Florida DMV Point System

When a Florida driver is issued their Florida state driver’s license they are expected to be responsible behind the wheel and to follow all road rules and laws.  Driving is a privilege and it is important for each Florida driver to be fully aware of this.

There are many ways a Florida driver can lose their license, which includes traffic violation, medical conditions, addiction to drugs or alcohol or failing to pay child support.

In Florida, the state measures a driver’s responsibility through a point system.  The point system places points against a driver’s license each time they receive a traffic violation.  Too many points and the driver’s license will be revoked.

Point Values

Three point infractions: 

  • Violating child restraint regulations
  • Driving with an open container
  • Curfew violations
  • Minors driving during restricted hours
  • Exceeding the posted speed limit by 15 mph or less
  • Other moving violations
Four point infractions:

  • Ignoring traffic control signals or devices
  • Exceeding the posted speed limit by 16 mph or more
  • Attempting to pass a school bus that has stopped
  • Reckless driving
  • Moving violations that cause an accident
Six point infractions

  • Speeding violations that result in an accident
  • Leaving the scene of an accident with damage of at least $50
Point Maximums

When you receive too many points, your license may be suspended.  The following is a list of the state maximum allowance for points against a driver’s license:

  • 30 day suspension if you receive 12 points within a years time
  • Three month suspension if you receive 18 points within an 18 month period
  • One year suspension if you receive 24 points within a 36 month period
For minors that are younger than 18 the  law is even more strict.  For a minor it will take just six points in the period of a year to have their license driving privileges reduced to “business purposes only” for an entire year.  Should the minor receive more than six points in that time period they will have a 90 day extension placed on their license limitations.

Checking the Status of Your License

Driving reports are used by drivers and employers to check the status of driving records.  A driving record will have detailed information that will include all driving errors, the date they occurred and the points accumulated against a driver’s license.  Driving records can be obtained online through 4DMV.com’s Driving Record section.

Driver Courses

Driver improvement courses are offered to all Florida drivers that receive a traffic violation that results in points against their license.  These courses can be taken in person or online.  There are exceptions to the rule however, and that is if the driver is charged with a criminal violation or if the driver holds a commercial driver’s license, regardless of the vehicle they were driving at the time of the infraction.

The advantage to the Florida driver taking a driver improvement course is:

  • No points added to your driving record as a result of the traffic violation will be removed
  • Your ticket fine may be decreased by as much as 18%
  • Your insurance provider will not have the right to increase your insurance rates unless you receive two tickets within 189 months or 36 months or you went over the legal speed limit by than 15 mph.
Class E driver’s have the available to take one driver improvement course each year and up to five courses during their driving lifetime.

How To Attend a Course

When you receive your ticket you will have 30 days to go to your local County Clerk’s office in the county in which you were issued the traffic ticket.  You will then be given an information packet which you will need to complete and will then have to enroll in a driver improvement course within 60 or 90 days depending on the county.  Once you have completed your course you will need to submit the paperwork from the information packet and your certificate verifying that you taken the course.  To determine specific country related information including applicable fees contact your local County Clerk’s office.

Driver’s who have their license suspended due to too many points will also be required to enroll in an advanced driver improvement course during the course of their suspension.  For more information on approved schools visit Advanced Driver Improvement Course