How to Recover Points on Your Driving License

A number of points on your driving record can have serious consequences in the long term which could include an increase in insurance rates. This could also lead to your license being cancelled or suspended.


It is important to know the length of time points remain on your driving record and that a judge cannot reduce the amount of points accumulated on convictions. However, there are strategies that can help drivers recover from having too many points on their driving record.

1. Learn defensive driving

A defensive driving course is a win-win proposition It will allow you to become a safer driver as well as save you money on insurance for your car. In New York, completion of the course will result in a 10% discount on your base price for liability and collision insurance for a period of three years.

The course will provide you with important information on safe driving practices, such as maintaining the proper following distance, not driving too fast and dealing with difficult weather conditions. You can opt to learn the course in person or online. Online learning is practical and adaptable. The class of six hours will be broken into smaller lessons, to ensure that you don't have to miss a whole Saturday or multiple evenings in order to take part in.

Accidents can result from reckless drivers, road obstructions and mechanical malfunctions. Taking the defensive driving course will teach you to recognize these hazards and be better equipped to respond to them safely. The course will teach you how to avoid road rage, emotional stress and fatigue behind-the-wheel.

Whatever your level of experience or novice you are there is always something to improve. You can improve your driving skills and avoid expensive fines and higher auto insurance rates by completing a defensive driving course.

You can take the course every three years to maintain your insurance discount and remove points from your driving record. However, it is important to remember that some zero-point infractions that occur in New York may carry potential points in other states where you're licensed to drive.

To complete the defensive driving course, you will require a certificate of completion. The certificate should include the date that the course was completed, the number of instructional hours and be signed by the instructor. You can download the certificate of completion from the provider's website or request it from the DMV. The DMV will charge a small fee to provide the certificate of completion.

2. Contest the Traffic Ticket

The consequences of points on your driver's license can be a major issue, ranging from increased insurance costs and possibly a loss of employment in fields that require drivers. It is usually better to fight the ticket, rather than mail it in and plead guilty. Fighting a traffic ticket is time-consuming and complex, and often requires a court appearance as well as the submission of evidence. It is highly recommended to seek the advice of a traffic lawyer who can guide you through this procedure.

You can plead not guilty to the violation at issue and request an appearance in court. Depending on the facts of your case, you could have a range of defenses. For instance, defenses against speeding could include arguing against the accuracy of the speed measurement equipment or presenting evidence that you did not go over the speed limit set by law for the conditions at the time. Other offenses, like the failure to yield, can be defended by showing that you gave the right-of-way or that the officer had poor visibility.

It is important to know that if you're found guilty of a traffic violation and receive a DRA penalty and points are assessed, they will be added to your record even when you have completed a DMV-approved defensive driving course. The 18-month accumulation of points starts from the date of your original violation regardless of whether or not you were convicted.

So, if you're fighting a ticket to avoid the DRA penalty, you need to act fast to increase your chances of success. In certain cases a knowledgeable lawyer may be able to reduce your total points or have the ticket dismissed entirely.

In the end fighting a traffic violation will save you money over the long term by keeping points off your record, and could save you hundreds of dollars in higher insurance premiums. Contact a NY traffic lawyer as quickly as you can if have any concerns about fighting a ticket.

3. Take a Driver Safety Course

New York is one of the few states that permit drivers who have earned some amount of points to avoid license suspension by completing the driver safety class. The state's Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) requires drivers who meet certain eligibility requirements to attend a class which will stop up to four points that were added in the last 18 months from being counted towards license suspension or higher insurance rates.

The PIRP course can be conducted in various ways, but all courses include six hours worth of educational material on defensive driving behavior, driver attitudes and behaviours and traffic and vehicle laws. Drivers can choose between classroom-based and online courses according to their individual requirements. After completing the course and passing the test, your PIRP sponsor will notify the DMV, which will deduct up to four points from your current points total when calculating the possibility of license suspension or cancellation.

Point reductions only apply to a driver's record with the DMV. It does not affect points that are assigned by insurance companies or cancel an obligatory license suspension or revocation for DWI, DWAI, or three speeding violations within a period of 18 months. It doesn't reduce the points that are used to determine the Driver Responsibility Assessment.

If you are fighting a traffic ticket or enroll in a driver safety class, you must have a clean driving record in order to keep your driver's license from being suspended or increased by the DMV or your insurance company. If you require help in keeping your record clean our lawyers will review your options with you. Contact us today to begin.

4. Pay the Fine

You'll have to pay an amount to the local authority if you are issued a citation for a traffic offense that carries penalty points. The number of points on your license will be contingent on the severity of the offense was. State-by-state, the period for which they remain on your record varies. In some states, a high amount of points could result in your license being suspended or even revoked. This can result in severe penalties, and many people have difficulty attempting to meet their financial obligations when their licence is suspended.

Driver's license point systems are designed to help both states and insurance companies spot high-risk drivers. Drivers who are ticketed and convicted of certain violations such as speeding or reckless driving, using a cell phone while driving, or railroad crossing violations will be given points. In certain instances, points may remain on your record up to four years. This can influence the decisions you make regarding your license and car insurance.

In New York, a driver could face severe fines and even license suspension when they are found guilty of certain serious traffic offences or accumulate more than six points over an 18-month period. Additionally, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will assess the driver's responsibility assessment. This is a charge which you are required to pay over a 3-year period, and it is used to promote road safety and to stop repeat traffic offenders, and decrease the cost of insurance for drivers.

The DMV can also take action against your driving licence when you have accrued too many points. However, this will differ by state. For example, in most cases, a conviction for driving at least 10 mph over the speed limit could result in 3 penalty points being added to your driving record. However, in some cases, such as an infraction for failing to stop after an accident or for committing a reckless driving crime, you could be able to receive up to 10 penalty points.

permis a – permis a2 can check the number of penalty points on your driving licence with the DMV, and you can also create a licence check code that allows you to share this information with other people online. Although you aren't able to get rid of penalty points entirely but you may be able to eliminate some if you enroll in a defensive driving class or contest the ticket in court.