Earning points is often a good thing, like in sports or on reward credit cards. However, when it comes to points on your driver's license, unfortunately, they are not what you want. Instead, these points accumulate when you do things you're not supposed to be doing behind the wheel. But if you've recently made a mistake and have a point (or points) coming your way, you could be able to get them forgiven. Here's what you need to know.
What are points on your driver’s license?
In certain states, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has a driver violation point system. For every traffic or serious offense a driver makes, they receive a point (or points) on their license. For example, let’s say you get a ticket for texting or talking on your phone while driving. In New York, that’s five points on your license, while in the state of Kentucky, it will cost you three points.
States with point systems have a maximum amount of points you can acquire before having your license suspended and then revoked. Further, each point is reported to your car insurance company which causes your premiums to go up. The system is meant to identify people who demonstrate habitual negligence while driving and to provide consequences.
What States Use a Point System?
Although each state has set rules and regulations on driving, they’re not all the same. That being said, all states have a driving point system except the following nine:
Hawaii
Kansas
Louisiana
Mississippi
Minnesota
Oregon
Rhode Island
Wyoming
Washington
While most of the states in the U.S. do have point systems, they differ in how they work. For example, they may have different points given for different violations. Also, keep in mind that many states include out-of-state violations. That means if you have points on your license, moving away from one state to another will not magically remove them.
How Can You Remove Points from Your License?
If you've recently been written a ticket for some type of driving violation, you may be worried about getting points and seeing your car insurance costs go up. That risk is very real, but you may have a chance to prevent those points from going onto your license.
Many states let you attend traffic school for certain infractions. As a result, they will reduce your ticket cost, hide the violation from your record, and the point(s) won't go on your license. This will also save you from the insurance increase because your insurer will never get the news.
Enroll in 100% Online Traffic School!
Sounds too good to be true? Well, there are a few requirements. For one, you'll need to get approval from a court and will need to meet a number of requirements (which can vary by state). But once you verify you're eligible, you can enroll in an online traffic school like DriversEd.com and complete your required course when and where it suits you best.
Our courses are available 24/7 and they let you pick up right where you left off every time. You can seamlessly access them across multiple devices and can get support when you need it. Plus, traffic school no longer has to be terribly boring. Our interactive content is designed to keep things engaging and interesting.
Ready to get started! Check out DriversEd.com's online, state-approved traffic school!