Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) assigns points to traffic convictions under Md. Code, Transp. § 16-402, then takes escalating action as your total rises: 3 to 4 points triggers a warning letter, 5 to 7 requires a Driver Improvement Program, 8 to 11 brings a license suspension, and 12 or more means revocation (§ 16-404). Points count for two years from the date of the violation, then stop counting toward those thresholds. Importantly, a probation before judgment (PBJ) carries no points, because points attach only to convictions. And before any suspension or revocation takes effect, you have the right to request a hearing.
Points are how a handful of “minor” tickets quietly turns into a license problem. Most drivers focus on the fine attached to a single ticket; the points usually matter more, because they accumulate, they follow you for two years, and they shape your insurance for even longer. Understanding the thresholds — and the two moments where you can still act — is what lets you protect your license before it is actually at risk.
How Points Are Assigned
Under § 16-402, each moving violation carries a set point value on a scale from 1 to 12 — the more serious the offense, the higher the number. A rough map of common violations:
- 1-5 points — speeding, depending on how far over the limit you were; most everyday moving violations sit at the low end. See how many points a Maryland speeding ticket carries.
- 5 points — aggressive driving, driving without a license, and driving an uninsured vehicle.
- 6 points — reckless driving, including speeding charged as reckless for going 30 mph or more over the limit.
- 8 points — DWI (driving while impaired).
- 12 points — DUI (driving under the influence), which by itself triggers revocation.
One point worth emphasizing: points attach to a conviction. If your case resolves with a probation before judgment, no points are assessed — which is a big part of why how a ticket is handled matters as much as the ticket itself.
What Happens at Each Threshold
The MVA’s response escalates as your two-year total climbs (§ 16-404):
- 3 to 4 points: a warning letter — no penalty, just notice that you are accumulating points.
- 5 to 7 points: you must enroll in and complete a Driver Improvement Program.
- 8 to 11 points: the MVA sends a Notice of Suspension.
- 12 or more points: the MVA sends a Notice of Revocation.
The length of a suspension, and the waiting period before you can reapply after a revocation, depend on your total and your history. New and provisional drivers face action at lower thresholds and on a stricter ladder, so the same ticket hits them harder than an experienced driver.
The Two-Year Window — and Why Insurance Is Different
Points count toward the suspension and revocation thresholds for two years measured from the date of the violation — not the date of conviction. After that, they stop counting for MVA purposes, which is why your “current points” can fall even though your record still shows the history.
Insurance runs on a separate clock. Carriers rate your policy on the underlying conviction, which typically stays visible to them for about three years, not on your MVA point total. So a speeding ticket can stop counting toward suspension at the two-year mark while still raising your premium for another year. It is a gap that surprises a lot of drivers: the license risk fades before the insurance cost does.
The Driver Improvement Program (DIP)
At 5 to 7 points, the MVA requires you to complete a Driver Improvement Program — a state-approved course, typically four to eight hours, designed to refresh your knowledge of traffic law and safe-driving habits. It can be taken in a classroom or, in many cases, online.
The DIP does not erase the points already on your record, but completing it satisfies the MVA’s requirement and helps you avoid the next step up the ladder. Failing to complete a required program, on the other hand, can itself lead to a suspension — so it is not something to ignore once the notice arrives.
Your Right to a Hearing
A Notice of Suspension or Revocation is not the final word. You have the right to request an administrative hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings, but you must act within the deadline printed on the notice — generally about 15 days. Miss it, and the suspension or revocation simply takes effect.
At the hearing, depending on your circumstances, you may be able to argue for a modified outcome — for example, a restricted license that lets you drive to work or school rather than a full suspension. The hearing is your real opportunity to influence what happens, which is why the response deadline is the one date you cannot afford to miss.
How to Keep Points Off Your Record
The best time to deal with points is before they are assessed — when you still have the ticket, not after the MVA notice arrives. A few principles:
- Don’t reflexively pay. Paying a citation is a guilty plea that locks in the points. With a payable Maryland ticket, requesting a trial preserves your defenses and the chance of a dismissal if the officer does not appear.
- Aim for a PBJ where appropriate. Because probation before judgment carries no points, it can keep your record clean even when the facts are not great.
- Take serious charges seriously. High-point offenses — reckless driving, or driving on a suspended or revoked license — can push you toward a threshold in a single stop and are worth getting advice on.
Not every ticket needs a lawyer. A single low-point violation on an otherwise clean record is often something you can handle yourself. The calculus changes when you are near a threshold, hold a provisional or commercial license, or are facing a high-point charge.
Related Questions
- License suspension vs. revocation vs. cancellation in Maryland
- What to expect at a Maryland MVA hearing
- Driving while suspended in Maryland
- How many points is a Maryland speeding ticket?
- Driving on an expired license in Maryland
Worried About Points on Your Maryland License?
Once points start to pile up, your options narrow and a suspension can arrive faster than you expect. A Maryland traffic and MVA lawyer can contest the underlying ticket, work toward a probation before judgment that keeps points off your record, or represent you at an MVA hearing to argue for a restricted license instead of a full suspension.
Toll-free: 1-877-566-2408. For the broader picture, see the complete Maryland license and MVA issues guide.
Last updated: May 2026.