Point System

DMV Point System

The West Virginia DMV's Point System promotes highway safety by monitoring and correcting the driving habits of motorists. Points are assessed for traffic violations based on the severity of the offense.

Motorists who accumulate at least six (6) points against their license will receive a warning letter urging them to exercise more caution and obey all traffic laws. Continued unlawful driving can lead to license suspension.

Points for a given infraction remain on a driver's record for two (2) years from the conviction date; the infraction itself remains on the record for five years. License suspensions generally run consecutively. Points accumulated by drivers already under suspension will result in an additional suspension period to begin after the original ends. However, suspensions received upon reaching 20+ points run concurrently.

Note: Points are assessed for all traffic violations committed anywhere in the United States using the West Virginia Points Schedule. Drivers convicted of multiple offenses arising out of a single incident will only be assessed points for the most serious offense.

Convictions for driving while your license is suspended or revoked may result in additional suspension penalties.

Downloads

• Points System Brochure (PDF)

How to Regain Your Driving Privileges

Licensees who complete their mandatory suspension period may apply for reinstatement of their driving privileges.

Mail Reinstatement Fees and Documentation To:
Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 17030
Charleston, WV 25317

CRITICAL NOTE: West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles Regional Offices do not process reinstatement transactions.

A copy of your original suspension notice and your driver's license number must be included with your reinstatement application. Licensees who commit additional violations during a license suspension are subject to further punitive actions.

Defensive Driving Course Information

Any driver who completes an approved Defensive Driving Course (DDC) will have three (3) points removed from their overall total, regardless of the amount of points currently on their record.

• If a points suspension for 14 or more points has already been established on your record, the suspension will not be rescinded or affected by the DDC; the driver must serve the suspension and pay the reinstatement fee.
• If the driver has an impending 30-day point suspension (12 to 13 points) and submits proof of completion and the reinstatement fee PRIOR to the effective date of the suspension, the 30-day suspension will be rescinded.
• The Defensive Driving Course may only be taken once every 12 months for point reduction.
• You cannot use the Defensive Driving Course for point reduction if you take the class before the points officially appear on your driving record.

WARNING: Online Defensive Driving Courses are NOT acceptable for point reduction and will NOT be considered by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

Only the classroom courses listed below are accepted in West Virginia for the purposes of point reduction. For schedules or additional information, please contact a class representative directly:

* Note: Three (3) points will be deducted from the last ticket received by the Division of Motor Vehicles prior to taking the class.

Click here to learn How to Obtain a Driving Record