Maryland Point System

How Points Are Counted

Maryland's MVA tracks traffic convictions using a rolling two-year window based on violation dates. Points from a conviction count toward suspension and revocation thresholds only during those two years. After that, the points stop contributing to threshold calculations — but the underlying convictions remain on your permanent driving record.

This two-year window resets per violation, not per suspension. If you got a 2-point violation in January 2025 and another in March 2026, both count until their individual two-year marks expire. The MVA evaluates your total active points continuously, not at set intervals.

The Threshold Ladder

Maryland's point system uses a progressive penalty structure with four tiers:

3–4 points: The MVA mails a warning letter. No mandatory action required, but it signals you're approaching the intervention threshold.

5–7 points: Mandatory referral to a Driver Improvement Program (DIP), a 4-to-8-hour defensive driving course through an MVA-approved provider. You receive a deadline to complete it. Miss the deadline, and the MVA suspends your license for non-compliance.

8–11 points: The MVA issues a Notice of Suspension. You have 15 days from the notice date to request an administrative hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings ($150 filing fee). Filing the request holds the suspension in abeyance — your license stays active until the judge rules. If your points include an alcohol- or drug-related conviction, you have a third option: bypassing the suspension by enrolling in the Ignition Interlock Program.

12+ points: The MVA issues a Notice of Revocation. A single 12-point violation — such as a DUI conviction or driving on a substantive suspended or revoked license under § 16-303(c) or (d) — is enough to trigger revocation on its own. Reinstatement after revocation requires completing mandatory waiting periods, submitting a formal application, and retaking all licensing exams.

Point Values for Common Violations

The MVA assigns specific point values that reflect the severity of the offense:

• 1 point: Failure to yield right of way, improper lane change
• 2 points: Following too closely, negligent driving, and exceeding the posted speed limit by 10 or more mph but less than 30 mph, except 20 or more mph over a posted 65-mph limit
• 3 points: Failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, or a moving violation contributing to an accident
• 5 points: Exceeding a posted speed limit of 65 mph by 20 or more mph, aggressive driving
• 6 points: Reckless driving, exceeding the posted speed limit by 30 or more mph
• 8 points: DWI (driving while impaired by alcohol — BAC 0.07–0.0799)
• 12 points: DUI (driving under the influence — BAC 0.08+), driving on a substantive suspended or revoked license under § 16-303(c) or (d), manslaughter by vehicle, hit-and-run with injury

The jump from 5 to 8 points in a single conviction for DWI is significant because it immediately places you in suspension territory. And the 12-point violations bypass all intermediate tiers entirely — one conviction goes straight to revocation.

Reducing Points on Your Record

Maryland points stop counting toward suspension or revocation thresholds after two years from the violation date, but the underlying convictions remain on your driving record. Check the violation dates on your MVA record to see which points are still active.

The OAH Hearing Option

When you receive a suspension notice at the 8–11 point tier, requesting an OAH hearing within 15 days is one way to preserve your driving privileges while you contest the action. The hearing holds the suspension in abeyance — meaning you continue driving legally on your existing license until the administrative law judge issues a ruling.

At the hearing, you can present evidence of rehabilitation, employment necessity, and mitigation factors. The judge may uphold the suspension, modify it, or grant a restricted license allowing employment commuting, medical appointments, or educational travel.

If you don't file within the 15-day window, the suspension takes effect and you lose the right to an abeyance hearing.

When Points Push You Into Revocation

At 12+ points, the MVA issues a Notice of Revocation. The notice may provide an OAH hearing option and, for qualifying alcohol- or drug-related cases, an Ignition Interlock Program option. If the revocation takes effect, the mandatory waiting period — defined in Transportation Article § 16-208 — begins only when you physically return your license to the MVA or file a Certified Statement confirming surrender.

After the waiting period expires, reinstatement requires a formal application, payment of the $90 reinstatement fee (or $150 if the revocation involved a drug or alcohol offense), and successful completion of the vision, knowledge, and road tests.

If you're facing a points suspension or revocation and need to navigate the reinstatement process, the Maryland Driver's License Reinstatement Guide walks you through identifying every hold, clearing them in the right order, and getting your credential back.

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