Texas suspends your license when you accumulate 4 points within 12 months, 6 points within 24 months, or 8 points within 36 months
The Texas Department of Public Safety tracks points on your driving record based on traffic violations and at-fault accidents. Once you hit the threshold for your time period, the state automatically suspends your license. You cannot drive legally during the suspension, and driving with a suspended license carries criminal penalties including jail time and fines.
The point thresholds are fixed — there is no negotiation or appeal based on your circumstances. However, you can reduce points through a defensive driving course, which removes up to 3 points from your record and may lower your insurance rates.
Key Takeaways
- Texas suspends your license at 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months, whichever threshold you hit first.
- Common violations that add points include speeding (1–3 points depending on how far over the limit), at-fault accidents (3–4 points), and reckless driving (4 points).
- A defensive driving course removes up to 3 points and can be taken once every 12 months, but only if you have not taken one in the past 12 months.
- Once suspended, you must wait out the suspension period before you can request reinstatement; you cannot shorten it by paying a fine.
- Driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense that can result in jail time, fines up to $1,000, and a longer suspension.
How Points Are Assigned for Different Violations
The Texas Department of Public Safety assigns points based on the type and severity of the violation. Speeding carries 1 point if you are 1–10 miles per hour over the limit, 2 points for 11–20 miles per hour over, and 3 points for 21 miles per hour or more over the limit. At-fault accidents are worth 3 points if no one was injured and 4 points if someone was injured.
Other common violations include reckless driving (4 points), failure to stop at a red light or stop sign (2 points), improper passing (3 points), and driving without a valid license (2 points). Violations like driving under the influence, hit-and-run, and racing carry higher point values and often trigger suspension when ready, even if you have not reached the 12-month threshold.
Points remain on your record for three years from the date of the violation, even if you have already paid the fine or completed traffic school. This means a violation from two years ago still counts toward your current suspension threshold.
When Your License Suspension Takes Effect
The Texas Department of Public Safety sends you a notice by mail when you reach a suspension threshold. The notice includes the suspension start date, which is typically 20 days after the notice is mailed. You have the right to request a hearing before the suspension begins, but you must do so within 10 days of receiving the notice.
If you do not request a hearing, the suspension becomes automatic. The length of the suspension depends on whether it is your first suspension and how many prior suspensions you have had. A first suspension typically lasts 90 days, but it can be longer if you have previous suspensions on your record.
Reducing Points Through Defensive Driving
Taking a defensive driving course is the only way to remove points from your record before they expire naturally. A course removes up to 3 points and can lower your insurance premium. You can take a course once every 12 months, but only if you have not taken one in the past year.
The course must be approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety. You can take it online or in person, and it typically takes 4–6 hours to complete. After you finish, the course provider sends your completion certificate to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which then updates your record. The point reduction takes effect once the state processes the certificate, usually within 30 days.
A defensive driving course does not erase a violation from your record — it only removes the points. The violation itself remains visible to insurance companies and law enforcement, though the point reduction may still lower your insurance rates.
What Happens During a License Suspension
During a suspension, you cannot legally drive for any reason — not to work, not to medical appointments, not to the grocery store. Driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense. A first offense can result in a fine up to $500 and up to 72 hours in jail. A second offense within five years carries a fine up to $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail.
If you are caught driving with a suspended license, the state may extend your suspension, add more points to your record, or both. You may also lose your vehicle to impoundment, which carries additional towing and storage fees.
Some people obtain an occupational license, which allows you to drive to work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered programs during a suspension. An occupational license requires a hearing before a judge and proof that the suspension creates a hardship. It is not automatic and is not available for all types of suspensions.
How to Request Reinstatement After Suspension
Once your suspension period ends, you cannot straightforward start driving again. You must request reinstatement from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Reinstatement requires paying a fee, which varies but is typically $100 to $200. You may also need to provide proof of insurance and pass a vision test.
If your suspension was due to unpaid traffic fines or child support, you must resolve those issues before reinstatement. If your suspension was due to a DUI or other serious violation, you may need to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle before you can drive again.
Reinstatement is not automatic. You must submit the request and fee to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Processing typically takes 1–2 weeks. Until your reinstatement is approved, your license remains suspended.
Points That Trigger when ready Suspension
Certain violations bypass the point threshold system and trigger when ready suspension. Driving under the influence (DUI) suspends your license for 90 days on a first offense, even if you have no other points on your record. A second DUI within five years results in a one-year suspension.
Hit-and-run, racing, and driving with a suspended or revoked license also trigger when ready suspension. Accumulating too many violations in a short time — such as three moving violations within 12 months — can also result in when ready suspension regardless of the point total.
If you are under 18, the thresholds are lower: your license suspends at 3 points within 12 months, 5 points within 24 months, or 7 points within 36 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive to work during a license suspension?
Not without an occupational license. A regular suspension prohibits all driving. An occupational license allows driving to work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered programs, but you must request one from a judge and prove the suspension causes hardship. Not all suspension types may have access to.
How long does it take for points to disappear from my record?
Points remain on your record for three years from the violation date. After three years, they drop off automatically and no longer count toward suspension thresholds. However, the violation itself may still appear on your driving record for longer.
If I take a defensive driving course, will the violation disappear?
No. A defensive driving course removes up to 3 points but does not erase the violation. Insurance companies and law enforcement can still see the violation on your record, though the point reduction may lower your insurance rates.
What is the difference between a suspension and a revocation?
A suspension is temporary — your license is suspended for a set period, after which you can request reinstatement. A revocation is permanent or long-term and typically requires a hearing or court action to restore. Revocations are usually issued for serious violations like multiple DUIs.
Can I appeal my license suspension?
You can request a hearing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the violation or points were recorded in error. However, you cannot argue that the suspension is unfair — if the points are correct, the suspension is mandatory.