Suspended license in Connecticut: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
In Connecticut, the first points threshold is 11 points within 2 years: 30-day suspension when a conviction raises the point total above ten points within a 24-month period. No course removes points. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $175.
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 Connecticut 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.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-137a and Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 14-137a-5 to -9, points of one to five are assessed against the driving record for listed convictions; a warning letter is sent at six points, a conviction that raises the total above ten points within 24 months brings a 30-day suspension, and a repeat within five years suspends the license until the total falls to ten or below. Separately, the Operator Retraining Program counts moving violations rather than points.
| Points | Within | Consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 points | 2 years | 30-day suspension when a conviction raises the point total above ten points within a 24-month period | eregulations.ct.gov |
| 11 points | 2 years | If the total again rises above ten points within five years of a prior 30-day point suspension, the license is suspended until the point total is reduced to ten or below | eregulations.ct.gov |
Points period stated by the agency: 2 years. Points remain assessed against the driving record for 24 months from the date of assessment; points are added as of the date of conviction.
“When the holder of an operator’s license is convicted of a motor vehicle violation which raises his or her point total above ten (10) points, the commissioner shall give notice that his or her operator’s license is suspended for a period of thirty (30) days, effective as of a date certain.”
“Points shall remain assessed against the driving record of the holder of an operator’s license for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of such assessment.”
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Sec. 14-219—Speeding | 1 |
| Sec. 14-218a—Operating at unreasonable rate of speed | 1 |
| Sec. 14-299—Failure to obey traffic control signal light | 2 |
| Sec. 14-240—Failure to drive reasonable distance apart | 3 |
| Sec. 14-279—Passing stopped school bus | 4 |
| Sec. 14-222a—Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle | 5 |
Check points or the driving record: portal.ct.gov
The statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-137a
“The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, setting forth the number of points chargeable against the owner of an operator’s license for conviction of any violation of the motor vehicle laws deemed appropriate by the commissioner”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Operator Retraining Program |
|---|---|
| Effect | No point-reduction course |
Connecticut's course is the Operator Retraining Program, which the DMV requires of drivers age 24 or younger with two moving or suspension violations and drivers 25 or older with three, as well as certain work-zone speeding and racing convictions; it does not remove points or dismiss a ticket. It is taken through DMV-listed vendors for a fee of up to $85; completing it before the suspension's effective date leads the DMV to remove the suspension, while completing it on or after that date requires the $175 reinstatement fee.
“If you complete the program before the effective date of your suspension, the vendor needs to submit confirmation of completion to DMV. Once we receive this confirmation, we will remove your suspension.”
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 assessment (Regs. §§ 14-137a-5 to -8) | A conviction that raises the point total above ten within 24 months brings a 30-day suspension; a repeat within five years suspends the license until the total is ten or below. A hearing before the effective date is limited to identity and the point count. | Serve the suspension and pay the $175 restoration fee before the license is restored. | $175 |
| Operator Retraining Program (multiple moving violations) | Drivers 24 or younger with two moving or suspension violations, and drivers 25 or older with three, must complete the Operator Retraining Program or be suspended; after completion, a further moving violation within 36 months brings a 30-day suspension, then 60 and 90 days. | Complete the program through a listed vendor; if completed on or after the suspension's effective date, pay the $175 reinstatement fee. | $175 |
| Suspension for unpaid ticket | Failing to answer a Connecticut or out-of-state ticket by the due date, or missing a court date or court-imposed deadline, leads the court or other jurisdiction to request a suspension; reopening the case before the suspension date rescinds it. | Reopen the docket and pay the fine or schedule a new court date; if the ticket is reopened on or after the suspension date, pay the $175 reinstatement fee and, for out-of-state tickets, send the court receipt to dmv.suspension@ct.gov. | $175 |
| Driving without a license | Anyone under 18 convicted of driving without a license is suspended for one year; anyone 18 or older with two or more convictions is suspended for 90 days for the second and each subsequent conviction. | Pay the $175 restoration fee before the end of the suspension. | $175 |
| Minors possessing alcohol | Drivers under 21 face a mandatory suspension for illegally purchasing or possessing alcohol: 30 days for possession on private property or in a public place and 60 days for possession on streets or highways. | Serve the suspension and pay the restoration fee. | $175 |
| Fake or fraudulent driver's license or ID card | Possessing or obtaining a fake or fraudulent license or ID, or a credential under another identity, leads to a Document Integrity Unit meeting, a hearing or a stipulated settlement with a $175 fee, and revocation of all credentials if the requirements are not met. | Contact the Document Integrity Unit, prove identity, surrender the fraudulent credential, and either have a hearing or sign a stipulated settlement and pay $175. | $175 |
| Returned check or outstanding invoice | If a payment to the DMV is not honored by the bank or card issuer, the privilege to drive may be revoked by the Revenue Accounting Unit. | Confirm the balance due with the Revenue Accounting Unit, pay any penalty fee, and pay the $175 restoration fee. | $175 |
Source quotes for each cause
Point assessment (Regs. §§ 14-137a-5 to -8)
“A warning letter will be sent to the holder of an operator’s license advising such licensee of his or her point assessment record when a conviction of a motor vehicle violation in accordance with this regulation causes the point total of such licensee to equal or exceed six (6) points.”
Operator Retraining Program (multiple moving violations)
“A driver age 25 years or older who has three moving violations or suspension violations specified in Connecticut General Statute section 14-111g(a) on their driving history”
Suspension for unpaid ticket
“If the ticket is reopened on or after the suspension date, you must pay a reinstatement fee of $175.”
Driving without a license
“Anyone 18 years of age or older who has two or more convictions for driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s license will have their driving privilege suspended for 90 days for the second conviction and each subsequent conviction.”
Minors possessing alcohol
“minors convicted of possessing alcohol on private property or in a public place will be subject to a 30-day license suspension; minors convicted of possessing alcohol on streets or highways will be subject to a 60-day license suspension.”
Fake or fraudulent driver's license or ID card
“It is illegal in Connecticut to possess, get or procure a fake or fraudulent driver's license or state ID card.”
Returned check or outstanding invoice
“If you attempted to pay your fee, and the bank or credit card company did not make your payment to DMV, your privilege to drive a motor vehicle may be revoked.”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $175. A $175 restoration fee under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-50b applies to any suspended or revoked operator's license; an IID administration fee of $100 may apply in interlock cases.
“shall pay a restoration fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars to said commissioner prior to the issuance to such person of a new operator’s license or identity card or the restoration of such operator’s license”
Read the suspension notice and complete its requirements
Requirements vary by suspension; drivers who did not receive a notice can contact the Driver Services Division.
“Read your license suspension notice and complete the requirements for reinstatement.”
Complete the Work Zone Safety Course if applicable
Drivers convicted of a work zone violation must take the free online Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course for Drivers with Violations and submit the certificate to dmv.suspension@ct.gov.
“Connecticut drivers must take this free online course if convicted of a work zone violation (refer to C.G.S. sections 14-283b and/or 14-212d).”
Pay the $175 reinstatement fee
The fee can be paid online, by phone at 860-263-5720, or by mail with a check or money order payable to DMV.
“Pay the $175 reinstatement fee to the DMV. (Additional fees may apply - e.g., IID administration fee $100).”
Check license status before driving
A restoration notice is mailed after reinstatement; the DMV's online status service shows whether the license is valid.
“Check your license status before you begin driving. You will receive your restoration notice in the mail.”
Official page: portal.ct.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Connecticut.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available in some cases · Special use permit (Special Operator's Permit) — work, education or medical. Special permits let selected suspended drivers drive for work, higher-education classes and exams, or ongoing medical treatment. A driver cannot qualify with a failure-to-appear/pay suspension, a DUI suspension, driving under suspension, a prior alcohol offense, three or more prior moving violations under § 14-111g(a) (two if suspended for reckless driving or evading responsibility), vehicular manslaughter or assault, or driving without a required interlock. Application is on Form MD-1 with a non-refundable $100 fee per permit request.
“Connecticut offers special permits for select people with suspended licenses that allow them to drive under certain circumstances.”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in Connecticut.
Questions about a suspended license in Connecticut
- How many points suspend a Connecticut license?
- Under Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 14-137a-8, a conviction that raises the point total above ten points within 24 months brings a 30-day suspension; a repeat within five years suspends the license until the total is ten or below. A warning letter is sent at six points, and points stay on the record for 24 months.
- What is the Connecticut Operator Retraining Program?
- The DMV requires the program for drivers 24 or younger with two moving or suspension violations and drivers 25 or older with three, plus certain work-zone and racing convictions. Vendors may charge up to $85; completing it before the suspension date removes the suspension, while completing it afterwards requires the $175 reinstatement fee.
- How much is the Connecticut license restoration fee?
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-50b sets a $175 restoration fee for any suspended or revoked operator's license, and the DMV's suspension page lists the same $175 fee, payable online, by phone or by mail.
- Can a suspended Connecticut driver get a permit to drive to work?
- The DMV's special use permit allows driving for work, education or medical purposes with a $100 application fee, but not for drivers suspended for failure to appear or pay, DUI, driving under suspension, or with three or more prior moving violations under § 14-111g(a).
Sources
- CT DMV – Reinstate your CT driver's license after a suspension (steps, unpaid tickets, minors, fraud, returned checks)
- CT DMV – Operator Retraining Program: Multiple Violations
- Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 14-137a-5 to 14-137a-9 Assessment of Points (eRegulations PDF)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 246, § 14-137a Point system for motor vehicle violations
- Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 246, § 14-50b Fee for restoration of operator's license
- CT DMV – Special Use Permit for Suspended Driver's Licenses
- CT DMV – Request a Driving Record
- CT DMV – Pay Your License Reinstatement Fee
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. "Connecticut license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/connecticut/suspended-license/