Suspended license in District of Columbia: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
In the District of Columbia, the first points threshold is 10 points within 2 years: DC license suspended for 90 days (10-11 points). A DC DMV approved online defensive driving course (traffic school) removes or prevents points. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $115.
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 District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) 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 District uses a point system for moving violations to warn drivers at risk of suspension or revocation; points are not assessed for parking or photo tickets, and out-of-state violations are assessed according to the District's schedule. Under the DC DMV Driver Point System Chart, 10-11 points suspend the license for 90 days and 12 or more points revoke it until DMV reinstates the license, at least 6 months after revocation.
| Points | Within | Consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 points | 2 years | DC license suspended for 90 days (10-11 points) | dmv.dc.gov |
| 12 points | 2 years | DC license revoked until DMV reinstates it, at least 6 months after revocation (12 or more points) | dmv.dc.gov |
Points period stated by the agency: 2 years. Points stay on a DC driving record for two years.
“DC license suspended, lose driving privileges for 90 days 10-11”
“Points will stay on a DC driving record for two years.”
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speed 11-15 miles per hour above posted speed limit | 3 |
| Speed 16-20 miles per hour above posted speed | 4 |
| Speed 21 miles per hour or more above posted speed limit | 5 |
| Follow another vehicle too closely | 2 |
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Leave the scene of a collision in which no personal injury occurs | 8 |
Check points or the driving record: dmv.dc.gov
The statute: 18 DCMR § 303
“ESTABLISHMENT OF A POINT SYSTEM”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | DC DMV approved online defensive driving course (traffic school) |
|---|---|
| Effect | Removes or prevents points |
A driver who receives a moving violation in Washington, DC may be eligible to take a DC DMV approved online defensive driving course to have the points for that violation removed. Prior approval from a DC DMV hearing examiner is required and is discretionary: the ticket must be contested by mail with a request that the points be waived, the ticket fine must still be paid within 15 days of the decision, and the course must be completed within 30 days. The violation then appears on the record without the points. The page lists one approved course provider and does not state how often the option may be used.
“If you have received a moving violation in Washington, DC, then you may be eligible to attend a DC DMV approved online defensive driving course to have the points removed from your driving record.”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points assessed for moving violations | Points are assessed when a driver is found liable at a hearing, fails to pay a ticket within 60 days, or pays a ticket; 10-11 points bring a 90-day suspension and 12 or more points a revocation of at least 6 months. | A points suspension may be reinstated at the end of the mandatory suspension period by paying the reinstatement fee online; a points revocation requires applying at the end of the revocation period, a virtual reinstatement hearing, and retaking the knowledge and road tests. | $115 |
| Failure to make child support payments | A license revoked for delinquent child support is cleared by reporting to the Office of the Attorney General's Child Support Enforcement Division, paying the debt and obtaining a clearance letter with a raised seal. | Present the OAG child support clearance letter with the driver license at a DC DMV service center, clear any other stops, and pay the reinstatement fee payable to the DC Treasurer. | $115 |
| Major moving violation (including reckless driving) | A ticket for a major moving violation such as DWI, DUI or reckless driving can suspend or revoke the license; reckless driving carries 6 points and aggravated reckless driving 12 points on the chart. | A revocation for points or a major moving violation requires applying for reinstatement at the end of the revocation period and attending a virtual reinstatement hearing. | $115 |
| Stops on the driver record | When a license becomes eligible for reinstatement after a suspension or revocation, the driver must pay the reinstatement fee and clear any applicable stops on the record. | Clear all applicable stops and pay the reinstatement fee. | $115 |
Source quotes for each cause
Points assessed for moving violations
“You have had points assessed to your driver license for moving violations.”
Failure to make child support payments
“Obtain a child support clearance letter with a raised seal, from the OAG.”
Major moving violation (including reckless driving)
“You have received a ticket for a major moving violation, such as DWI, DUI, or Reckless Driving.”
Stops on the driver record
“When your license is eligible for reinstatement after either suspension or revocation, you must pay the reinstatement fee and clear any applicable stops on your record.”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $115. The DC DMV driver license fee table lists Driver License Reinstatement at $115; a suspended license is reinstated by paying the fee online, and a revoked license also requires the knowledge test ($10 road test fee listed separately) and a new license application.
“Driver License Reinstatement ** $115”
Pay the reinstatement fee online (suspensions)
A suspended DC license is reinstated by paying the reinstatement fee through DC DMV's online payment system.
“To get your DC DMV driver license reinstated after it has been SUSPENDED, you must pay your reinstatement fee online ONLY.”
Wait for the mandatory suspension period to end
A license suspended for accumulated points may be reinstated at the end of the mandatory suspension period.
“Drivers whose license has been suspended because of accumulated points on your driver record, it may be reinstated at the end of your mandatory suspension period.”
Apply and attend a virtual hearing (revocations)
A license revoked for points or a major moving violation can be reinstated only after the revocation period, following a virtual reinstatement hearing; a request may also be mailed to the Driver Improvement Office.
“Drivers whose license has been revoked because of accumulated points on your driver record or a major moving violation, you may apply for reinstatement at the end of your revocation period. You will be required to attend a virtual reinstatement hearing as explained above.”
Retest and reapply after a revocation
If the hearing allows reinstatement, the driver repeats the licensing steps: knowledge test, learner permit, road skills test and the document requirements for a REAL ID or Limited Purpose license.
“you will have to take and pass the knowledge test; get a learner permit; schedule, take, and pass the road skills test”
Clear stops and pay the fee
Eligibility for reinstatement after either action requires paying the reinstatement fee and clearing any stops on the record.
“you must pay the reinstatement fee and clear any applicable stops on your record.”
Official page: dmv.dc.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in District of Columbia.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available in some cases · Limited Occupational License. A driver whose license is suspended or revoked for a non-mandatory reason may be eligible for a limited occupational license allowing driving for work purposes only; the request is submitted in writing to Adjudication Services and, if approved, the license is issued at a DC DMV service center.
“If you cannot reinstate your driver license, you may be eligible for a limited occupational license that allows you to drive for work purposes only.”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in District of Columbia.
Questions about a suspended license in District of Columbia
- How many points suspend a DC license?
- The DC DMV Driver Point System Chart states that 10-11 points suspend the license for 90 days and 12 or more points revoke it until DMV reinstates the license, at least 6 months after revocation. Points stay on the record for two years.
- Can traffic school remove points in DC?
- DC DMV's point system page states a driver with a DC moving violation may take a DC DMV approved online defensive driving course to have the points removed, but only with prior, discretionary approval from a hearing examiner obtained by contesting the ticket by mail; the fine must still be paid and the violation stays on the record.
- What is the DC license reinstatement fee?
- DC DMV's driver license fee table lists Driver License Reinstatement at $115. After a suspension the fee is paid online; after a revocation the driver must also attend a virtual reinstatement hearing and retake the knowledge and road tests.
- Is a work license available during a DC suspension?
- DC DMV states that a driver suspended or revoked for a non-mandatory reason may be eligible for a limited occupational license for work purposes only, requested in writing to Adjudication Services.
Sources
- DC DMV – Suspended or Revoked License (causes, child support, major moving violations, occupational license)
- DC DMV – Driver Point System (retention, traffic school)
- DC DMV – Driver Point System Chart (thresholds and point values)
- DC DMV – License Reinstatement
- DC DMV – Limited Occupational License
- DC DMV – Driver License Fees
- DC DMV – Obtain a Copy of Your DC Driver Record
- 18 DCMR § 303 Establishment of a Point System (DCMR section index, dcregs.dc.gov)
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. "District of Columbia license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/district-of-columbia/suspended-license/