Photo: Christoffer G. Thomsen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Arizona’s points system adds points to your driving record for each moving violation, from 2 points for most tickets up to 8 for DUI or reckless driving. Collecting 8 or more points in 12 months can mean Traffic Survival School (TSS) or a suspension of up to 12 months. Drivers under 18 face a tougher, separate ladder: TSS after the first conviction, then 3-month and 6-month suspensions. This guide sets out the point values, the teen rules under A.R.S. 28-3321 and 28-3174, and how defensive driving school fits in.
Key facts (Arizona, as of November 2026)
- Adult threshold: 8 or more points in any 12-month period can lead to required TSS or a suspension of up to 12 months (ADOT MVD).
- Under 18: first moving violation conviction means mandatory TSS. Second means a 3-month suspension. Third means a 6-month suspension (A.R.S. 28-3321).
- Class G restriction breaches (curfew, passengers, phone) in the first 6 months: the restriction period is extended by 30, then 60 days, then a 30-day suspension on the third violation (A.R.S. 28-3174).
- Defensive driving school: once every 12 months, completing it gets an eligible citation dismissed and kept off your record (A.R.S. 28-3392 and 28-3394).
- Under 21 and alcohol: any alcohol in your body while driving is an offense in Arizona.
Arizona point values for common tickets
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 8 |
| Extreme DUI | 8 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Aggressive driving | 8 |
| Racing on a highway | 8 |
| Aggravated DUI | 8 |
| Leaving the scene of a crash | 6 |
| Failure to stop for a signal or stop sign, or to yield, causing death | 6 |
| Failure to stop for a signal or stop sign, or to yield, causing serious injury | 4 |
| Speeding | 3 |
| Driving over or parking in a freeway gore area | 3 |
| Wrong-way driving | 2 |
| All other moving violations | 2 |
Points go on your record each time you are convicted of, or forfeit bail for, a moving violation. If one traffic stop produces several violations, ADOT assesses points based on the highest-value violation only. Source: ADOT MVD Points Assessment table.
When can police impound your car in Arizona?
The MVD manual says a vehicle is impounded or immobilized if the driver’s license is suspended or revoked, the driver has never been licensed (and has no out-of-state license), the driver must use an ignition interlock and the car has none, or the driver has no required insurance and is involved in a crash. Driving on a suspended license can mean up to 30 days of impound.
When does Arizona suspend your license for points?
Drivers 18 and over
ADOT says that 8 or more points within any 12-month period means you may be required to attend Traffic Survival School, or have your driving privilege suspended for up to 12 months. Under A.R.S. 28-3306, MVD can also require TSS or suspend a license when violations happen often enough to show disrespect for traffic laws.
Violations that require TSS whatever your points
ADOT lists some convictions that require TSS regardless of your point total. These include DUI, wrong-way driving and running red lights or stop signs. A first moving violation by a driver under 18 is also on the list.
What happens if you skip TSS?
ADOT says failing to complete a required TSS course leads to suspension of your license. Book it as soon as the order arrives.
Extra rules for drivers under 18
A.R.S. 28-3321 applies to a moving violation committed while you are under 18, whether you hold an instruction permit or a Class G license. It counts convictions, not points:
| Conviction | What MVD does |
|---|---|
| First | Orders you to attend and complete Traffic Survival School |
| Second | Suspends your driving privilege for 3 months |
| Third | Suspends your driving privilege for 6 months |
So a teen with two speeding tickets, at 3 points each, is well below the adult 8-point line but still loses the license for 3 months.
Class G restriction violations
For the first 6 months, Class G holders under 18 may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. (with exceptions), may not carry more than one passenger under 18 who is not a sibling (unless a qualifying parent or guardian is in the front seat), and may not use a wireless device except in an emergency or for audible turn-by-turn navigation. Under A.R.S. 28-3174, breaking these limits carries its own penalties:
| Violation | Civil penalty | License effect |
|---|---|---|
| First | Up to $75 | Restriction period extended by 30 days |
| Second | Up to $100 | Restriction period extended by 60 days |
| Third or later | Up to $100 | 30-day suspension |
- Police cannot stop you only for a restriction violation. They need another reason to believe a traffic law was broken.
- A curfew ticket is dismissed if you provide a notarized letter confirming the trip was allowed. A passenger ticket is dismissed if a notarized letter from a parent or guardian confirms the passengers were your siblings.
- Restrictions end on your 18th birthday, but any extension or suspension already imposed must still be completed.
The full Class G rules are in Arizona Class G graduated license rules.
Courses that keep points off your record
Defensive driving school
- Courts must allow attendance for an eligible civil moving violation (A.R.S. 28-3392).
- You can attend only once every 12 months, counted from violation date to violation date.
- If you complete it, the court dismisses the citation and MVD does not put it on your driving record (A.R.S. 28-3394). No conviction means no points.
- Not available if the violation caused death or serious physical injury.
- Arizona courts say to finish the course at least 7 days before your court date.
Because the teen ladder in 28-3321 is triggered by a record of judgment or conviction, a dismissed citation should not count as a step on it. An ADOT FAQ also says a first-time teen offender who attends defensive driving school keeps a clean record. Confirm with the court handling the ticket before you rely on it.
Traffic Survival School
TSS is the course MVD orders after points or certain convictions. ADOT says completing a required TSS course is what avoids or ends the suspension. It is not a way to dismiss a ticket.
Scenario: a 16-year-old’s first year
- Month 2: a ticket for carrying two friends under 18 with no parent in the front seat. Civil penalty up to $75 and the passenger and curfew limits run 30 days longer.
- Month 7: a speeding ticket. The family uses defensive driving school, the citation is dismissed, and nothing goes on the record.
- Month 10: a second speeding ticket. Defensive driving school is not available again within 12 months. The conviction is the first under 28-3321, so MVD orders TSS.
- Any further moving violation conviction before 18 would mean a 3-month suspension.
What to do when the ticket arrives: getting a traffic ticket as a new driver.
Common questions
How many points before your license is suspended in Arizona?
8 or more points in 12 months can lead to TSS or a suspension of up to 12 months. Under-18 drivers can be suspended after a second conviction regardless of points.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Arizona?
3 points, according to ADOT’s points table.
Does a permit holder get points?
Yes. Points apply to moving violation convictions, and the under-18 rules in 28-3321 cover anyone who commits a moving violation while under 18.
Do suspensions disappear when I turn 18?
No. A.R.S. 28-3174 says penalties and extensions already imposed must be completed even if you turn 18.
What about drinking and driving under 21?
Arizona makes it an offense for anyone under 21 to drive with any alcohol in their body. The license consequences are covered in Arizona DUI and extreme DUI rules for new drivers.
How do I check my points?
Request a copy of your driving record from ADOT MVD.
How do other states compare?
See points systems and license suspensions in the US.
Main guide: learning to drive in Arizona.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Transportation MVD, “Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide” (99-0117, revised September 2026) (azdot.gov)
- Arizona Department of Transportation MVD, “Points Assessment” (azdot.gov)
- Arizona Department of Transportation MVD, “Suspension and Traffic Survival School” (azdot.gov)
- Arizona Department of Transportation MVD, “Penalties” (Teen Drivers) (azdot.gov)
- Arizona Department of Transportation, “What are the penalties for moving violations while under the age of 18?” (azdot.gov)
- Arizona State Legislature, “A.R.S. 28-3174” (Class G license) (azleg.gov)
- Arizona State Legislature, “A.R.S. 28-3306” (suspension and traffic survival school) (azleg.gov)
- Arizona State Legislature, “A.R.S. 28-3321” (moving violations under 18) (azleg.gov)
- Arizona State Legislature, “A.R.S. 28-3392” (defensive driving school) and “28-3394 Successful course completion” (azleg.gov)
- Arizona Judicial Branch, “Frequently Asked Questions for Defensive Driving School” (azcourts.gov)
- Arizona State Legislature, “A.R.S. 4-244” (under-21 alcohol offense) (azleg.gov)