How To Reduce Points on Your License

Paying a fine for a traffic violation is painful enough, but for many drivers, the added penalty of license points is even worse, as points can jeopardize your driving privileges and increase auto insurance premiums.

The majority of U.S. states use a points system for driver’s license violations, with nine exceptions, including Rhode Island. While the types of offenses and number of points given vary by state, the principle is the same: Accumulating too many points eventually leads to having your license suspended and, potentially, revoked.

In New York, drivers receive two points for not signaling and five points for failing to stop for a school bus. Drivers who get 11 points in 18 months can have their license suspended.

Points can remain on a driver’s record for several years and, depending on the severity of the offense, could cause a driver’s insurance rates to go up.

Some states, including New York, allow drivers to reduce points on their licenses by taking classes, such as the AAA Defensive Driving Course, which can possibly reduce their insurance costs as well.

In the Northeast, these three states have license point reduction programs. Note: Connecticut and Massachusetts do not have point reduction programs.

New Hampshire

Drivers with at least three points on their licenses can have three points removed by completing a driver improvement course, including one offered by AAA of Northern New England. The point total may be reduced, but the points will remain on the driver’s record. Drivers must take the course in person in New Hampshire. If they don’t take a class to reduce points, they will remain on their license for three years.

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New Jersey

Garden State drivers who accumulate six or more points within three years are assessed a surcharge. Your license is suspended if you get 12 points or more on your record. Drivers can reduce their point total by having no violations or suspensions for one year or by taking a qualified class to reduce points on a license. Once the course is completed, two points may be removed from the driver’s license.

New York

To reduce points on your license in New York, you need to complete an approved defensive driving course. This can decrease point totals by four points every 18 months. Taking a course also may reduce insurance premiums, but drivers need to take a course every 36 months to keep any discount. Drivers can take courses in person or online (the AAA Defensive Driving Course is available both ways). Even after completing the course, most violations, convictions and points will remain on your driving record for as long as four years, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Point reductions will have no effect if a driver’s license has already been suspended or revoked. And violations such as driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired or getting three speeding tickets within 18 months, will result in mandatory license suspension or revocation, regardless of points.

Learn more about the AAA Defensive Driving Course or sign up now.

Have you ever taken a defensive driving course for license point reduction? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Ellen R. Delisio

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.