How to Take Points off Your Driving Record

Have you received a speeding ticket in New York? Your driving record could be a few points away from license suspension or rising insurance premiums.

But there's good news — a state-approved defensive driving course can help you take up to four points off your license and lower your car insurance rates by 10%.

New York’s Point System

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles uses a point system to help track driving violations. Every time you're convicted of a traffic offense, driver’s license points are added to your record. The more serious the traffic violation, the more points will be assigned to your record.

Too many infractions can result in higher insurance rates, license suspension or even revocation. This system helps promote road safety and ensures responsible driving behavior among motorists.

Here’s how it works:

If you get 11 points or more within an 18-month period, your license may be suspended
Points are based on the date of the violation, not the conviction date
Violations from other states may also count against you, depending on the circumstances

Common Driver Violations and Their Point Values

Speeding (1–10 mph over the limit): 3
Speeding (11–20 mph over): 4
Speeding (21–30 mph over): 6
Reckless driving: 5
Failure to yield: 3
Cellphone use: 5
Tailgating (following too closely): 4

Points can add up faster than you think — especially if you get more than one ticket within a short time frame.

Remove Points with Defensive Driving

To protect your driving record, you can enroll in the Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP), commonly known as a defensive driving course. Taking this course can lower your point total by up to four points — enough to avoid suspension — and earn you a mandatory 10% discount on car insurance for three years.

Here’s how to remove points from a driving record in NY:

Wait it out — Points "age out" of suspension calculations after 18 months.
Take a defensive driving course — If you can’t afford to wait, a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles -approved course is your best option.

To qualify for a reduction in points, violations must have been within the past 18 months. Any remaining points will not carry over to future infractions. While these points will still be visible on your driving record, they will not contribute to a potential license suspension.

Before enrolling in a point reduction program, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. Although there are no official age requirements, the course is designed for licensed drivers who are at least 16 years old.

How Point Reduction Works

Once you complete the defensive driving course, your provider will automatically report it to the NYS DMV. It will take up to 10 weeks for the state to apply your point reduction.

It's important to repeat that the course doesn't erase violations from your record — it simply reduces the total value of points used to calculate penalties like suspension.

Violations that Don’t Qualify for Point Reduction

A defensive driving course is a great way to take points off your license — but it won’t work for every kind of ticket.

Serious violations, like drunk driving or leaving the scene of an accident, aren’t eligible. These are considered major offenses, and the NYS DMV doesn’t allow them to be resolved through a course.

Here are a few examples of violations that don’t qualify:

Driving under the influence (DUI or DWI)
Leaving the scene of an accident that caused injury or death
Driving with a suspended or revoked license
Using a car to commit a felony

If you’re not sure whether your ticket qualifies, it’s always a good idea to check with the NYS DMV or the Traffic Violation Bureau (TVB) before signing up.

About Our Online Course

Our 100% online defensive driving course enables students to learn at their own pace using a computer or mobile device. The course takes around six hours to complete. It can be stopped and started at your convenience.

Completing your education online is a convenient way to reduce the number of points on your license and lower your insurance premiums without ever setting foot in a classroom.

Our course benefits include:

100% online and NYS DMV approved
No final exam
Get up to four points removed from your driving record
Mandatory 10% car insurance discount for three years
Automatic completion reporting
And more

The course can be taken once every 18 months for point reduction and every three years to renew your insurance discount. You will receive your certificate of completion via USPS mail within 10 business days.

We automatically submit digital verification to the state on your behalf for point reduction. To claim your insurance discount, check with your provider on how to submit your certificate.

How to Check Your Driving Record

It’s a good idea to regularly check your driving record to know how many points you’ve accumulated. You have the option to request a copy of your driving abstract from your nearest NYS DMV office, which provides a detailed record of your points and violations.

Ready to Clear Your License?

Don’t wait until your license is at risk — take control of your driving record today. Our NYS DMV-approved defensive driving course is 100% online, easy to complete and helps reduce up to four points from your record.

You can log in and out anytime, finish at your own pace and not have to worry about a final exam. You'll also get a mandatory 10% insurance discount for the next three years.

Enroll now to start protecting your license!