How Long Does It Take for Points To Come Off Your Driving Record in Florida?

Bill Allen | April 11, 2024 | Florida Law

How Long Does It Take for Points To Come Off Your Driving Record in Florida?

Florida’s traffic laws are intended to protect drivers and pedestrians by limiting car accidents. If you violate these laws, the State of Florida applies points to your license, potentially leading to suspension. 

If you drive in the Sunshine State, you should understand the point and suspension process and what it means for licensed drivers.

Licenses and Suspensions

Florida Driver Services keeps a record of every traffic violation you incur. When you incur a violation, you are assigned points based on the severity of the violation. Your license will suspended if you meet one of the following three thresholds:

  • 12 Points within 12 months: 30-day suspension
  • 18 points within 18 months: Three-month suspension
  • 24 points within 36 months: One-year suspension

Your license can be suspended for other reasons, such as drunk driving, even if you don’t meet these thresholds.

How Many Points Does a Speeding Ticket Result in?

Florida has a long list of traffic violations that result in points being applied to your license. For example, speeding typically results in three points being added to your license. 

Most traffic violations result in three points being added to your license. Failing to stop at a stop light and failing to use a child seat both result in three points added to your license.

The most dangerous activities result in the most points added to your license. Thus, if you are responsible for a hit-and-run accident, you will get a minimum of six points added to your license.

How Long Do Points Stay On Your License?

Generally speaking, points stay on your license for at least five years in Florida, per information from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

How To Get Points Off Your License

One option for this is to take a basic driver improvement course to prevent points from a ticket being placed on your license. If you do this, the ticket is still part of your record, but you never get points from it placed on your license. 

Following Florida Traffic Laws Is the Best Way To Avoid Points

The best way to avoid the danger of having your license suspended is to follow all Florida traffic laws. While you can fight a ticket in court and potentially get it waived or reduced to something that doesn’t come with points, it takes time and can be expensive. Driving safely and respecting the laws will allow you to avoid those costs.

Contact Our Gainesville Car Accident Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Gainesville car accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have three convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Gainesville office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Downtown Gainesville
621 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(866) 928-6292

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258