Suspended license in Arizona: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
In Arizona, the first points threshold is 8 points within 1 year: Traffic Survival School may be required, or the driving privilege may be suspended up to 12 months. A Defensive Driving School (court diversion); Traffic Survival School (MVD-ordered) can keep a ticket off the record, not eligible to attend defensive driving school again within twelve months from the day of the last violation. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $10.
A DUI is only one of the ways a license gets suspended. Points from ordinary tickets, an unpaid ticket, a lapse in insurance, unpaid child support or a missed court date each carry their own suspension and their own path back. The rules below are the ones the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division states, each quoted from its page or from the statute.
How the points system works
Most states assign points to moving violations and suspend the license when the total inside a set window crosses a threshold. The threshold, the window and how long each violation keeps counting are all set by the state.
Each conviction or bail forfeiture for a moving violation adds points to the permanent driving record; when several violations come from one stop only the highest point value counts. Accumulating 8 or more points in any 12-month period may require Traffic Survival School or bring a suspension of up to 12 months.
| Points | Within | Consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 points | 1 year | Traffic Survival School may be required, or the driving privilege may be suspended up to 12 months | azdot.gov |
Points period stated by the agency: 1 year. Points are counted within any 12-month period. The MVD FAQ states a conviction stays on the record for five years from the date of conviction, and convictions within the past 39 months are provided to insurers.
“If you accumulate 8 or more points in any 12-month period, you may be required to attend Traffic Survival School (TSS), or your driving privilege may be suspended up to 12 months.”
“A conviction stays on your record for five years from the date of conviction.”
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding | 3 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Aggressive driving | 8 |
| Leaving the scene of accident, hit-and-run | 6 |
| Driving over or parking in a gore area | 3 |
| All other moving violations | 2 |
Check points or the driving record: azdot.gov
The statute: A.R.S. § 28-3306
“3. Has been convicted of or adjudged to have violated traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles with such a frequency that it indicates a disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways.”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Defensive Driving School (court diversion); Traffic Survival School (MVD-ordered) |
|---|---|
| Effect | Keeps the ticket off the record |
| How often | not eligible to attend defensive driving school again within twelve months from the day of the last violation |
Under A.R.S. § 28-3392 a court shall allow a person cited for a civil traffic moving violation to attend a defensive driving school, which is administered through the Arizona Supreme Court and is separate from MVD-licensed Traffic Survival School. Defensive driving school is not available for a violation causing death or serious injury, and commercial drivers cannot use it to avoid a conviction. Traffic Survival School is ordered by MVD for point accumulation or certain convictions and does not remove points; failing to complete it brings automatic suspension.
“B. A person who attends a defensive driving school pursuant to this article is not eligible to attend a defensive driving school again within twelve months from the day of the last violation for which the person was authorized by this article to attend a defensive driving school.”
Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one
These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.
| Cause | What the agency states | To reinstate | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point-based suspension | 8 or more points within any 12-month period leads either to a Traffic Survival School requirement or a license suspension; failing to complete TSS when ordered results in an automatic suspension. | Complete Traffic Survival School if ordered; for a suspension, provide any required documents listed at AZMVDNow.gov and pay the suspension reinstatement fee. | $10 |
| Failure to Appear or Pay Fine for Traffic Citation | If a driver fails to appear in court or fails to pay a fine, the court may direct MVD to suspend the driving privilege; a license will not be issued or renewed while MVD has notice of a failure to appear. | Satisfy the court, obtain a court abstract or clearance showing the final disposition, pay the $10 suspension fee, and reinstate online at AZMVDNow.gov or at any MVD or Third Party office. | $10 |
| Insurance violation (failure to maintain proper insurance) | Failure to maintain proper insurance can lead to suspension of the vehicle registration, the driver license or both. | Pay the fees and file future proof of financial responsibility, most commonly an SR22, maintained for three years from the date of suspension. | $10 |
| Judgment suspension | A judgment is generally a court order issued when someone had an accident while uninsured; the judgment suspension is placed on the record in accordance with the court order and the SR22 period varies case by case. | Satisfy the judgment as the court order requires and file future proof of financial responsibility for the period MVD determines. | — |
| Aggressive driving | A first offense requires Traffic Survival School and may bring a 30-day suspension; a second offense within 24 months is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a 12-month revocation. | Complete Traffic Survival School; after a revocation, complete the revocation period and the revocation application process. | — |
| Failure to Stop at an Accident | Conviction brings revocation for 10 years if a death was involved, five years for serious physical injury, three years for other injury, and a one-year suspension if only vehicle damage was involved. | Serve the withdrawal period; a revocation requires a revocation application, MVD review and the $20 revocation reinstatement fee. | — |
| Altered or Fictitious License | Displaying a license known to be canceled, revoked, suspended, fictitious or altered, altering a license, or obtaining a false license results in suspension of the driving privilege. | — | — |
Source quotes for each cause
Point-based suspension
“If you accumulate 8 or more points within any 12-month period, you'll either be required to attend Traffic Survival School (TSS) or face a license suspension.”
Failure to Appear or Pay Fine for Traffic Citation
“If you fail to appear in court, or fail to pay a fine, the court may direct MVD to suspend your driving privilege. When you have satisfied the court, you may take the court documents to any driver license office to apply for reinstatement of your driving privilege.”
Insurance violation (failure to maintain proper insurance)
“Failure to maintain proper insurance could lead to the suspension of your vehicle registration, driver license or both. To reinstate these privileges, fees and future proof of financial responsibility must be filed with MVD.”
Judgment suspension
“A judgment is generally a court order issued when someone has had an accident and was not insured. The judgment suspension is placed on the driving record in accordance with the court order.”
Aggressive driving
“First offense: You will be required to attend a Traffic Survival School course and your license may be suspended for 30 days.”
Failure to Stop at an Accident
“suspended for one year if involving only damage to a vehicle.”
Altered or Fictitious License
“These actions will result in your driving privilege being suspended; you are also subject to possible fines and/or a jail sentence.”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $10. $10 for reinstatement after a suspension (A.R.S. § 28-3002(A)(9)(a)); $20 after a revocation; an application fee of $10 to $25 by age (or $25 with a Travel ID) also applies; Admin Per Se suspensions add $50.
“(a) For reinstatement of driving privileges after suspension or disqualification, ten dollars.”
Provide any required documents
For suspensions other than unpaid tickets, MVD lists the specific documents a driver must provide under Other Services > Compliance Issues Management at AZMVDNow.gov.
“Provide required documents if needed. You can view a list of your specific documents online at AZMVDNow.gov > Other Services > Compliance Issues Management”
Pay the suspension fee
The suspension fee is paid online at AZMVDNow.gov or at any MVD or Third Party office; no personal checks are accepted for reinstatements.
“Pay the suspension fee online at AZMVDNow.gov or at any MVD or Third Party Office”
Pay the age-based application fee if applicable
Application fees are $10 at age 50 and older, $15 at 45-49, $20 at 40-44, and $25 at 39 and younger or any age with a Travel ID.
“Pay additional fees based on your age, if applicable.”
File SR-22 where required
DUI, drug-test refusal and insurance violations require proof of future financial responsibility (SR-22) before reinstatement.
“DUI, drug test refusal, or insurance violations: You'll need to provide Future Financial Responsibility proof (SR-22)”
Reinstate online or in person
Drivers who qualify can complete reinstatement at AZMVDNow.gov under Other Services > Compliance Timeline, or at an MVD office with photo ID, court documents, SR-22 proof and payment.
“Reinstate online at AZMVDNow.gov > Other Services > Compliance Timeline if you qualify.”
Official page: azdot.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Arizona.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available in some cases · Restricted Driver Permit. Restricted permits are issued only when the suspension resulted from a violation of insurance laws or DUI and the record shows no other withdrawal action; they are not available for a points suspension. The permit covers travel to and from work, on the job, and to and from school, requires proof of future financial responsibility at application, and can last the entire suspension period.
“Restricted driver permits may be issued only if the suspension was a result of a violation of insurance laws or DUI, and your record indicates no other withdrawal action.”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in Arizona.
Questions about a suspended license in Arizona
- How many points trigger action against an Arizona license?
- ADOT MVD's points page states that 8 or more points in any 12-month period may require Traffic Survival School or bring a suspension of up to 12 months. Speeding is 3 points, reckless or aggressive driving 8, and most other moving violations 2.
- Does defensive driving school remove points in Arizona?
- Under A.R.S. § 28-3392, a court must allow a person cited for a civil traffic moving violation to attend a defensive driving school, and a person cannot attend again within twelve months of the last violation. MVD notes these schools are run through the Arizona Supreme Court, separate from Traffic Survival School.
- What does reinstatement cost after a suspension in Arizona?
- A.R.S. § 28-3002 sets $10 for reinstatement after a suspension and $20 after a revocation, plus an application fee of $10 to $25 depending on age. MVD's suspension page adds that Admin Per Se suspensions generally carry an additional $50.
- Can I get a restricted permit during a points suspension in Arizona?
- No. MVD states restricted driver permits may be issued only if the suspension resulted from an insurance-law violation or DUI and the record shows no other withdrawal action.
Sources
- ADOT MVD – License Revocation and Suspension in Arizona (reinstatement steps and fees)
- ADOT MVD – Points Assessment (schedule and 8-point rule)
- ADOT MVD – Penalties (failure to appear, altered license, aggressive driving, failure to stop at an accident)
- ADOT MVD – Traffic Survival School
- ADOT MVD – Drivers FAQ (record retention, insurance suspension, SR22, judgment suspension)
- ADOT MVD – Restricted Driver Permits
- ADOT MVD – Motor Vehicle Records
- A.R.S. § 28-3306 Discretionary license suspension or revocation; traffic survival school
- A.R.S. § 28-3392 Defensive driving school; eligibility
- A.R.S. § 28-3002 Fees; driver licenses
Cite this page
Every state page quotes the statute or agency page each value comes from; when citing this page, include the verification date shown above.
WheelsBack. "Arizona license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/arizona/suspended-license/