Points remain on your Indiana license for two years from the date of the violation, but they affect your driving record and insurance rates during that time
Indiana's point system tracks traffic violations on your driving record. When you receive a ticket for most moving violations, the state assigns points to your license. Those points stay visible on your record for exactly two years from the violation date, not from when you paid the fine or went to court.
During those two years, the points count toward license suspension. If you accumulate 12 or more points within any 24-month period, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will suspend your license. Insurance companies also see these points and typically raise your rates based on the violation itself, regardless of whether you're still accumulating points.
Key Takeaways
- Points remain on your Indiana driving record for two years from the violation date, and accumulating 12 or more points in any 24-month period triggers an automatic license suspension.
- Different violations carry different point values — a speeding ticket might be 2 to 6 points depending on how far over the limit, while reckless driving is 8 points.
- The two-year clock starts on the violation date itself, not when you pay the ticket or appear in court.
- After two years pass, the points drop off your record, but the violation may still appear on background checks and insurance records for longer.
- You can request a traffic safety program or defensive driving course in some cases to reduce points before they accumulate to suspension level.
How Indiana's point system works
Indiana assigns points based on the type and severity of the violation. A speeding ticket 1 to 15 miles per hour over the limit is 2 points. Speeding 16 to 25 miles per hour over the limit is 4 points. Speeding 26 miles per hour or more over the limit is 6 points. Reckless driving is 8 points. Running a red light or stop sign is 4 points. Improper lane change is 3 points.
The BMV tracks these points cumulatively. If you get a 4-point ticket in January and a 6-point ticket in March of the same year, you now have 10 points on your record. If you get another 4-point ticket in May, you hit 14 points, which exceeds the 12-point threshold and triggers suspension.
The key detail is that points are counted within any rolling 24-month period, not a calendar year. This means if you received a violation on March 15, 2023, that violation's points count toward your total through March 14, 2025. On March 15, 2025, those points drop off.
What happens when you reach 12 points
Once you accumulate 12 or more points within a 24-month window, the BMV automatically suspends your license. You do not have to wait for a hearing or letter — the suspension takes effect based on the BMV's records. The length of the suspension depends on how many times you have been suspended before.
Your first suspension lasts 30 days. A second suspension within 10 years lasts 60 days. A third suspension within 10 years lasts 180 days. After the suspension period ends, you must visit an Indiana BMV branch in person, pay a reinstatement fee (currently $50), and pass a written test on traffic laws before your license is restored.
If you receive a ticket while suspended, the consequences are much more serious — you could face criminal charges for driving with a suspended license, which carries fines and potential jail time.
Reducing points before they cause suspension
Indiana allows you to reduce points in limited situations. If you complete an approved traffic safety program or defensive driving course, you can reduce up to 4 points from your record. However, you can only use this reduction once every 24 months, and you must not have used it within the past two years.
The course must be approved by the BMV — not all online courses or local programs may have access to. You can find a list of approved providers on the BMV website. The course typically costs between $20 and $50 and takes a few hours to complete. After you finish, you receive a certificate that you submit to the BMV, and the points reduction appears on your record within a few weeks.
This reduction is your only option to lower points before they trigger suspension. Paying a fine, going to traffic court, or negotiating with the prosecutor does not remove points — only the traffic safety course does.
How points affect insurance rates
Insurance companies receive copies of your driving record and see every violation and point on it. A single moving violation typically raises your insurance premium by 10 to 40 percent, depending on the violation type and your insurer. This increase usually lasts three to five years, even after the points drop off your license record after two years.
Insurance companies use their own rating systems, which do not always match Indiana's point values. A reckless driving charge might affect your rates more severely than a speeding ticket, even though both are on your record. Some insurers offer accident forgiveness or safe driver discounts that can offset increases if you have a clean record otherwise.
After two years, the points disappear from your Indiana license record, but your insurance company may still see the violation in their own database. You should contact your insurer to ask when they stop using the violation for rate calculations — this varies by company.
Points that do not count toward suspension
Not all violations add points to your license. Parking tickets, equipment violations (like a broken taillight), and non-moving violations do not carry points. Violations that result in a criminal charge, such as driving under the influence (DUI) or reckless homicide, are handled separately and do not use Indiana's point system — they result in license suspension through a different process.
If you receive a ticket and are unsure whether it carries points, you can check your driving record through the BMV website or by visiting a branch in person. Your record shows every violation on file and the points assigned to each one.
Checking your driving record
You can view your Indiana driving record online through the BMV's website or request a copy in person at any BMV branch. The online version is faster and shows your current points total, all violations within the past three years, and any suspensions or restrictions on your license.
You should check your record periodically to confirm the points are accurate and to track how close you are to the 12-point threshold. If you see a violation you believe is incorrect, you can dispute it through the BMV, though you will likely need to provide documentation or court records to support your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points drop off automatically after two years?
Yes. The BMV automatically removes points from your record two years after the violation date. You do not need to request removal or take any action. However, the violation itself may still appear on background checks and insurance records for longer.
Can I get a ticket dismissed to remove points?
Getting a ticket dismissed in court removes the violation from your record entirely, which also removes the points. However, dismissal is not may provide and depends on the specific circumstances and the prosecutor's decision. The only may provide way to reduce points is through an approved traffic safety course.
What if I move out of Indiana — do the points follow me?
Indiana points stay on your Indiana license record. If you move and get a license in another state, that state has its own point system. However, most states share violation information through the National Driver Register, so serious violations may appear on your new state's record as well.
Can I get a hardship license while suspended?
Indiana offers a provisional license in some suspension cases, which allows you to drive to work, school, or medical appointments. You must request this through the BMV and meet specific requirements. A hardship license is not automatic — you have to show that the suspension causes genuine hardship.
How much does the BMV reinstatement fee cost?
The current reinstatement fee is $50. You pay this fee when you visit the BMV to restore your license after a suspension period ends. You must also pass a written test on traffic laws before your license is fully restored.