Alabama Point System: How Driver’s License Points Work

How the Alabama Point System Works

The Alabama point system is how the state keeps score. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Driver License Division uses it to track moving violation convictions on a driver's record. When a driver is convicted of a traffic offense – not merely cited – ALEA assigns a set number of points to that driver's record. Points accumulate over a two-year look-back period. If a driver reaches certain thresholds within that window, ALEA may suspend driving privileges.

Points attach only after conviction. Receiving a traffic ticket does not add points by itself. Points appear on the record once the court enters a conviction. This includes guilty pleas, guilty findings, nolo contendere pleas accepted by the court, and payment of the fine on the ticket. It also includes an unvacated forfeiture of bail. This distinction matters because contesting a ticket or negotiating a reduced charge can prevent points from ever reaching the record.

Point values and suspension thresholds are not set by statute. They come from an administrative rule in the Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 760-X-1, which ALEA publishes as its driver license point schedule. Because administrative rules can change, drivers should verify current point values and thresholds directly with ALEA.

The Alabama driver license point system applies to all licensed drivers in the state. ALEA may also act on out-of-state convictions. It can do so if the offense would be grounds for suspension or revocation had it occurred in Alabama.

Alabama Driving Points by Violation

ALEA assigns Alabama driving points based on the severity of the moving violation. Point values generally range from 2 points for minor infractions up to 6 points for the most serious offenses. Below are common violations and the points ALEA's published schedule assigns to each; any other moving violation carries 2 points. Drivers should confirm current values with ALEA, as administrative rules may be updated.

Common violation categories:

• Speeding – The schedule assigns 2 points for 1 to 25 mph over the posted limit. Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit carries 5 points.
• Reckless driving – Under Alabama law, reckless driving means driving in willful or wanton disregard for the rights or safety of persons or property. The schedule assigns 6 points, the highest value on it. A first conviction is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 5 days nor more than 90 days, by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500, or by both.
• Running a red light or stop sign – Disregarding a traffic control device carries 3 points.
• Improper passing – Illegal passing or driving on the wrong side of the road carries 4 points.
• Following too closely – Tailgating carries 3 points on the schedule.
• Failure to yield – Failing to yield the right of way carries 5 points.

Because points only attach upon conviction, how a citation is resolved directly affects point exposure. A charge reduced to a non-moving violation – such as an equipment violation – typically carries zero points. This is why criminal defense on traffic tickets can make a meaningful difference.

How Many Points Before License Suspension in Alabama

ALEA uses a tiered suspension structure based on total points accumulated within a two-year window. The more points a driver accumulates, the longer the suspension period. The published schedule works as follows:

• 12-14 points – Suspension of 60 days
• 15-17 points – Suspension of 90 days
• 18-20 points – Suspension of 120 days
• 21-23 points – Suspension of 180 days
• 24 or more points – Suspension of 365 days

These thresholds are set in the Alabama Administrative Code and may be updated. Drivers should check the current figures with ALEA.

Under Alabama law, the Secretary of ALEA may suspend a license when records show the driver has been convicted of serious offenses with such frequency as to indicate disrespect for traffic laws. This also indicates disregard for highway safety. ALEA reviews each case, so the outcome can vary with the facts.

Teen drivers face a stricter rule under Alabama's graduated driver license program. A driver who holds a Stage II restricted license – age 16, or age 17 and licensed less than six months – has the license automatically suspended for 60 days on a second moving violation or on any single offense assessed four or more points. Parents and teen drivers should go over the graduated license rules with ALEA.

If a license is suspended, reinstatement requires payment of a fee. Under Alabama law, the reinstatement fee for suspensions not related to drug or alcohol offenses is $100. An additional $50 fee applies if the suspended license is not voluntarily surrendered within 30 days of the suspension notice.

How Long Points Stay on Your Alabama Driving Record

ALEA uses a two-year look-back period to calculate point totals for suspension purposes. Points from convictions older than two years drop out of that count. The conviction itself, though, does not drop off the driving record.

That gap matters. The point count ALEA uses for suspension is not the same thing as the full driving history abstract. Under Alabama law, ALEA furnishes driving record abstracts upon request for a fee of $5.75. Insurers, employers, and courts may pull this abstract. It shows the full conviction history, not just the live point count.

So a two-year-old speeding conviction may no longer count toward the suspension threshold. An insurer looking at the full driving record may still use it to set your rate. Employers who want a clean driving record may also see older convictions.

Ask ALEA for your own driving record to see what points and convictions show up now. That is worth doing before you renew your insurance, or apply for a job that calls for driving.

How Points Affect Insurance and Your CDL

Auto insurance rates. Carriers set rates by risk, and traffic convictions are a big part of that risk. They pull driving record abstracts and add a surcharge based on the convictions they find, not strictly on the ALEA point total. One speeding conviction may push up your rate even if you sit far below the suspension threshold. Each carrier uses its own formula, so what it costs you will vary.

Commercial driver's license holders. CDL holders face a whole second layer of risk. Alabama's commercial driver license law defines a serious traffic violation in a commercial motor vehicle to include speeding 15 mph or more over the limit, reckless driving, and a traffic offense tied to a fatal accident. These convictions trigger disqualification periods independent of the Alabama point system.

Under Alabama law, a CDL holder convicted of two serious traffic violations in a commercial motor vehicle, arising from separate incidents within a three-year period, faces disqualification for not less than 60 days. Three such violations within a three-year period results in disqualification for not less than 120 days.

Critically, some violations in a personal vehicle can also affect CDL status. A DUI conviction in any vehicle results in CDL disqualification for not less than one year on a first offense, or not less than three years if the driver was transporting placarded hazardous material. A second such conviction arising from a separate incident results in disqualification for life, which ALEA rules may reduce to not less than 10 years. CDL holders should take every ticket seriously, no matter which vehicle they were driving.

Can You Remove Points From Your Alabama Driving Record?

Alabama does not offer a statewide defensive driving or traffic school course that reduces points already on a driving record. Alabama differs from some other states here. Completing a driver improvement course generally does not remove points from the ALEA record during the two-year look-back period.

Some municipal courts may offer pre-conviction options such as deferred adjudication or conditional dismissal at the judge's discretion. These programs usually ask the driver to meet set conditions. You might have to finish a driving course, or keep a clean record for a set period. In exchange, the court dismisses the charge before conviction. Because points attach only upon conviction, a successful deferral prevents points from reaching the record in the first place.

What is on offer varies by court and by judge. Ask what programs your own court runs.

The surest way to keep points off the record is to stop the conviction. Fighting the ticket, or working out a reduced charge, gives the driver the best shot.

Fighting a Traffic Ticket to Avoid Points

Points attach on conviction. So the goal of traffic ticket defense is often to stop or reduce the conviction itself, not to fight the points. Several approaches may apply, depending on the facts.

Appear at arraignment. Showing up in court tells the prosecutor that the driver takes this seriously. Many tickets are worked out at or before this stage.

Request discovery. A defense lawyer can ask for evidence such as radar or lidar calibration records, officer training records, and dashcam footage. Gaps in the calibration records, or errors in how things were done, can weaken the case against you.

Negotiate a reduced charge. Prosecutors in Alabama municipal and district courts often look at reducing a moving violation to a non-moving one. An equipment violation is a common swap. They are most open to it when the driver's record is otherwise clean. A 5-point speeding offense reduced to a non-point equipment violation keeps the driving record clean.

Contest the charge at trial. When a deal is not on the table, a trial lets the driver test the evidence. The state must prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt.

A defense lawyer can weigh which approach gives the best chance of avoiding points. That turns on the facts, the court, and the driver's history.

Talk to an Alabama Traffic Defense Attorney

One traffic ticket may seem minor. The points it carries can add up fast. That can lead to a license suspension, a higher insurance bill, and a mark on your driving record that lasts. The time to act is before the court date, not after a conviction is entered.

Polson & Polson, P.C. handles Alabama traffic ticket defense. We can weigh your options to hold the point count down, work out a reduced charge, and protect your right to drive. Our firm works on criminal defense and traffic defense across Alabama, and we know how municipal and district courts handle these cases.

Call Polson & Polson, P.C. for a free consultation. Bring your ticket and a copy of your driving record so we can look at where you stand and talk through a plan. Acting fast matters, because court deadlines do not wait.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama Driving Points

How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Alabama?

A speeding ticket in Alabama carries 2 points for 1 to 25 mph over the posted limit. Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit carries 5 points. Both values come from ALEA's published point schedule, which administrative rules may update, so confirm current figures with ALEA. A defense lawyer can weigh the options to reduce or avoid the charge.

How Long Do Points Stay on Your Driving Record in Alabama?

ALEA uses a two-year look-back period for calculating point totals toward suspension. After two years, points from a conviction no longer count toward suspension thresholds. The conviction itself, though, stays on the full driving record, and insurers and employers may still see it. Ask ALEA for your record to check.

How Many Points Before Your License Is Suspended in Alabama?

Accumulating 12 or more points within a two-year period triggers a license suspension under ALEA's published schedule. The suspension runs 60 days at 12 to 14 points, 90 days at 15 to 17, 120 days at 18 to 20, 180 days at 21 to 23, and 365 days at 24 or more. Verify current thresholds with ALEA, as administrative rules may be updated.

Does Alabama Have a Defensive Driving Course to Remove Points?

Alabama has no statewide program that lets drivers clear points by taking a defensive driving course. Some municipal courts may offer pre-conviction options such as deferred adjudication, but these vary by court. The best plan is to fight the ticket, or work out a reduced charge, so the conviction never lands.

Can an Out-of-State Ticket Add Points to My Alabama License?

Yes. Under Alabama law, ALEA may suspend or revoke an Alabama license based on a conviction in another state. This applies if the offense would be grounds for suspension or revocation had it occurred in Alabama. Ask a lawyer how an out-of-state conviction may affect your Alabama driving record.