Georgia suspends your license when you accumulate 15 points within a 24-month period

Georgia's Department of Driver Services tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a specific number of points. When your total reaches 15 points within any 24-month window, the state automatically suspends your license for a set period. The suspension length depends on whether this is your first, second, or third suspension within five years.

Points stay on your record for two years from the violation date, but the 24-month lookback window is a rolling calculation. This means a violation from 25 months ago no longer counts toward your total, even if it still appears on your record. Understanding which violations carry how many points helps you see how close you are to suspension.

Key Takeaways

  • Georgia suspends your license automatically when you reach 15 points within 24 months, regardless of the types of violations.
  • A single serious violation like reckless driving (6 points) or DUI (15 points) can trigger suspension on its own or combine with other violations to reach the threshold.
  • Your first suspension lasts 30 days, your second within five years lasts 60 days, and your third or more lasts 120 days.
  • Points from violations committed before your 18th birthday count separately and use a lower threshold of 12 points within 12 months for drivers under 21.

How points are assigned to common Georgia violations

Georgia assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Minor infractions like speeding 10 miles per hour over the limit carry 2 points, while speeding 34 miles per hour or more over the limit carries 6 points. A single speeding ticket for 34+ mph over the limit gets you one-quarter of the way to suspension.

More serious violations carry higher point values. Reckless driving is 6 points. Improper passing is 4 points. Failure to obey traffic signals is 3 points. A DUI conviction is 15 points by itself — one violation that when ready triggers suspension. Hit-and-run, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing police are also serious violations that carry substantial points.

You can request your driving record from the Georgia Department of Driver Services to see exactly which violations are on file and how many points each one carries. This is the only way to know your current point total with certainty.

The 24-month rolling window and how it affects your total

Georgia does not count all violations on your record equally. Only violations from the past 24 months count toward the 15-point suspension threshold. A violation from 25 months ago no longer contributes to your point total, even though it remains visible on your driving record.

This rolling window means your point total can drop suddenly once an older violation ages out. If you have 14 points and a 4-point violation from 24 months ago, you are one point away from suspension. But once that violation reaches 25 months old, your total drops to 10 points and you are no longer in when ready danger of suspension. However, any new violation during this time will add to your current total.

Suspension length based on how many times you have been suspended

Georgia ties suspension length to your suspension history within the past five years, not to how many points you accumulated. Your first suspension within a five-year period lasts 30 days. Your second suspension within five years lasts 60 days. Your third or subsequent suspension within five years lasts 120 days.

The five-year window resets after each suspension ends. If you receive your first suspension, serve it, and then stay violation-free for five years, your next suspension would be treated as a first suspension again and would last 30 days. However, if you accumulate 15 points again within five years of your first suspension, that second suspension lasts 60 days.

Different rules for drivers under 21

Georgia applies stricter point thresholds to drivers under 21. Instead of 15 points in 24 months, drivers under 21 face suspension at 12 points within 12 months. This lower threshold means younger drivers reach suspension more quickly and with fewer violations.

Points from violations committed before your 18th birthday are tracked separately and do not count toward the adult threshold. However, once you turn 18, all violations — including those from before your 18th birthday — begin counting toward the 12-point threshold if you are still under 21. At age 21, you move to the standard 15-point threshold.

What happens when you reach 15 points

When the Georgia Department of Driver Services determines that you have reached 15 points within 24 months, they mail you a notice of suspension. This notice includes the suspension start date, the length of the suspension, and instructions for reinstatement. You do not have to do anything to trigger the suspension — it happens automatically based on the violations on your record.

During your suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is a separate violation that carries 6 points and potential criminal charges. Once your suspension period ends, you must contact the Department of Driver Services to reinstate your license. Reinstatement typically requires paying a reinstatement fee, which varies but is generally between $100 and $200.

How to check your current point total

You can order your Georgia driving record online through the Department of Driver Services website or by mail. The online option is faster and shows your current point total and all violations from the past three to five years. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth.

Your record will list each violation, the date it occurred, the number of points assigned, and the date the points will age off your record. This is the only official way to know exactly where you stand. Do not rely on memory or estimates — violations sometimes take weeks to appear on your record after you receive a ticket, and point totals can be confusing to calculate manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get points removed from my record before they age off?

Georgia does not offer a way to remove points early through defensive driving courses or traffic school. Points remain on your record for two years from the violation date. However, you can contest a violation in traffic court if you believe it was issued in error, which would prevent those points from being added in the first place.

What if I get a ticket while my license is already suspended?

Driving with a suspended license is a separate violation worth 6 points. If you accumulate 15 points again during your suspension period, you will face another suspension once your current one ends. This can result in back-to-back suspensions with longer durations.

Does paying a ticket or going to traffic court change the points?

Paying a ticket does not remove points — it just settles the fine. Going to traffic court gives you a chance to contest the violation itself. If you win in court, the violation is dismissed and no points are added. If you lose, the points are added regardless of whether you paid the fine.

How do I reinstate my license after suspension ends?

Contact the Georgia Department of Driver Services after your suspension period ends. You will need to pay a reinstatement fee and may need to provide proof of financial responsibility (SR-22 insurance) if your suspension was related to a DUI or at-fault accident. Once processed, your license is restored.

Will points from an out-of-state violation count toward Georgia suspension?

Yes. Georgia counts violations from other states through the Interstate Compact agreement. A speeding ticket from Florida or a reckless driving charge from South Carolina will appear on your Georgia record and count toward the 15-point threshold.