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Driver points last for 1-10 years in most states, though some states keep points on your license forever. Keep in mind that points typically stay on your license for longer than they actually affect you, and you’ll only face a legal penalty if you accumulate too many points within a certain period of time.
How Long Points Stay on Your License in the Biggest States
| State | Time for Points to Expire |
| 3-10 years, depending on the violation | |
| 3 years | |
| 5 years | |
| 18 months | |
| 3 points are removed for every 12 months without a violation | |
| 4-5 years for minor violations and at least 7 years for tickets that cause a license suspension | |
| 2 years | |
| Points do not expire |
For example, points stemming from minor violations in Illinois will stay on your license for up to five years, but your license will only be suspended if you commit three violations in one year. Similarly, points in Indiana take two years to expire, but you’ll only face a license suspension if you commit two violations in a single year.
How to Check and Reduce Your License Points
If you want to see how many points are on your license, you can check your driving record online through your state’s DMV or equivalent agency. Depending on your state, you may be able to remove points early if you take an approved defensive driving class. Specific requirements and point deductions vary, but you can usually take one class every 3-5 years.
To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to driver’s license points.
People also ask
Do traffic points go away?
Yes, traffic points do go away in most states, and they typically expire after they’ve been on your license for 1-5 years. For example, in Texas and Michigan points expire after 2 years, while points in Florida expire after 5 years. Once points expire, they can no longer be used against you to suspend your license.
When Traffic Points Go Away in the Five Largest States
| State | How Long Do Points Take to Expire? |
What happens if you get 3 points on your license?
If you get 3 points on your license, your car insurance premiums will likely increase and you will be closer to the threshold for a license suspension, depending on your state. Driver’s license points are used to track violations, so accumulating 3 points is a sign of increased risk for insurers.
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read full answerHow much does 1 point affect insurance?
One point is unlikely to affect a driver’s insurance costs, if it is the only point on the driver’s record. One point is assigned for a minor violation, like driving with broken taillights or an expired license, which the insurance company might not even hear about it. And if the insurer does not tally the point, it will not result in a higher premium.
Forty-one of the 50 states use a license-points system. Drivers...
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