Virginia’s Traffic Violation Point System

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) keeps track of all moving violation convictions using a point system. This article explains how this point system works and the consequences you'll face for accumulating too many points on your record.

How Does Virginia's Traffic Ticket Point System Work?

The Virginia DMV assigns six, four, or three points to a driver's record for each traffic violation conviction. The number of points roughly corresponds to the seriousness of the offense (see chart below). So serious violations like DUIs are six points, whereas minor violations like running a stop sign carry three points.

Virginia drivers who rack up too many points on their records will have to complete a driver improvement clinic and a period of probation and possibly face license suspension. However, points eventually expire, and drivers have options for removing points from their records (explained below).

Classes, Probation, and License Suspension for Traffic Ticket Points in Virginia

A driver who accumulates eight points will generally receive a warning letter from the DMV indicating the penalties of future traffic violations. Once a driver accumulates 12 points in a 12-month period (or 18 points in a 24-month period), the DMV will send a letter requiring the driver to attend a driver improvement clinic within 90 days.

Virginia's Driver Improvement Clinics

Failure to complete the clinic within 90 days will result in the driver's license being suspended until completion. Completion of the clinic will result in a five-point credit. The driver improvement clinic can also be ordered by the court as part of sentencing, and the judge can then issue point credits. Following the clinic, the driver will be on probation for six months.

Probation for Traffic Ticket Points in Virginia

During probation, a driver will be automatically suspended if he or she is convicted of any traffic violation. A six-point traffic violation will result in a 90-day suspension, a four-point violation will result in a 60-day suspension, and a three-point violation will result in a 45-day suspension. A suspended driver can apply for a restricted license to travel to and from work if the driver has no prior license suspensions. Following license reinstatement, the driver will begin another six-month probation period.

Driver Control Period for Traffic Violation Points in Virginia

After completing probation, the driver will be placed on a "driver control" period of 18 months. During this time, the driver isn't subject to restrictions, but any traffic violation convictions will result in the driver being put back on probation for six months (followed by another 18-month control period).

Automatic Suspension for Traffic Violation Points in Virginia

A driver with 18 points in 12 months or 24 points in 24 months will be immediately suspended. Once reinstated, the driver must complete the clinic, six months of probation, and 18 months of driver control.

Consequences of Points for Minor Drivers in Virginia

Drivers under the age of 18 are subject to the limits of the provisional license. A minor driver with nine points in a year or 12 points in 24 months must complete a driver improvement clinic, followed by six months of probation and 18 months of driver control.

These penalties are separate from the traffic infraction suspensions specific to teen licenses.

How Long Do Points Stay on Your Virginia Driving Record?

Point expiration. Assigned points expire two years after the conviction date. The conviction will remain on the driver's record, but the points will no longer be counted.

Point credits. For every year without a traffic ticket, a driver will earn a one-point credit to reduce the current point total or to create a point credit "buffer" of up to five points. A driver can also earn five point credits by voluntarily completing a driver improvement clinic. Drivers can get the clinic credit only once every two years.

Traffic Violation Points for Common Tickets in Virginia

The DMV assigns points for convictions that it considers serious (six points), relatively serious (four points), or less serious (three points). Here are the points assigned to some of the most common traffic offenses.

Violation	Points Assessed
Driving while intoxicated	6
Under 21 driving after consuming alcohol	6
Reckless driving	6
Speeding 20 miles per hour or more over limit	6
Racing	6
Failure to yield right of way	4
Speeding 10 to 19 miles per hour over limit	4
Following too closely	4
Failure to stop before entering highway	4
Aggressive driving	4
Improper driving (lower than reckless)	3
Speeding 1 to 9 miles per hour over limit	3
Improper passing	3
Failure to obey traffic sign	3

However, multiple violations arising out of the same occurrence will result in only a single assessment of points.