticketed but the charge was dropped or you were found not guilty, that violation should not appear on your record. If you see an error — a violation you do not recognize, incorrect points, or a violation that should have dropped off — you can dispute it with the DHSMV.
To dispute an error, contact the DHSMV directly with documentation supporting your claim. This might be a court document showing the charge was dismissed, or proof that the violation date is wrong. The DHSMV will investigate and correct your record if the error is confirmed.
What to Do If Your License Is Suspended
If your license is suspended due to points, you must wait out the suspension period before you can drive legally again. The suspension length depends on how many points triggered it. A first suspension for reaching 12 points is typically 30 days. A second suspension within five years is 90 days. A third or subsequent suspension is 180 days.
After the suspension period ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the DHSMV — currently $45 — and your license will be restored. You can pay this fee online, by mail, or in person at a Driver License office. Once paid, your license is active again, though your driving record still shows the suspension and the violations that caused it.
If you are suspended again before five years have passed since your last suspension, the new suspension period is longer. This is why checking your points regularly and using traffic school when available can prevent a suspension from happening in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for points to drop off my record?
Most violations drop off after three years from the conviction date. DUI and some serious violations stay for five years. Once the time period passes, those points no longer count toward your total, though the violation remains on your full driving history.
Can I check someone else's driving record?
No, you can only view your own driving record. Florida law protects driving records as private information. If you need someone else's record — for insurance or employment purposes — that person must request it themselves and provide it to you.
What if I was not the one driving when I got the ticket?
You are responsible for the ticket and points if your name is on the citation, even if someone else was driving. You can contest the ticket in traffic court and present evidence that you were not driving, but you must do this before the conviction is final. Once convicted, the points are assigned to your license.
Does paying a fine remove points from my license?
No. Paying the fine closes the ticket, but the points remain on your record. Points are removed only by waiting for the violation to drop off after the required time period, or by completing traffic school if you are may be able to access.
Can I get a hardship license while suspended?
Yes, you may be able to request a hardship license that allows you to drive for work, school, or medical appointments during your suspension. You must request this through the DHSMV and show that the suspension causes undue hardship. Approval is not may provide and depends on your specific situation.