New Jersey lets you remove points through a defensive driving course, but only under specific conditions
You can remove up to three points from your New Jersey driving record by completing an approved defensive driving course. The course must be state-approved, and you can use this option only once every 12 months. You cannot remove points if the violation involved drugs, alcohol, reckless driving, or driving with a suspended or revoked license. The course costs between $20 and $50 depending on the provider, and you complete it online or in person.
The points themselves come from the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and stay on your record for different lengths of time depending on the violation. A speeding ticket adds two or three points and stays for three years. A failure to stop at a red light adds two points and stays for three years. Accumulating 12 or more points in a three-year period triggers a license suspension. Removing points before you reach that threshold is the main reason to take a course.
Key Takeaways
- You can remove up to three points once every 12 months by taking an MVC-approved defensive driving course that costs $20 to $50.
- The course does not work for violations involving alcohol, drugs, reckless driving, or a suspended or revoked license.
- Points from most moving violations stay on your record for three years, and 12 or more points in three years triggers an automatic license suspension.
- You must complete the course and submit proof to the MVC; the points come off your record after the MVC processes your completion certificate.
- Taking the course does not reduce your insurance rates, because insurance companies see the original violation regardless of point removal.
Which violations you can and cannot remove points for
The defensive driving course removes points only for moving violations. You can use it for speeding, running a red light, failure to yield, improper lane change, and similar traffic violations. You cannot use it for violations involving alcohol or drugs (DUI, DWI, refusal to submit to a breath test), reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license, or leaving the scene of an accident.
If you received a ticket for one of the excluded violations, the points cannot be removed through a course. Your only other option is to contest the ticket in traffic court, which requires hiring a lawyer and proving the violation did not occur or that the officer made an error. Most people do not pursue this route because the cost of a lawyer usually exceeds the cost of the higher insurance rates.
How to find and complete an approved course
The MVC maintains a list of approved defensive driving course providers on its website. You can search by county or provider name. Most courses are offered online and take four to six hours to complete. Some providers allow you to break the course into sections and finish over several days. A few in-person courses still exist, usually offered by driving schools or community colleges, and these typically run three to four hours in a single session.
When you enroll, you will need your driver's license number and the violation details (ticket number, date, and violation type). After you complete the course, the provider issues a completion certificate. You must submit this certificate to the MVC within 30 days. Some providers submit it electronically on your behalf; others give you a copy to mail or deliver in person. Check with your provider about their submission process before you enroll.
Timeline for points removal after course completion
The MVC typically processes completion certificates within two to four weeks after receiving them. Once processed, the three points are removed from your driving record. You can check your record status online through the MVC's website using your driver's license number and date of birth.
If you are close to the 12-point suspension threshold, do not wait to take the course. Suspensions are automatic once you hit 12 points, and you cannot remove points retroactively after a suspension is issued. If you have already been suspended, you must wait until the suspension period ends before you can take a course to prevent future suspensions.
Why insurance rates do not drop after point removal
Removing points from your MVC record does not lower your car insurance rates. Insurance companies maintain their own records of violations and use them to set premiums, independent of the MVC's point system. When you take a defensive driving course, the insurance company still sees the original ticket on your driving history.
Some insurance companies offer a small discount (typically 5 to 10 percent) for completing a defensive driving course, but this is a separate discount for taking the course itself, not a result of point removal. You would need to ask your insurance agent whether they offer this discount and what their specific course requirements are.
The 12-point suspension threshold and how to avoid it
New Jersey suspends your license automatically when you accumulate 12 or more points within a three-year rolling period. The suspension lasts from one month to an indefinite period, depending on how many points you have and whether you have prior suspensions. A first suspension for 12 to 14 points is typically one month; 15 to 19 points is two months; 20 or more points can result in a suspension of several months or longer.
If you are approaching 12 points, taking a defensive driving course to remove three points can keep you below the threshold. You can take the course once every 12 months, so if you have six points now and receive a three-point violation in six months, you could take a course when ready after that ticket to stay at six points instead of rising to nine. This strategy works only if you space out violations or take courses strategically before hitting 12.
What happens if you are already suspended
If your license has already been suspended due to reaching 12 points, you cannot take a defensive driving course during the suspension period. You must wait until the suspension ends and your license is reinstated. At that point, you can take a course to remove points and reduce the risk of another suspension.
When your suspension ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the MVC (currently $100) and provide proof of insurance before your license is restored. After reinstatement, your point total resets to zero for suspension purposes, but the violations themselves remain on your record for three years. Taking a course after reinstatement is a good way to prevent a second suspension if you receive new violations during that three-year window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a defensive driving course before I get a ticket to prevent points?
No. You must have received a ticket and have points on your record before you can take the course. The course is designed to remove points after a violation, not to prevent them in advance. Some insurance companies offer discounts for taking a course proactively, but this does not affect your MVC record.
What if I complete the course but the MVC does not process it in time before I get another ticket?
The points from the course removal are based on when the MVC processes your completion certificate, not when you finish the course. If you receive a new ticket before the MVC processes your certificate, both violations will count toward your total. This is why you should submit your certificate as soon as you complete the course and check your record online to confirm the points have been removed.
Can I take multiple courses in one year to remove six or nine points?
No. You can take only one approved defensive driving course per 12-month period, regardless of how many violations you have. The 12-month period is measured from the date the MVC processes your previous course completion, not from the date you took it.
Do I have to disclose that I took a defensive driving course to my insurance company?
You do not have to disclose it, but some insurance companies ask whether you have completed a course and may offer a discount if you have. The violation itself will still appear on your driving record and will affect your rates. Taking the course removes points from the MVC system only, not from insurance company records.
What if I fail the course or do not complete it?
If you do not complete the course, no certificate is issued and no points are removed. You can enroll in another course and try again. Most courses are straightforward and do not have a pass/fail component; you straightforward need to complete all the material. If a provider does have a test, they will tell you upfront, and you can retake it if needed.