Arizona suspends your license when you accumulate 8 points within 12 months, 12 points within 24 months, or 18 points within 36 months

Arizona's Department of Transportation (ADOT) tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a specific number of points. When your total reaches certain thresholds within specific time windows, ADOT automatically suspends your license. The thresholds are not negotiable — they are built into state law, and ADOT has no discretion to waive them.

The suspension is not permanent. After you serve the suspension period (which varies based on how many points triggered it), you can request reinstatement by paying a reinstatement fee to ADOT. But understanding the point totals that trigger suspension helps you see how quickly a few violations can add up.

Key Takeaways

  • Eight points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 18 points in 36 months will trigger an automatic license suspension in Arizona.
  • Different violations carry different point values — a speeding ticket might be 1 point, while reckless driving is 8 points.
  • Points stay on your record for 36 months (three years) from the violation date, even if your license is not suspended.
  • You can check your current point total by contacting ADOT or viewing your driving record through their online system.
  • A suspension triggered by points typically lasts 30 days for a first suspension, but longer suspensions explore if you have prior suspensions.

What violations cost how many points

Arizona assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Minor infractions like speeding 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit cost 1 point. Speeding 11 to 20 miles per hour over the limit costs 2 points. Speeding more than 20 miles per hour over the limit costs 3 points.

More serious violations carry higher point totals. Reckless driving is 8 points. Aggressive driving is 8 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) is 8 points. Hit and run is 8 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is 6 points. Failure to stop for a school bus is 6 points. Unsafe lane change, improper turn, or following too closely are each 3 points.

The point value does not change based on your driving history or how many prior violations you have. A speeding ticket is always 1 point, whether it is your first ticket or your tenth. The suspension threshold is what changes — your second suspension will be longer than your first.

How the 12-month, 24-month, and 36-month windows work

Arizona looks at your points across three overlapping time periods. If you hit 8 points within any 12-month period, your license is suspended. If you hit 12 points within any 24-month period, your license is suspended. If you hit 18 points within any 36-month period, your license is suspended.

These windows are rolling, not calendar-based. If you received a violation on March 15, 2023, that violation counts toward the 12-month window until March 15, 2024. On March 16, 2024, it drops out of the 12-month window but stays in the 24-month and 36-month windows. This means a violation can trigger a suspension months or even years after it occurred, if you accumulate enough additional points.

You do not have to receive all the points at once. If you get a 3-point violation in January and a 5-point violation in June, you have 8 points within 12 months and your license will be suspended. ADOT sends a notice of suspension by mail, typically 10 to 20 days after the point total crosses the threshold.

How long your license stays suspended

The length of your suspension depends on which threshold you crossed and whether you have had prior suspensions. A first suspension triggered by reaching 8 points in 12 months typically lasts 30 days. A first suspension triggered by reaching 12 points in 24 months typically lasts 60 days. A first suspension triggered by reaching 18 points in 36 months typically lasts 90 days.

If you have already had one suspension and you accumulate points that trigger a second suspension, the suspension period is longer. A second suspension for 8 points in 12 months is typically 60 days. A second suspension for 12 points in 24 months is typically 120 days. A third or subsequent suspension can last 180 days or longer.

The suspension period begins on the date shown in ADOT's notice of suspension. You cannot drive during this period, even with a restricted license, unless you have obtained a occupational license from the court (a separate process that requires showing hardship).

How to find out your current point total

You can request your driving record from ADOT online through their website or by mail. The online option is faster — you can view your record when ready after paying a small fee. The record shows every violation on your driving history for the past three years, the point value of each violation, and the date it occurred.

If you have received a notice of suspension in the mail, it will state the point total that triggered the suspension and the suspension start date. Do not ignore this notice. If you do not serve the suspension and then drive, you can be charged with driving with a suspended license, which is a separate criminal offense.

You can also contact ADOT's Customer Services by phone to ask about your record, though they may ask you to request it in writing or online for verification purposes.

What happens after your suspension ends

When your suspension period is over, your license does not automatically become valid again. You must request reinstatement from ADOT by paying a reinstatement fee (the amount varies based on the reason for suspension) and submitting the required paperwork. ADOT will mail you a notice confirming reinstatement, and your license becomes valid on the date shown in that notice.

Until you are reinstated, driving is illegal. Some people mistakenly believe that once the calendar days of the suspension have passed, they can drive again. That is not how it works. You must complete the reinstatement process before you get behind the wheel.

After reinstatement, the points from your violations remain on your record for 36 months from the violation date. This means you can accumulate additional points during that time and trigger another suspension. Points do not disappear after the suspension ends — they stay on your record for the full three-year period.

Violations that result in when ready license suspension or revocation

Some violations do not follow the point system. They trigger when ready suspension or revocation without waiting for you to accumulate 8, 12, or 18 points. A DUI conviction results in when ready license revocation (not just suspension) for a minimum of 90 days on a first offense. Driving with a suspended or revoked license can result in when ready suspension of any valid license you hold.

Refusing to take a breath or blood test during a DUI stop triggers an automatic administrative suspension separate from any criminal case. This suspension begins 15 days after the refusal and lasts 12 months on a first refusal.

If you are under 18, Arizona has a separate point system with lower thresholds. Minors face suspension at 3 points in 12 months, 4 points in 24 months, or 6 points in 36 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive during my suspension if I get an occupational license?

An occupational license is not automatic. You must petition the court in the county where you were cited and show that the suspension causes undue hardship — typically meaning you cannot get to work, school, or medical appointments. The court decides whether to grant it. Even with an occupational license, you can only drive for the specific purposes listed in the court order.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward my Arizona suspension?

Yes. Arizona counts violations from other states if they are reported to ADOT through the Interstate Compact. Most states report violations, so a speeding ticket in California or Nevada will appear on your Arizona record and count toward your point total.

What if I was not the one driving when the violation occurred?

You can contest the violation by fighting the ticket in traffic court. If you win, the violation is dismissed and no points are added to your record. If you lose or pay the ticket without contesting it, the points are added regardless of who was actually driving.

How much does it cost to get my license reinstated after suspension?

The reinstatement fee varies depending on the reason for suspension. For a suspension triggered by points, the fee is typically $100 to $200, but you should contact ADOT directly to confirm the exact amount for your situation.

If I take a defensive driving course, will it remove points from my record?

A defensive driving course can reduce points on your record, but only if you take it within a specific time frame and only once every 12 months. You must also have been cited for a moving violation (not a parking violation). The course removes up to 3 points, but it does not prevent a suspension if you have already crossed the threshold.