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Virginia DMV gives 3, 4 or 6 demerit points for traffic convictions, depending on how serious the offense is. Points stay valid for two years from the offense date. Clean years earn safe driving points that cancel them out. Build up too many and DMV orders a driver improvement clinic, then probation, then suspension. Drivers under 18 face much stricter rules. Here is how the system works.
Key facts (Code of Virginia Article 19, as of November 2026)
- Point values: 6, 4 or 3 per conviction, never more than 6 for one conviction.
- Points are valid for 2 years from the date of the offense.
- 1 safe driving point per clean calendar year, up to a maximum of 5.
- 18 and over: clinic at 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months.
- Suspension risk: 18 points in 12 months or 24 points in 24 months.
- Under 18: any demerit-point conviction means a mandatory clinic.
How many points for each offense in Virginia?
| Points | Examples set by law |
|---|---|
| 6 | Driving while intoxicated, under-21 driving after illegally drinking alcohol, reckless driving, speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, racing |
| 4 | Failure to yield right-of-way, speeding 10 to 19 mph over, following too closely, failure to stop when entering a highway, aggressive driving |
| 3 | Improper driving, speeding 1 to 9 mph over, improper passing, failure to obey a highway sign |
DMV assigns values for other offenses within this scale. If you are convicted of two or more offenses from one occasion, you get points for the most serious one only. Note that driving 20 mph or more over the limit, or above 85 mph anywhere, is itself reckless driving in Virginia.
Safe driving points
- Every calendar year with no suspension, revocation or traffic conviction on your record earns 1 safe driving point.
- You can hold up to 5.
- They offset demerit points, starting with your oldest valid conviction.
- If a later conviction turns up for an offense in a year you were credited, that safe point is cancelled.
Driver improvement clinics
When DMV orders a clinic
| Driver | Trigger |
|---|---|
| Under 18 (license or permit) | Any conviction, for an offense committed under 18, that carries demerit points (or certain other listed violations) |
| 18 and 19 | Any conviction for an offense that carries demerit points (or certain other listed violations) |
| 18 and over | 12 points in 12 consecutive months, or 18 points in 24 consecutive months |
You must finish an ordered clinic within 90 days of the notice, which DMV sends by certified mail. A court can also send you to a clinic.
What a clinic does for you
- Completing a clinic subtracts 5 demerit points, or awards safe driving points if you have fewer than 5 demerit points.
- Teens directed to a clinic under the under-18 rules get no safe driving points for it. A parent or guardian may attend and receive the reduction on their own record.
- You can attend voluntarily for either safe driving points or an insurance premium reduction, not both, once every two years.
Probation, control period and suspension
- Probation: 6 months, starting when DMV directs you to a clinic.
- Offense during probation: license suspended for 90 days (6-point offense), 60 days (4-point) or 45 days (3-point), followed by another 6 months’ probation. A restricted license can be requested for the first such suspension.
- Driver control period: 18 months after probation ends. Any points offense during it restarts probation and control.
- Excessive points: 18 points in 12 months or 24 in 24 months leads to either a 90-day suspension plus a clinic, or 9 months in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program plus a clinic. You have 30 days to choose, or the suspension applies.
Extra rules for Virginia drivers under 18
| Conviction (offense committed under 18) | Result |
|---|---|
| First | Mandatory driver improvement clinic |
| Second | 90-day suspension. The juvenile court may allow a restricted license for travel to work or college. |
| Third | Revocation for 1 year or until 18, whichever is longer |
Multiple convictions from the same incident count once. Provisional license rules are covered in Virginia provisional license rules for teen drivers.
Virginia’s hands-free law
Holding a handheld phone while driving a moving vehicle is illegal. Fines are $125 for a first offense and $250 for a second or later offense, or for any offense in a highway work zone. For a first offense, a court may order a driver improvement clinic instead of a conviction. Exceptions include being lawfully parked or stopped and reporting an emergency. See hands-free and texting laws.
Common questions
How long do points stay on a Virginia license?
Demerit points are valid for 2 years from the offense date. They stay valid longer if they were the basis for a suspension, probation or similar action still running.
Can I take a clinic to remove points?
Yes. A voluntary clinic subtracts 5 points, once every two years, unless you choose the insurance discount instead.
How many points before Virginia suspends your license?
18 points in 12 months or 24 in 24 months triggers suspension or the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program. Points offenses during probation also bring suspensions.
I am 17 and got a speeding ticket. What happens?
On conviction you must attend a driver improvement clinic. A second conviction means a 90-day suspension.
Do out-of-state tickets count?
Yes. DMV assigns points to convictions from other US states and Canada for offenses that would be reportable in Virginia.
Does sleeping in a car on the shoulder give points?
No. The law bars points for a conviction that came from stopping on the shoulder to sleep or rest, if the court makes that finding.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Compare systems in US points systems and license suspensions, and see Virginia rules for new adult drivers.
Sources
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-492: Uniform Demerit Point System” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-493: Demerit points valid for two years” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-494: Safe driving point credit” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-498 to 46.2-501 and 46.2-506” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334.01 and 46.2-334.02” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-818.2: Use of handheld personal communications devices” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-862: Exceeding speed limit” (law.lis.virginia.gov)