Photo: >Author Brando03, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Under Kentucky’s point system, drivers under 18 can lose their license at 7 points in two years. Adults can at 12. Points range from 3 for most moving violations up to 6 for speeding 16 to 25 mph over, and a speed 26 mph or more over the limit goes straight to a hearing. This guide lists the point values, the teen permit and intermediate rules, and how State Traffic School and probation work.
Key facts (Kentucky, as of November 2026)
- Under 18: 7 points within two years can lead to suspension. The Kentucky Driver Manual puts it as “more than six points”.
- 18 and over: 12 points within two years.
- Points expire two years from the conviction date (not the citation date). The conviction stays on your record for five years.
- A hearing comes first: you get the chance to meet a hearing officer before any point suspension.
- Permit and intermediate holders under 18: a moving violation adds at least 180 days before you can move up a stage.
Kentucky point values for common tickets
From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s point system table:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 10 mph or less over on a limited access highway (such as an interstate) | 0 |
| Speeding 11 to 15 mph over on a limited access highway | 3 |
| Speeding 15 mph or less over on any other road | 3 |
| Speeding 16 to 25 mph over on any road | 6 |
| Speeding 26 mph or more over, attempting to elude police, racing | Hearing, possible suspension |
| Failure to stop for a church or school bus | 6 |
| A moving hazardous violation involving an incident, or two or more in one continuous occurrence | 6 |
| Improper passing | 5 |
| Reckless driving, following too close, wrong side of the road, vehicle not under control, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle | 4 each |
| Failure to yield, stop violation (signal, stop sign, rail crossing), careless driving, improper lane use, improper turn | 3 each |
| Texting while driving | 3 |
| Failure to comply with instruction permit requirements | 3 |
| Any other moving hazardous violation | 3 |
The point rules are set by regulation in 601 KAR 13:025. Check the current regulation if a ticket is not on this list.
How the 7-point teen limit plays out
For a driver under 18, two ordinary tickets reach the limit quickly:
| Tickets in two years | Total | Under 18 | 18 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding 12 mph over on a 2-lane road (3) + rolling a stop sign (3) | 6 | Below the limit, one ticket away | Well below |
| Speeding 18 mph over (6) + texting (3) | 9 | Over the limit: hearing, possible suspension | Below 12 |
| Speeding 20 mph over (6) + following too close (4) + careless driving (3) | 13 | Over the limit | Over the limit |
What happens when you reach the limit?
- The Transportation Cabinet schedules a hearing about your driving privilege.
- If you do not appear, the suspension is automatic. For the 12-point accumulation, the manual gives 6 months for a first, 1 year for a second and 2 years for any later accumulation within the two-year period.
- At the hearing, the Cabinet can place you on probation instead of suspending your license, and require you to attend a driver improvement clinic (State Traffic School).
- Probation once every two years: after a probation period, you will not be considered for probation again until two years after it ended, whether or not you completed it.
Always go to the hearing. Skipping it removes the chance of probation.
Extra rules for permit and intermediate drivers under 18
- Permit: a permit restriction violation, a moving violation under KRS 189 or a DUI violation under KRS 189A adds at least 180 days, counted from the violation date, before you can apply for the intermediate license.
- Intermediate license: the same violations add at least 180 days before you can apply for the full license.
- Both stages: a driver under 18 with more than six points may have their driving privilege suspended.
- Under 21: “Zero Alcohol Tolerance” applies, defined in the manual as 0.02 blood alcohol concentration.
Full details: Kentucky permit and intermediate license rules. School attendance can also cost a teen their license: see Kentucky No Pass No Drive law explained. The low alcohol limit is covered in zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21.
Kentucky State Traffic School
State Traffic School is the Transportation Cabinet’s course, offered online, in person and in a virtual classroom. There are two routes in:
- Court referral: the District Court where you got the ticket refers you, and the Division of Driver Licensing mails you enrollment instructions. Once referred, attendance is a court order. Not finishing it leads to suspension.
- Point hearing: the Cabinet can require the course as a condition of probation instead of a suspension.
Eligibility for a court referral, from the manual:
- You cannot have been under suspension at the time of the citation.
- Only minor traffic violations qualify, not convictions that carry a mandatory suspension.
- Once every 12 months at most.
- Non-licensed and out-of-state drivers are not eligible.
The manual does not say whether a court referral keeps points off your record. Ask the court how the case will be reported. More options after a ticket: getting a traffic ticket as a new driver.
Common questions
How many points can a 16-year-old get in Kentucky?
Seven points within two years can lead to a hearing and suspension. More than six is the line the manual uses.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Kentucky?
3 points for up to 15 mph over (0 for 10 mph or less over on a limited access highway), 6 points for 16 to 25 mph over, and a hearing for 26 mph or more over.
Is texting worth points?
Yes, 3 points.
When do points come off?
Two years from the date of conviction. The conviction itself stays on your record for five years.
Does the teen limit change at 18?
Yes. From 18 the limit is 12 points in two years.
How do other states compare?
See points systems and license suspensions in the US.
Main guide: learning to drive in Kentucky.
Sources
- Kentucky State Police, “Kentucky Driver Manual” (updated July 2026) (kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Office of Highway Safety, “Kentucky’s Point System” (transportation.ky.gov)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, “Kentucky Point System” (drive.ky.gov)
- Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, 601 KAR 13:025, “Point system” (legislature.ky.gov)