Points, tickets and licence suspension in Arizona
Arizona MVD adds points to your driving record when you are convicted of, or found responsible for, a moving violation. Collect too many and you face traffic survival school or a suspension.
Teens are held to a tighter standard. A single ticket before your 18th birthday can send you to traffic survival school, and more can cost you your license.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can explain how Arizona's points system leads to traffic survival school or suspension.
- You can describe what happens when a driver under 18 gets moving violations.
- You can name the Class G restriction penalties.
- You can name offenses that bring a suspension directly, without counting points.
What you need to know and understand
- If a driver collects 8 or more points in 12 months, MVD orders traffic survival school or suspends the license.
- Higher point totals bring longer suspensions; the top tier counts 24 or more points over 36 months.
- For a violation committed before age 18, the first conviction or finding means traffic survival school.
- A second leads to a 3-month suspension, and a third to a 6-month suspension.
- If you are ordered to traffic survival school and do not complete it, MVD suspends your license.
- Driving without insurance leads to a three-month suspension or restriction for a first offense, plus a fine of at least $500.
- Serious offenses such as DUI carry their own suspensions.
How points work
Each moving violation has a point value set by ADOT rule. Serious offenses carry more points than minor ones. The count that matters is how many you collect within a rolling 12-month period. At 8 points MVD steps in, either sending you to traffic survival school, a course on safer driving habits, or suspending your license. Drivers who reach the threshold again soon after a course face suspension.
Courts may let some drivers attend a defensive driving school to keep a ticket off their record; ask the court named on your ticket whether you are eligible.
Rules for drivers under 18
These steps do not cover offenses that already carry their own penalties, such as DUI or breaking Class G restrictions.
- First moving violation committed before 18: MVD orders traffic survival school.
- Second: your driving privilege is suspended for 3 months.
- Third: your driving privilege is suspended for 6 months.
Class G restriction penalties
- First violation: up to $75 and 30 more days of restrictions.
- Second violation: up to $100 and 60 more days of restrictions.
- Third or later violation: up to $100 and a 30-day suspension.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring a traffic survival school order. Missing it leads to suspension.
- Thinking a 'small' ticket at 17 does not matter. It starts the under-18 penalty ladder.
- Driving while suspended, which leads to further serious penalties.
- Assuming points disappear when you turn 18. The record stays with you.
Test yourself: Points, tickets and licence suspension in Arizona
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Go deeper
Sources: Arizona Administrative Code R17-4-404 Driver point assessment; traffic survival schools; Arizona Revised Statutes 28-3306 and 28-3321 (azleg.gov); Arizona Revised Statutes 28-3174 Class G license (azleg.gov); Arizona Revised Statutes 28-4135 (azleg.gov). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the Arizona licensing agency.