Scoring points is a good thing, unless it's on your driving record. Still, if you know how your state's point system works, you'll have a better game plan for keeping your license —and your auto insurance rates low.
This post originally appeared on Insurance.com.
Here are 10 things every driver should know:
1. Auto Insurance Companies Don't Rely on State Motor Vehicle Department Point Systems—They Use Their Own
Both state motor vehicle departments and insurance companies use point systems to track driving performance, but they are separate assessments. DMV points are applied when you are convicted of certain traffic violations. If you accumulate too many points within a certain period of time, your license is typically suspended or revoked.
Insurers don't generally pay much attention to DMV points because they use their own point system when deciding how much to raise your rate. Based on the infraction, your rates rise by a predetermined amount at certain thresholds.
"For example, one Minnesota insurer assigns four points to a chargeable accident with a claim of $750 or more and three points to a speeding conviction for 10 mph over the limit. Its surcharge schedule shows the rate for a driver with seven points would be multiplied by 1.27 — that is, a 27 percent increase," says Penny Gusner, consumer analyst for CarInsurance.com.
2. Not All States Use Point Systems
There are nine states that don't use points to keep track of bad drivers, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook if you rack up violations. These states simply monitor your driving record to determine if your license should be suspended or taken away. For instance, in Oregon, if you have four accidents or four convictions—or a combination that totals four—in a 24-month period, you lose your license for 30 days. And because auto insurers review your driving record, violations can affect your rates.
States that don't currently have a driver's license points system are:
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Washington
- Wyoming
3. Violation Points Add Up and Can Result in Losing Your License
Most moving violations result in points on your record. For example, reckless driving, speeding, illegal turns, not making a complete stop, drunk driving and at-fault accidents all incur points. Each state assesses points under its own laws, but the more serious the violation, the more points you get. Penalties for too many violations or accidents on your record vary greatly from state to state.
In California, points ranging from zero to three are assigned based on the severity of an offense. Your license will be suspended for six months and you'll be on probation for a year if you get:
- Four points in 12 months
- Six points in 24 months
- Eight points in 36 months
4. Some Violations Don't Trigger Points, but You Still Have to Pay the Ticket–and Insurance Increase
In general, non-moving violations and minor offenses will not result in a point assessment. That means parking tickets and fix-it tickets for things like broken lights will not add points, though you still have to pay the fine. In some states, though, serious violations such as DUI mean an automatic license suspension, so no points are given, but your auto insurance rates will certainly go up. For instance, an Insurance.com analysis found that a ticket for DUI means an average rate increase of 19 percent.
5. Texting Tickets Can Ring Up Driving Points
Forty-one states ban texting while driving, but less than half consider texting behind the wheel a moving violation. If you're ticketed in a state where texting violations add points to your driving record or are considered moving violations, an insurer may raise your premiums upon review of your driving record.
States with a texting law specifying that violations add points and/or is considered a moving violation include:
- Alabama: two points
- Colorado: one point
- District of Columbia: one point and is a moving violation; three points if it is judged to have caused an accident.
- Florida: three points and moving violation for second ticket within five years; two points if texting ticket received in school safety zone; six points if found that unlawful use of wireless communications device results in a car crash
- Georgia: one point
- Kentucky: three points
- Maryland: one point and a moving violation; three points if the texting contributed to an accident
- Missouri: two points
- Nebraska: three points
- New York: five points
- New Jersey: three points for third offense
- North Dakota: moving violation
- Nevada: first offense not considered a moving violation; repeat offenses add four points
- Vermont: two points for first offense and five points for a subsequent offense
- Virginia: three points
- West Virginia: three points for third offense
- Wisconsin: four points
6. Points Can Stick to Your Record for One to 10 years, Depending on the Violation and Your State Laws
In many states, driving record points dog you for two to three years for lesser offenses, but there are exceptions. For instance, in Virginia and Michigan, points stick for two years from the date of conviction. In California, points for minor offenses remain on your record for three years, but DUI and hit-and-run points last for 10 years. In Nevada, points stay on your record for just a year, but major offenses including DUI result in automatic license suspension, rather than points.
7. If You Get a Ticket and Points on Your License, There are Ways to Ease the Insurance Pain
Many states allow you to take a defensive driving course to dismiss a violation before it shows up on your record, with the exception of major offenses such as DUI. Rules vary so check with your state insurance commission to find out details. In Virginia, drivers also earn "safe driving points" in addition to demerit points. Safe driving pointsare assigned for each full calendar year that you hold a valid Virginia driver's license and drive without any violations or suspensions. You can accumulate a total of five safe driving points and you may use these safe driving points to offset demerit points.
8. Some States Assign License Points Even If You're Not Driving a Car
In Michigan, if you are convicted of DUI on a snowmobile or other off-road recreational vehicle, points can haunt your driving record.
9. When Children Are Involved, Seatbelt Tickets May Mean Points
You won't typically get points if cited for failing to wear your seatbelt, but in New York, if you are ticketed for having a child in the car under age 16 without a seatbelt, the violation adds three points to your driving record.
10. In Some States, If You're Busted By a Red-Light Camera, You Get a Ticket but Not Points
Typically, if you get a ticket for running a red light, you also get driver's license points. But in some states, if you are caught by a red-light camera, you don't get points. Other states tack on points for running red lights regardless of whether a camera or a cop busts you. For example, Arizona assesses two points for red-light tickets, from either a camera or law enforcement. New Jersey, however, tacks on two points only if you get a traditional ticket from a police officer.
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