Suspended license in New Mexico: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
In New Mexico, the first points threshold is 6 points: The department may warn the driver of the possibility of suspension. No course removes points.
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 New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, 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.
The Motor Vehicle Division's point system, established under 18.19.5.50 through 18.19.5.56 NMAC, assesses points upon conviction of scheduled traffic violations. The department may warn a driver at six points; seven to ten points within one year with a judge's recommendation brings a suspension of up to three months, and twelve or more points within twelve consecutive months brings a twelve-month suspension.
| Points | Within | Consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 points | — | The department may warn the driver of the possibility of suspension | srca.nm.gov |
| 7 points | 1 year | Suspension for up to three months when a municipal or magistrate judge recommends it (applies at seven to ten points) | srca.nm.gov |
| 12 points | 1 year | Twelve-month suspension | srca.nm.gov |
Points period stated by the agency: 1 year. The department keeps a record of points assessed for one year from the date the violation occurred and expunges the points automatically at the end of the twelfth month following the month of the violation. The online driver history record covers the past three years.
“Upon the accumulation by the driver of at least six points, the department may warn the driver of the possibility of suspension of the driver's license.”
“Points assessed to a driver will be expunged by the department automatically at the end of the twelfth month following the month in which the violation for which the points were assessed occurred.”
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| 66-7-301 Speeding 26 or more mph over the posted speed limit on any traffic-way if the limit is 15, 30 or 75 mph | 8 |
| 66-8-113 Reckless driving | 6 |
| 66-7-347 Passing school bus taking on or discharging passengers or displaying warning not to pass | 6 |
| 66-7-301 Speeding 16 to 25 mph over the posted speed limit on any traffic-way if the limit is 15, 30 or 75 mph | 5 |
| 66-8-114 Careless Driving | 3 |
| 66-7-318 Following too closely | 3 |
Check points or the driving record: secure.mvd.newmexico.gov
The statute: 18.19.5.55 NMAC (implementing NMSA 1978 § 66-5-30)
“Upon the assessment of points to a driver which causes the total points accumulated by that driver to equal or exceed twelve points for violations occurring within a period of twelve consecutive months, the department shall suspend the driver's license for a period of twelve months.”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Driving Safety course (Traffic Safety Bureau-approved, 8 hours) |
|---|---|
| Effect | No point-reduction course |
No MVD page and no provision of 18.19.5 NMAC states that a course removes points or dismisses a ticket; points expire on their own twelve months after the violation. The Traffic Safety Bureau-approved 8-hour Driving Safety course appears only as a reinstatement condition: after a twelve-point suspension the driver must present proof of completing an approved driver improvement course within the 90 days before applying for reinstatement, and must pass the written and vision examinations.
“That person presents proof satisfactory to the department showing successful completion in a timely manner by that person of an approved driver improvement course. The course must be approved by the traffic safety bureau of the state highway and transportation department.”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| W01 - Suspension based on point accumulation | Mandatory suspension period of one year for accumulating twelve points within twelve consecutive months; the driver may request a hearing under Section 66-5-30 NMSA 1978. | After the one-year suspension, complete a Defensive Driving course of at least 8 hours (the Traffic Safety Bureau-approved Driving Safety course), submit the certificate, pass the written and vision examinations, and pay the reinstatement fee. | — |
| D45 - Failure to appear in court | Suspension for failing to appear in court on a citation; it ends when the court clears the matter. | Submit a Court Clearance and pay the reinstatement fee. | — |
| D53 - Failure to remit penalty assessment | Suspension for failing to pay a penalty assessment citation; the MVD collects the penalty assessment when the citation is a Uniform Traffic Citation marked for penalty assessment. | Pay the amount due and the reinstatement fee. | — |
| D56 - Out of state suspension for failure to remit penalty assessment | Suspension recorded when another state reports a suspension for an unpaid penalty assessment. | A clearance date obtained by MVD staff through the State-to-State system or the Problem Driver Pointer System, or a court clearance provided by the driver. | — |
| D51 - Disqualification for nonpayment of child support | Driving privileges are disqualified for nonpayment of child support until the Child Support Division releases the hold. | A release from the Child Support Division applied to the account, payment of the Parental Responsibility Surcharge, and payment of the MVD reinstatement fee. | — |
| D38 / D39 - Financial responsibility suspensions (unsatisfied judgment; FR1 and FR2) | Suspensions under the financial responsibility provisions that require proof of liability insurance; an FR1 suspension also requires a letter of release from the attorney who obtained the judgment or a Satisfaction of Judgment, and an FR2 suspension must be active at least one year unless a release is provided. | Proof of current liability insurance naming the driver, plus a letter of release or Satisfaction of Judgment where required, and the reinstatement fee. | — |
| D02 - Suspension due to misrepresentation | Suspension for misrepresentation on a license application, generally for one year. | Serve the suspension period and present all required identification and residency documents. | — |
| BC1 - Suspension for bad check | Suspension for a returned check paid to the MVD. | Pay a $20 returned check fee and a reinstatement fee of $25 for a driver's license. | $25 |
Source quotes for each cause
W01 - Suspension based on point accumulation
“W01 – This suspension is based on point accumulation and has a mandatory suspension period of one year. After the suspension period ends, the applicant must complete a Defensive Driving course and submit the course certificate as proof of completion.”
D45 - Failure to appear in court
“D45 – Failure to appear in court. Must submit Court Clearance.”
D53 - Failure to remit penalty assessment
“D53 – Failure to remit penalty assessment. Must pay amount due.”
D56 - Out of state suspension for failure to remit penalty assessment
“If a New Mexico MVD staff member is unable to obtain the clearance information through the State to State (S2S) Verification system or the AAMVA Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS), a court clearance must be provided by the customer.”
D51 - Disqualification for nonpayment of child support
“D51 – Disqualification for nonpayment of child support. A release from the Child Support Division must have been applied to the customer’s account prior to reinstatement. Applicant must pay both the Parental Responsibility Surcharge and the MVD reinstatement fee.”
D38 / D39 - Financial responsibility suspensions (unsatisfied judgment; FR1 and FR2)
“D39 suspensions require proof of liability insurance. The insurance policy must be current and the driver must be listed on the policy. An FR1 must have a letter of release from the attorney who issued the judgment.”
D02 - Suspension due to misrepresentation
“D02 – If the suspension is due to misrepresentation (MR) and the suspension end date is prior to the current date, then you may reinstate if you have collected all of the required identification and residency documents. The suspension period is generally one year.”
BC1 - Suspension for bad check
“BC1 – Suspension for “bad check.” Applicant must pay a $20.00 returned check fee and a reinstatement fee of $25.00 for driver’s license or $30.00 for vehicle registration.”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Identify every adverse action on the record
Requirements vary by action, and each separate adverse action on the record must be satisfied.
“Requirements for reinstatement vary. In addition, it is possible for a driver to have more than one adverse action on record, which will require compliance with the reinstatement requirements for each separate adverse action.”
Satisfy the cause-specific requirement
For a points suspension this is the Traffic Safety Bureau-approved 8-hour Driving Safety course; for court matters a Court Clearance; for penalty assessments payment of the amount due; for child support a release from the Child Support Division.
“If the applicant’s license has been suspended for points, he or she must take the Traffic Safety Bureau (TSB) approved 8 hour Driving Safety course. A list of participating schools can be found here.”
Pay the reinstatement fee
A single reinstatement fee transaction is collected even when multiple adverse actions appear on the record.
“When multiple adverse actions appear on a driver’s record, only one reinstatement fee transaction will be posted and collected.”
Pass the written and vision examinations after a points suspension
18.19.5.57 NMAC conditions reinstatement after a twelve-point suspension on the written and vision examinations in addition to the course.
“The driver must also successfully complete the written driver's examination and the vision examination which are administered by the department prior to the reinstatement of the driver's license.”
After a 5-year or 10-year revocation, obtain a court Order of Restoration
A certified copy of the District Judge's order is required in addition to the fee.
“Reinstatement of driving privileges after a 5-year or 10-year revocationrequires an “Order of Restoration” signed by a District Judge. The Court Order must be a certified copy. The applicant must pay a reinstatement fee.”
Official page: mvd.newmexico.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in New Mexico.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available in some cases · Limited License (Section 66-5-35 NMSA 1978; 18.19.5.70 NMAC). The director may grant a limited driver's license so that a person whose privileges are suspended or revoked may keep employment or attend school, generally limited to work or school days from one hour before to one hour after work or school, for class D, E and M licenses only, with a $63 fee. It is not available when the suspension or revocation resulted from DWI, nonpayment of child support, failure to appear in court or to pay a penalty assessment, nonpayment of a judgment from a motor vehicle accident, or homicide or great bodily harm by vehicle.
“The director of the motor vehicle division may grant a limited driver's license so that an individual whose driving privileges have been suspended or revoked may obtain or continue to hold employment or to attend school”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in New Mexico.
Questions about a suspended license in New Mexico
- How many points suspend a New Mexico license?
- Under 18.19.5.55 NMAC, twelve or more points for violations within twelve consecutive months brings a twelve-month suspension. Under 18.19.5.54 NMAC, seven to ten points within one year can bring a suspension of up to three months if a municipal or magistrate judge recommends it, and 18.19.5.53 NMAC allows a warning at six points.
- How long do points stay on a New Mexico record?
- 18.19.5.51 NMAC states that the department keeps a record of points for one year from the violation date and expunges them automatically at the end of the twelfth month following the month of the violation. The MVD's online driver history record covers the past three years.
- Does a driving course remove points in New Mexico?
- No MVD page or provision of 18.19.5 NMAC provides for a course that removes points. The Traffic Safety Bureau-approved 8-hour Driving Safety course is instead a reinstatement requirement after a twelve-point suspension, and 18.19.5.57 NMAC also requires the written and vision examinations.
- What does the MVD require to reinstate after a points suspension?
- The MVD's Chapter 10 states that a W01 points suspension has a mandatory one-year period, after which the driver must complete a Defensive Driving course of at least 8 hours and submit the certificate; 18.19.5.57 NMAC adds the written and vision tests, and Section 66-5-33.1 NMSA 1978 requires a reinstatement fee.
- Can a suspended New Mexico driver get a limited license?
- Under 18.19.5.70 NMAC the director may grant a limited license for employment or school, limited to work or school hours, for class D, E and M licenses. The MVD states it is not available for DWI, child-support, failure-to-appear or penalty-assessment suspensions, or for homicide or great bodily harm by vehicle.
Sources
- NM MVD - Reinstate a Suspended License (reinstatement instructions; points course; fee statute)
- NM MVD - Chapter 10: Reinstatement Requirements (driver procedures manual; cause codes W01, D45, D53, D51, D38/D39, BC1; Limited License)
- 18.19.5 NMAC - Driver's Licenses (18.19.5.50 through 18.19.5.57 point system; 18.19.5.70 limited license) - State Records Center and Archives
- NM MVD - Online Driver History Records Service (three-year driver history record)
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. "New Mexico license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/new-mexico/suspended-license/