Suspended license in California: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
In California, the first points threshold is 3 points within 1 year: Level II notice of intent to suspend. A Traffic Violator School removes 1 points, once in any 18-month period. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $55.
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 California Department of Motor Vehicles 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.
The Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) is based on negligent operator points and is a series of warning letters and progressive penalties against the driving privilege. Convictions carry 0 to 2 points (1.5 times that in a commercial vehicle) and a responsible collision 1 point; 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36 makes a driver a prima facie negligent operator subject to probation and suspension.
| Points | Within | Consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 points | 1 year | Level II notice of intent to suspend | dmv.ca.gov |
| 4 points | 1 year | Level III order of probation/suspension: one-year probation including a six-month suspension | dmv.ca.gov |
| 5 points | 2 years | Level II notice of intent to suspend | dmv.ca.gov |
| 6 points | 2 years | Level III order of probation/suspension: one-year probation including a six-month suspension | dmv.ca.gov |
| 7 points | 3 years | Level II notice of intent to suspend | dmv.ca.gov |
| 8 points | 3 years | Level III order of probation/suspension: one-year probation including a six-month suspension | dmv.ca.gov |
Points period stated by the agency: 3 years. Points are counted in 12-, 24- and 36-month periods; traffic convictions and collisions stay on the record for 36 months or longer depending on the type of conviction.
“You will receive a notice of intent to suspend letter if you accumulate a certain number of points within a time period.”
“Traffic convictions and collisions stay on your record for 36 months or longer, depending on the type of conviction.”
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| VC §22348 (a) Speed | 1 |
| VC §24002 Unsafe Vehicle | 1 |
| VC §20002 Hit and Run | 2 |
| VC §23152 Driving Under the Influence | 2 |
| 0 point conviction – No light on license plate | 0 |
| A conviction of reckless driving (Veh. Code § 12810(c)) | 2 |
Check points or the driving record: dmv.ca.gov
The statute: Cal. Veh. Code § 12810.5
“a person whose driving record shows a violation point count of four or more points in 12 months, six or more points in 24 months, or eight or more points in 36 months shall be prima facie presumed to be a negligent operator of a motor vehicle.”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Traffic Violator School |
|---|---|
| Effect | Removes or prevents points |
| Points removed | 1 |
| How often | once in any 18-month period |
For a one-point violation a judge may offer traffic violator school; the citation is then not reported to the insurer but stays on the driving record. Under Veh. Code § 1808.7 the first such conviction in any 18-month period is confidential and no violation point is assessed; the conviction is not confidential for commercial drivers, commercial-vehicle violations, or violations worth more than one point. A driver who fails to attend has the points assessed.
“If you are given a one-point traffic violation, the judge may offer you the choice to attend a traffic violator school to have the citation not reported to your insurance company but remain on your driving record. You can do this once in any 18-month period.”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) | A driver who reaches 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36 receives an order of probation/suspension: a one-year probation including a six-month suspension, effective 34 days after mailing. A violation or collision during probation brings a further six-month suspension, and a third probation violation a one-year revocation. | Serve the six-month suspension and pay the $55 reissue fee plus the $15 administrative fee; a hearing may be requested before the action takes effect. | $55 |
| Failure to appear (FTA) in court on a traffic ticket | A driver who signs a ticket promises to appear in traffic court; if the driver fails to appear, DMV may suspend the driving privilege until the driver appears and the FTA goes on the record. | Appear in court and clear the failure to appear; then pay the reissue fee. | $55 |
| Financial responsibility (uninsured accident) | A driver in a reportable accident who cannot show evidence of financial responsibility is suspended regardless of fault; the suspension under Veh. Code § 16070 is a minimum of one year. | At the end of the suspension, file proof of insurance and maintain it with DMV for three years under Veh. Code § 16430, and pay the reissue fee. | $55 |
| Deteriorated driving skill (reexamination) | When a driver's mental or physical state means they can no longer drive safely, DMV may require a reexamination of driving skill to determine whether the driver is a risk to traffic safety. | Appear for the reexamination and demonstrate the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. | — |
| Fraud (false documents) | Providing false documents to DMV, such as a forged birth certificate, can lead to action against the driving privilege under DMV's fraud guidelines. | — | — |
| Fatal and serious injury accidents | DMV is authorized under Veh. Code § 13800(a) to investigate fatal and serious injury accidents to determine whether the driving privilege should be revoked, suspended, restricted or placed on probation. | — | — |
Source quotes for each cause
Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS)
“The action is a one-year probation that includes a six-month suspension. The action is effective 34 days from the date the order is mailed.”
Failure to appear (FTA) in court on a traffic ticket
“As an adult or minor, if you get a traffic ticket and fail to appear (FTA) in court, DMV may suspend your driving privilege until you appear.”
Financial responsibility (uninsured accident)
“The period of the suspension under CVC §16070 is minimum one year. At the end of the suspension, proof of insurance must be filed and maintained with DMV for three years, per CVC §16430.”
Deteriorated driving skill (reexamination)
“If you are required to appear for a reexamination to show your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, the DMV’s Reexamination Process (PDF) will help you to prepare.”
Fraud (false documents)
“If you provide false documents to DMV, such as a forged birth certificate or other documents, DMV may take action against your driving privilege.”
Fatal and serious injury accidents
“DMV is authorized under California Vehicle Code (CVC) §13800 (a) to investigate fatal and serious injury accidents to determine if the driving privilege should be revoked, suspended, restricted, or placed on probation.”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $55. A $55 reissue fee plus a $15 DMV administrative fee to reinstate a suspended or revoked driving privilege; the Admin Per Se reissue fee for DUI administrative suspensions is $125.
“Reissue fees that can be paid online: $15 DMV Admin Fee $55 Reissue Fee $125 Admin Per Se Reissue Fee”
Choose your suspension category
The DMV suspensions page lets a driver submit required documents, pay fees and check status by category (driver's license, registration, motor carrier permit, occupational license).
“If your driver’s license, permit, or vehicle registration has been suspended, you can submit required documents, pay your fees, and check your status by choosing your category below.”
Clear the underlying action
For NOTS the six-month suspension must be served; for a failure to appear the driver must appear in court; for a financial-responsibility suspension proof of insurance must be filed after the one-year suspension.
“The suspension period for a first or second violation of probation is six months. The probation period will also be extended for one year from the date of the violation.”
Pay the reissue fees
Outstanding reissue fees on the driver's license record may be paid online; the standard reissue fee is $55 plus a $15 administrative fee.
“If you have outstanding Reissue Fees on your driver’s license record, you may qualify to pay them online.”
File proof of financial responsibility where required
After a financial-responsibility suspension, proof of insurance is filed and maintained with DMV for three years.
“At the end of the suspension, proof of insurance must be filed and maintained with DMV for three years, per CVC §16430.”
Official page: dmv.ca.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in California.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available in some cases · Employment or hardship restriction under NOTS probation. At a NOTS hearing DMV may issue restrictions for employment as a condition of probation for a Class C or M driver presumed to be a negligent operator, and under Veh. Code § 12813 may issue any restriction needed to ensure safe driving; a restriction may be appropriate where hardship related to use or mileage is shown, weighed against traffic-safety factors.
“If you are a Class C or M driver and you are presumed to be a negligent operator under VC §12810.5, DMV may issue restrictions for employment as a condition of probation, under VC §12812.”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in California.
Questions about a suspended license in California
- How many points suspend a California license?
- Under Veh. Code § 12810.5 and the DMV's NOTS pages, 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 months or 8 in 36 months makes an adult a prima facie negligent operator; the DMV then orders a one-year probation that includes a six-month suspension, effective 34 days after the order is mailed.
- Does traffic violator school remove points in California?
- The California Driver Handbook states a judge may offer traffic violator school for a one-point violation once in any 18-month period; Veh. Code § 1808.7 makes that first conviction confidential so no violation point is assessed, except for commercial drivers or violations worth more than one point.
- What is the reissue fee after a non-DUI suspension in California?
- The DMV suspensions page lists a $55 reissue fee and a $15 DMV administrative fee payable online; the $125 Admin Per Se reissue fee applies to DUI administrative suspensions.
- Can I get a restricted license during a NOTS suspension?
- The DMV's NOTS hearings page states that for a Class C or M driver presumed negligent, DMV may issue employment restrictions as a condition of probation under Veh. Code § 12812, and may issue other restrictions needed to ensure safe driving when hardship is shown.
Sources
- California DMV – Suspensions (categories, reissue fees, fraud, reexamination, fatal accidents)
- California DMV – Driver Negligence (NOTS points, point values)
- California DMV – Negligent Operator Actions (NOTS levels)
- California DMV – Negligent Operator Treatment System Hearings (restrictions)
- California Driver Handbook – Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road (points, traffic violator school, FTA)
- California DMV – Financial Responsibility (Insurance) actions
- California DMV – Online Driver Record Request
- Cal. Veh. Code § 12810 Violation point count (California Legislative Information)
- Cal. Veh. Code § 12810.5 Negligent operator point thresholds
- Cal. Veh. Code § 1808.7 Traffic violator school confidentiality
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. "California license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/california/suspended-license/