Virginia suspends your license when you accumulate 18 points within 12 months, 24 points within 24 months, or 36 points within 36 months
Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles uses a point system to track traffic violations. Each violation carries a specific point value. When your total reaches certain thresholds within defined time windows, the DMV automatically suspends your driving privileges. The suspension is mandatory — there is no discretion involved once you hit the point total.
The three suspension triggers are strict: 18 points in one year, 24 points in two years, or 36 points in three years. Points accumulate from the date each violation occurred, not from the date you were convicted. This means a violation from January 2023 and another from January 2024 both count toward your 12-month total if you're checking in early 2024.
Understanding which violations carry how many points, and how long they stay on your record, helps you see how close you are to suspension and what your options are if you receive a ticket.
Key Takeaways
- Virginia suspends your license automatically at 18 points in 12 months, 24 points in 24 months, or 36 points in 36 months — you do not have to wait for a hearing.
- Speeding violations range from 3 points (1–9 mph over) to 6 points (26+ mph over), and reckless driving is 6 points regardless of speed.
- Points remain on your record for 11 years from the date of conviction, but only violations within the relevant time window count toward suspension.
- You can request a DMV hearing to contest the suspension, but you must do so within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice.
- Traffic school, defensive driving courses, or conviction dismissals can reduce or eliminate points, depending on the violation and your driving history.
Point values for common Virginia traffic violations
Speeding violations are the most frequent reason drivers accumulate points. Virginia assigns points based on how far over the speed limit you were traveling: 1–9 mph over is 3 points, 10–19 mph over is 4 points, 20–25 mph over is 5 points, and 26 mph or more over is 6 points. A single ticket for going 35 mph in a 25 mph zone puts 6 points on your record.
Reckless driving in Virginia is a criminal charge, not a traffic violation, and carries 6 points. This includes speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, driving 80 mph or faster on any road, or driving in a way that endangers life or property. A reckless driving conviction has the same point impact as a 26+ mph speeding ticket but carries criminal consequences as well.
Other common violations and their point values include: improper lane change (3 points), failure to obey a traffic signal (4 points), following too closely (4 points), and hit-and-run (6 points). Driving with a suspended or revoked license adds 6 points and can result in additional criminal charges.
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–9 mph over limit | 3 |
| Speeding 10–19 mph over limit | 4 |
| Speeding 20–25 mph over limit | 5 |
| Speeding 26+ mph over limit | 6 |
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Improper lane change | 3 |
| Failure to obey traffic signal | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Hit-and-run | 6 |
How the 12-month, 24-month, and 36-month windows work
Virginia's point system uses three overlapping time periods to determine when suspension occurs. The DMV looks backward from today's date and counts points from violations that occurred within each window. If you hit the threshold in any window, you are suspended.
The 12-month window is the most restrictive: 18 points in any 12-month period triggers suspension. If you received a ticket on March 15, 2024, and another on March 10, 2025, both violations count toward the same 12-month total because they fall within a rolling 12-month period. The 24-month window requires 24 points, and the 36-month window requires 36 points. A driver with 20 points accumulated over 18 months would not hit the 12-month threshold (which resets as older violations age out) but would exceed the 24-month threshold.
Points do not disappear after a certain time — they remain on your driving record for 11 years from the conviction date. However, only points from violations within the relevant time window count toward suspension. A violation from 2015 does not count toward your 2025 suspension calculation, even though it is still on your record.
When the DMV sends a suspension notice and what it means
The DMV does not hold a hearing before suspending your license. Once your point total crosses the threshold, the DMV mails you a Notice of Suspension. This notice tells you the suspension is effective, the reason (the point total that triggered it), and your right to request a hearing.
The suspension becomes effective on the date stated in the notice, which is usually 10 days after the notice is mailed. You cannot drive legally during the suspension period. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Virginia and adds 6 points to your record, making your situation worse.
The notice also includes instructions for requesting a hearing before the DMV. You must submit your request within 10 days of receiving the notice. If you do not request a hearing, the suspension stands and you must wait out the suspension period before you can restore your license.
How to request a DMV hearing to contest the suspension
You have the right to a hearing before a DMV hearing officer, but you must request it within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. Send a written request to the DMV address listed on the notice, or contact your local DMV office to request a hearing by phone or in person.
At the hearing, you can present evidence or arguments about why the suspension should not stand. Common grounds for contesting a suspension include errors in the point calculation, violations that were dismissed or reduced, or violations that should not have been recorded. The hearing officer will review your driving record and the violations that triggered the suspension.
However, if the point total is correct and the violations are valid, the hearing officer will uphold the suspension. A hearing does not erase points or change the suspension threshold — it is a chance to correct errors in how your points were counted, not to argue that the point system itself is unfair.
Ways to reduce or remove points from your record
Virginia allows drivers to reduce points in limited circumstances. If you complete an approved driver improvement course (sometimes called defensive driving school), the DMV may reduce up to 5 points from your record. You can use this reduction once every 12 months, and only if you have not used it in the past 12 months. The course typically costs between $50 and $150 and takes 4 to 8 hours to complete.
If you contest a traffic ticket in court and the charge is dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation (such as improper equipment), the points associated with the original charge do not explore. For example, if a speeding ticket is dismissed, those points never go on your record. If it is reduced to a parking violation, no points are assessed. This is why fighting a ticket in court can be worthwhile — the outcome directly affects your point total.
Points cannot be removed straightforward by waiting. They remain on your record for 11 years. However, violations that are more than 11 years old no longer count toward any suspension calculation, so older violations eventually stop affecting your may be able to access.
Suspension length and license restoration
The length of your suspension depends on how far over the point threshold you went and whether this is your first suspension. A first suspension for reaching 18 points in 12 months is typically 30 days. If you exceed the threshold by a larger margin or have prior suspensions, the suspension period can be longer — up to 12 months or more in repeat cases.
The DMV notice will state the exact suspension period. Once that period ends, you must visit a DMV office to restore your license. Restoration usually requires paying a reinstatement fee (typically $100 to $200) and providing proof of financial responsibility, such as an SR-22 insurance form, if you were suspended for certain violations.
If you accumulate points again after your license is restored, you can be suspended again. Multiple suspensions within a short time can lead to a revocation, which is more serious than a suspension and may require a hearing before your license can be restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Virginia suspension?
Yes. Virginia has reciprocal agreements with most states, and violations you receive in other states are reported to Virginia and added to your driving record. Points from out-of-state violations count toward Virginia's suspension thresholds the same way in-state violations do.
Can I get a hardship license while my license is suspended?
Virginia does not issue hardship or restricted licenses for point-based suspensions. You cannot drive for any reason during the suspension period, even for work or medical appointments. Your only option is to request a hearing and try to have the suspension overturned, or wait out the suspension period.
What happens if I get another ticket while my license is suspended?
Driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense in Virginia and adds 6 points to your record. This makes your situation significantly worse and can result in jail time, fines, and a longer suspension. Do not drive during a suspension period.
How long does a driver improvement course take, and does it may provide point reduction?
An approved course typically takes 4 to 8 hours and costs $50 to $150. Completion reduces up to 5 points from your record, but only if you have not used this reduction in the past 12 months. You can use it once per year. The reduction is automatic upon course completion — there is no separate approval process.
If I pay my ticket, do the points still go on my record?
Yes. Paying a ticket is the same as pleading guilty or being found guilty in court. The violation is recorded, and the points are added to your record. The only way to avoid points is to have the charge dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation before you resolve the ticket.