How Many Points Until You Lose Your License in Georgia?

Have you gotten a traffic ticket for going a little too fast on I-75? You're definitely not alone. It may feel easy to brush off a single ticket, but even three tickets for speeding through Cook County can stack up consequences faster than you might realize.

It only takes 15 points on your license in a 24-month period to lose your license in Georgia if you're an adult with a standard license. However, there are a variety of circumstances that can impact how many points a single ticket applies to your license, such as your age and a history of previous traffic convictions. Here's a simple breakdown of how the point system works in Georgia, what might cause you to break that 15-point threshold, and what you should expect if you need to defend your license in a DDS hearing.

How the Georgia Points System Actually Works

The Georgia traffic license points system is built under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-57, which regulates negligent and dangerous drivers. Under this law, convictions for traffic violations can apply points to your license, based on severity. More serious violations apply more points, and a single event can lead to multiple convictions at once.

When the points on your license exceed the set threshold for a rolling 24-month period, your license is revoked by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), even if no individual violation seemed particularly serious on its own. The threshold is different depending on your age and the state of your license.

For example, if you are over 21 and your license is otherwise in good standing, the DDS will suspend your license if you receive 15 or more points in that 24-month period. Meanwhile, if you are under 21, you can lose your license for meeting the 15 point threshold, certain aggressive driving behaviors, or simply being convicted of a single offense worth four or more points.

Finally, any driver under the age of 18 can have their license suspended for any of the above reasons, or just for receiving four or more points on their license total in a rolling 12-month period. There are also many automatic license suspension triggers that you can review on the Georgia DDS website for people of any age, unrelated to points.

There is some good news, though. The law dictates that points are applied to your license if and only if you are convicted for a traffic violation. You do not receive points on your license just for:

If your charge is dismissed, reduced to a “non-point” offense, or in some cases resolved with a nolo contendere plea, your license is unaffected.

One last note: the rolling 24-month period can trip people up. It's not a question of calendar years. If you receive more points on your license in June 2028, and you last received points in July 2026, your license may be at risk if that threshold is exceeded.

Point Values for Common South Georgia Violations

In general, Georgia's point schedule ranges from one to six points, depending on how serious a moving violation is considered to be. Speeding is among the most common violations, and points are applied by how much faster than the posted limit you were going.

In addition, Georgia's Super Speeder law can put your license at risk, too. If you're going more than 75 mph on a two-lane road, or more than 85 mph on any other road, you can face a $200 fine on top of the ticket, and that fee is billed separately by DDS after the local court has already processed the ticket. While a Super Speeder conviction doesn't apply additional points to your license, failing to pay the Super Speeder fee can lead the DDS to suspend your license regardless of points if you're more than 120 days late.

You don't have to be speeding to get in trouble, though. Reckless driving, aggressive driving, following too closely, and even failing to use your turn signal can all apply more points than a standard speeding ticket. You can even get one point on your license for your first texting and driving offense, and the number climbs if you have been convicted of texting and driving multiple times.

What Happens at 15 Points

If you've just crossed the 15-point threshold, here's what happens next:

First, DDS suspends your license upon notice of the conviction that crossed the threshold. The suspension occurs automatically, and you will receive a notice to the address on file; typically, that's the address on your driver's license. The exact length of your suspension will be included in this notice, as will the requirements to have your license unsuspended. The details vary depending on your driving history and your age, but at minimum you will likely need to pay a fee and submit your proof of insurance. You may also need to take a defensive driving course.

It only takes 15 points on your license in a 24-month period to lose your license in Georgia if you're over 21.

This is a different process than a DUI suspension, and it's governed by a different law: O.C.G.A. § 40-5-63. DUI suspensions don't go through the points system at all, and they have a five-year rolling window rather than a 24-month window. If you're facing a suspension for too many traffic tickets, you're dealing with an entirely different process, timeline, and set of potential consequences than if you had too many DUI convictions.

Requesting a DDS Point Hearing

If you get a suspension notice in the mail, don't panic. In many cases, you have options to protect your license. If the notice of suspension relies on incorrect convictions, citations that shouldn't have applied points, or out-of-state convictions, you have a window of time where you can request a DDS hearing to have the suspension overturned before it takes effect.

To do so, you need to submit an appeal hearing request and pay associated fees within the 10-day appeal period. Time is of the essence; if you miss this window, you will forfeit your right to appeal.

It is important to note that DDS hearings tied specifically to a DUI arrest or a chemical test refusal follow a separate administrative process through the Office of State Administrative Hearings, with its own 30-day filing clock. A points-based suspension is a different animal, and treating the two as interchangeable is one of the more common mistakes drivers make when they try to handle a suspension notice on their own.

Reducing Points Before They Add Up

If you already have some points in the past two years, you don't have to live in fear of getting pulled over and putting your license at risk. Georgia permits drivers to have license points removed. You can complete a certified defense driving course and submit proof of that credit to DDS to have up to seven points removed, and you can do this once every five years.

The removal process isn't automatic, though. Make sure you submit your certificate directly to DDS, either by bringing the original certificate to a DDS Customer Service Center in person or mailing it to the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

It's a good idea to be proactive about these courses. If you have recently hit the 10-point mark, or if your car insurance is up for renewal soon and you want a clean record, it may be worthwhile to take the course and get the points removed rather than risk a suspension for a mistake made down the road.

Why South Georgia Drivers See Points Add Up Fast

Are you at risk of racking up points? Many people in Cook, Berrien, Tift, Colquitt, and the surrounding counties are. There are several reasons why you might face more issues with license points and potential suspension in this part of the state.

Long commutes on rural highways, active patrol presence along the I-75 corridor, and sharing roads with agricultural equipment and school bus routes all create more opportunities for a citation than you might expect if you're from the city.

Out-of-state convictions add another wrinkle for drivers who travel for work across county and state lines. Georgia posts qualifying out-of-state convictions against a Georgia license using the point value of the corresponding Georgia offense, which means a ticket picked up in Florida or Alabama can still push you toward suspension.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check how many points are on my Georgia license?

If you're a Georgia resident, you can create a DDS Online Services account through DRIVES e-Services and order a driving history report, which shows the current point total and when older points are set to age out of the 24-month window.

Do points affect my car insurance even before I reach 15?

Yes. Insurers typically pull a driving record at renewal, and even two or three points from a single ticket can raise a premium well before a driver comes close to a suspension.

Can out-of-state tickets add points to a Georgia license?

Yes. DDS assesses points for qualifying out-of-state convictions based on the point value the equivalent offense would carry under Georgia law.

What is the difference between a Super Speeder fee and points?

The Super Speeder fee is a separate $200 state charge for certain high-speed convictions, billed by DDS after the ticket is resolved in court. It does not replace the points assessed for the underlying speeding conviction.

Can a lawyer get points removed from a ticket before conviction?

An attorney cannot remove points that have already posted, but having your lawyer negotiate a citation down to a reduced or non-point charge before conviction is often the most effective way to keep points off a record in the first place.

Talk to a Georgia Traffic Ticket Attorney About Your Concerns

If a recent traffic ticket or suspension notice has you worried for your license, don't wait to get help. Carter, Carter & Carter has handled traffic matters across this region for years and can review the citation before it becomes a conviction on the record. Call (229) 896-4513 to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you.