Points, tickets and licence suspension in Iowa

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain why Iowa has no points but still suspends licenses.
• You can describe the habitual violator rule.
• You can name the serious violations that bring action after one offense.
• You can explain what happens in the driver improvement program.
• You can describe the extra penalties for teen license holders.

What you need to know and understand

• Three or more countable moving violations committed within 12 months make you a habitual violator, which can lead to suspension.
• The first two minor speeding tickets in 12 months (10 mph or less over, where the limit is 35 to 55 mph) do not count toward that total.
• Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit, a first offense of illegally passing a school bus, or a violation that contributed to a fatal crash is a serious violation.
• Three or more major offenses, such as OWI or driving while suspended, within six years can bar you from driving for two to six years.
• Out-of-state moving violations count on your Iowa record.
• Iowa counts the date each offense happened, not the date of conviction.
• Your record shows violations and suspensions for at least five years; OWI revocations stay for 12 years.

How Iowa counts tickets

Parking, equipment and registration violations do not count as moving violations for the habitual violator rule.

• Habitual violator: three or more countable moving violations committed within 12 months.
• Serious violation: a single conviction for 25 mph or more over the limit, a first school bus passing offense, or a moving violation that contributed to a fatal crash.
• Habitual offender: three or more major offenses in six years (such as OWI, vehicular manslaughter, driving while suspended or barred, eluding police, or leaving a crash scene), which brings a bar of two to six years.
• Six or more moving violations within two years can also lead to a one-year bar.

The driver improvement program

If you are convicted of speeding 25 to 29 mph over the limit, have three countable violations in 12 months, or illegally pass a school bus for the first time, Iowa DOT may enroll you in its driver improvement program instead of suspending your license. Skip it and your license is suspended. Finish it and you are on probation for one year; another moving violation during probation starts suspension proceedings. Completing the program does not erase anything from your record.

Extra rules for teen drivers

Driving while suspended can double the length of your suspension. To get your license back after a habitual violator or serious violation suspension, you must show SR-22 proof of insurance for two years from the start of the suspension and pay a $20 reinstatement fee. Our deeper intermediate license guide explains how violations reset the teen clock.

1. Instruction permit or intermediate license, first ticket, crash or broken restriction: a warning letter and a possible suspension.
2. Second offense: a 30-day suspension.
3. Every offense delays your next license step, by 6 months on a permit and 12 months on an intermediate license.
4. School license: each ticket, broken restriction or crash means a three-month suspension, a $20 reinstatement fee and a $10 duplicate license fee.

Common mistakes

• Assuming one ticket does not matter because Iowa has no points. One serious violation can lead to suspension on its own.
• Ignoring a notice to attend the driver improvement program. Missing it means an automatic suspension.
• Thinking a ticket from another state stays there. Iowa adds it to your record.
• Driving 'just to work' while suspended without a temporary restricted license. The suspension can be doubled.

Test yourself: Points, tickets and licence suspension in Iowa

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Iowa Permit Test
• Iowa Driving Test
• Iowa Intermediate License Rules