Indiana suspends your license when you reach 15 points within a two-year period
Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles tracks violations on your driving record using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a point value. When your total reaches 15 points in any two-year rolling window, the BMV automatically suspends your license. The suspension lasts a minimum of 30 days, though repeat suspensions carry longer periods.
The two-year window is important: it does not reset on a calendar year. If you received a violation on March 15, 2023, and another on March 14, 2025, those two violations are in separate windows. But a violation on March 15, 2023, and another on March 14, 2024, are counted together toward your 15-point threshold.
You do not receive a warning at 14 points. The suspension happens automatically once the BMV records your 15th point. You will receive a notice in the mail, but the suspension is already in effect.
Key Takeaways
- Fifteen points accumulated within any two-year period triggers an automatic license suspension in Indiana.
- Common violations range from 2 points (speeding 1–15 mph over the limit) to 8 points (reckless driving), so reaching 15 points typically takes multiple violations.
- The two-year window is rolling, not calendar-based, so violations from different years can count together if they fall within 24 months of each other.
- You can request a hearing with the BMV to contest the suspension, but you must do so within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice.
Common violations and their point values
Different violations carry different point weights. Speeding violations are the most common and carry the lowest points. Driving 1 to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit is 2 points. Driving 16 to 25 mph over is 4 points. Driving 26 mph or more over the limit is 8 points.
Other frequent violations include running a red light or stop sign (4 points), improper lane change (3 points), and following too closely (4 points). More serious violations like reckless driving (8 points), driving without a valid license (8 points), and hit-and-run (8 points) add up faster.
Violations related to alcohol or drugs carry the highest point values. A conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or operating while intoxicated (OWI) is 8 points. A refusal to take a breath or blood test is also 8 points.
| Violation Type | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–15 mph over limit | 2 |
| Speeding 16–25 mph over limit | 4 |
| Speeding 26+ mph over limit | 8 |
| Running red light or stop sign | 4 |
| Improper lane change | 3 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Driving without valid license | 8 |
| DWI/OWI conviction | 8 |
| Refusal of breath or blood test | 8 |
How the two-year rolling window works
Indiana does not use a calendar year for point tracking. Instead, the BMV looks back 24 months from today. If you received a ticket on January 10, 2024, that violation stays on your record and counts toward the 15-point threshold until January 10, 2026. On January 11, 2026, it drops off the active window.
This means you can have violations from two different calendar years counted together. If you got a ticket in December 2023 and another in January 2024, both violations are within the same two-year window and both count toward your total. But if you got a ticket in December 2022 and another in January 2024, the December 2022 violation is outside the window and does not count.
The BMV updates your record as violations are recorded. You can check your current point total by visiting the Indiana BMV website or calling your local branch. Knowing your current total helps you understand how close you are to suspension.
What happens when you reach 15 points
Once the BMV records your 15th point, your license is suspended when ready. You will receive a notice by mail within a few days, but the suspension takes effect right away. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Indiana and carries its own penalties, including fines and possible jail time.
The minimum suspension period is 30 days for a first suspension. If you have been suspended before, the length increases. A second suspension within five years is 60 days. A third or subsequent suspension within five years is 180 days or longer.
You cannot straightforward wait out the suspension and resume driving. You must take specific steps to have your license reinstated, which usually involves paying a reinstatement fee to the BMV and, in some cases, completing a driver safety course.
Requesting a hearing to contest the suspension
You have the right to request a hearing with the BMV if you believe the suspension is wrong. You must request the hearing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. The notice will include instructions on how to request the hearing, usually by mail or phone to your local BMV branch.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the violation was recorded in error, that points were miscalculated, or that there are other circumstances the BMV should consider. However, the hearing officer cannot straightforward ignore the point total if it is accurate. The hearing is your chance to correct factual errors, not to argue that the law should not explore to you.
If you do not request a hearing within 10 days, you lose the right to challenge the suspension through the BMV. You may still have legal options through the court system, but those require an attorney and have different timelines.
Steps to reinstate your license after suspension
After your suspension period ends, you cannot straightforward start driving again. You must take action to reinstate your license. First, contact your local BMV branch to confirm your suspension period has ended and to learn the reinstatement fee, which varies but is typically between $50 and $100.
Pay the reinstatement fee at your BMV branch or online through the Indiana BMV website. Some suspensions also require you to complete a driver safety course before reinstatement. The BMV will tell you whether this applies to your case when you contact them.
Once you have paid the fee and completed any required course, your license will be reinstated. You will receive a new license card in the mail if your old one was confiscated, or you may be able to drive when ready if you straightforward need to pay the fee.
How to avoid accumulating points
The most direct way to avoid suspension is to avoid violations. This means following speed limits, obeying traffic signals, and maintaining safe driving practices. Even a single 8-point violation like reckless driving or a DWI puts you nearly halfway to suspension.
If you do receive a ticket, you have options. You can pay the fine and accept the points, or you can contest the ticket in traffic court. If you contest and the ticket is dismissed, the points do not go on your record. Some tickets can also be reduced to lesser violations with fewer points if you work with the prosecutor or judge.
Indiana also offers a driver safety course that can reduce points on your record. Completing an approved course can remove up to 4 points from your record once every 24 months. This is not a way to erase violations, but it can slow your progress toward the 15-point threshold if you have already received tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Indiana's 15-point suspension?
Yes. Indiana's BMV receives reports of violations from other states through the Interstate Compact. Violations you receive in other states are added to your Indiana driving record and count toward the 15-point threshold, just as if they occurred in Indiana.
Can I get points removed from my record before they expire?
Points do not disappear from your record early, but you can reduce your total by completing an approved driver safety course. The course removes up to 4 points and can be taken once every 24 months. This does not erase violations, but it can lower your point total.
What if I was not the one driving when I got the ticket?
If someone else was driving your vehicle, you can contest the ticket in court and present evidence that you were not the driver. You will need to provide the name of the actual driver. If you cannot prove who was driving, the points will be assigned to you as the vehicle owner.
Does my suspension affect my ability to get car insurance?
Yes. A suspended license is reported to insurance companies and typically results in higher premiums or cancellation of your policy. You may need to obtain an SR-22 form (proof of financial responsibility) before you can reinstate your license, which also increases insurance costs.
Can I drive to work or school during my suspension?
Not with a regular suspended license. Indiana does offer a work permit in some cases, but you must request it from the BMV and meet specific criteria. A work permit allows you to drive only to and from work or school, not for other purposes. You must carry the permit while driving.