Missouri Driver's License Points and Suspension
Speak With Us for FREE – 314-827-6222
How the point system works
The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) runs a point system for suspending and revoking licenses, set out in RSMo 302.302. Points are added only after a conviction or a forfeiture of collateral. A ticket you're still fighting doesn't count yet. Paying a ticket usually does count, because paying is a guilty plea.
Points count from the date of conviction, not the date of the ticket. Once you have 4 or more points in a 12-month period, DOR mails you a notice of your point total (RSMo 302.304).
Points for common violations
As of 2026, from RSMo 302.302 and DOR's point table (Form 899, revised August 2026):
| Violation | State law | County or city ordinance |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding 5 mph or less over the limit | 0 | 0 |
| Speeding more than 5 mph over | 3 | 2 |
| Most other moving violations not listed | 2 | 2 |
| Stop sign, no accident | 2 | 2 (county), 1 (city) |
| Careless and imprudent driving | 2 (4 for a careless-driving conviction under the passing statute, RSMo 304.016) | 2 |
| Failure to stop for a school bus loading or unloading students | 5 | — |
| No insurance (failure to maintain financial responsibility) | 4 | 4 |
| Endangering a highway worker or emergency responder | 4 | — |
| Driving without a valid license | 2, then 4, then 6 | 2 |
| Knowingly letting an unlicensed driver drive | 4 | 4 |
| Leaving the scene of an accident | 12 | 6 |
| Driving while suspended or revoked | 12 | 12 |
| DWI or excessive blood alcohol, first conviction | 8 | 8 |
| DWI or excessive blood alcohol, second or later | 12 | 12 |
| Any felony involving a motor vehicle | 12 | — |
A few rules change the count:
- Injury or damage. If the reporting court certifies that a violation caused a personal injury or property damage, 2 more points can be added.
- One charge, not two. When the same act breaks both state law and a local ordinance, points are assessed for one or the other, not both.
- Equipment violations aren't moving violations under the point statute and don't carry points.
- No insurance. Instead of sending the conviction to DOR for 4 points, the court can suspend your license or, once in 36 months, enter an order of supervision in place of points.
When points lead to suspension or revocation
| Points | Within | What DOR does |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 12 months | Mails a notice of your point total |
| 8 | 18 months | Suspends your license |
| 12 | 12 months | Revokes your license |
| 18 | 24 months | Revokes your license |
| 24 | 36 months | Revokes your license |
A point suspension lasts 30 days the first time, 60 days the second time, and 90 days for a third or later suspension. Reinstatement requires proof of insurance (an SR-22 filing) with DOR. Without that filing, the suspension stays in effect for two years.
A point revocation lasts one year if you file proof of insurance, or two years if you don't. After a revocation, you must pass the complete driver examination and apply for a new license.
After either one, DOR charges a $20 reinstatement fee on top of any other fees. DOR's FAQ says the SR-22 filing must be kept for two years from the effective date of a point suspension or revocation. When you're reinstated, your point total is reset to 4 points, not zero.
If you need to drive while suspended or revoked, you may be able to get a limited driving privilege.
How points come off
Under RSMo 302.306, points shrink with safe driving:
- After one full year without a moving-violation conviction, your total is reduced by one-third.
- After a second consecutive year, what's left is reduced by one-half.
- After a third consecutive year, the remaining points are removed.
You get no credit toward point reduction while your license is suspended or revoked, or while you're driving on a limited driving privilege.
Points and tickets are not the same thing. DOR says a ticket conviction may be removed from your record three years after the conviction. If the ticket led to a point suspension or revocation, removal comes five years after reinstatement. Some convictions don't qualify, and the timeframes differ by license class. You can ask DOR to purge eligible old tickets by email (dlbmail@dor.mo.gov) or by calling 573-526-2407.
Keeping points off in the first place
The easiest point to deal with is one that never gets assessed. Depending on the ticket and the court, options may include:
- A driver-improvement program instead of points. For many moving violations, speeding and careless driving, a court can order an approved course instead of points. It's allowed once in any 36-month period, and you must finish within 60 days of the conviction. It isn't available to CDL holders or for violations in a commercial vehicle.
- An amended charge. In many cases, prosecutors are willing to discuss amending a ticket to one with fewer points, or none. Nothing about this is automatic. A county or city ordinance charge can carry fewer points than the same conduct under state law. Speeding, for example, is 2 points instead of 3.
- Contesting the ticket. No conviction means no points.
If you have a CDL, the rules are much stricter. See CDL tickets.
Out-of-state tickets
DOR posts point-assessable convictions from other states, and from federal property such as military bases, to the Missouri record. The points depend on the conviction code. If you're licensed in another state and convicted in Missouri, DOR creates a Missouri record if needed and forwards the conviction to your home state.
How to check your points and get your record
DOR says you can find your point total by calling 573-526-2407 or emailing dlbmail@dor.mo.gov. To get a copy of your driving record:
- Online: through MyDMV, for a record without personal information, sent by email.
- In person: at any Missouri license office, with a photo ID.
- By mail, fax or email: with DOR Form 4681 (Request from Driver License Record Holder), signed and notarized.
How we help
We review your driving record, count what a new conviction would add, and look for a way to resolve the ticket that protects your license. If you're already facing a suspension, we can help with reinstatement and limited driving privileges. Call 314-827-6222 or contact us.
Back to Traffic Tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points before Missouri suspends my license?
DOR suspends your license at 8 points within 18 months. It revokes your license at 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months. DOR mails a notice of your point total once you reach 4 points within 12 months.
How long do points stay on a Missouri driving record?
Points shrink if you go without a moving-violation conviction. After one full year, your total drops by one-third. After a second straight year, what's left is cut in half. After a third straight year, the remaining points are removed. The ticket itself can stay on your record longer than the points.
Do out-of-state tickets put points on my Missouri license?
Yes, in many cases. DOR says that when it's notified that a Missouri driver was convicted of a point-assessable violation in another state or on federal property, it posts the conviction to the Missouri record. The point value comes from the conviction code.
Can a defensive driving course keep points off my record?
Sometimes. For many moving violations, speeding and careless driving, a court can order an approved driver-improvement program instead of points. It's allowed once every 36 months and must be finished within 60 days of the conviction. It isn't available to CDL holders or for violations in a commercial vehicle.
