How California's DMV point system works, and how to keep points off your record.
Points for a Speeding Ticket in California
Most California speeding tickets add 1 point to your DMV driving record. Going over 100 mph adds 2 points. Points matter in two ways: insurance companies use them to set your rates, and the DMV uses them to decide whether your license is at risk.
| Violation | DMV points |
|---|---|
| Speeding, most tickets (VC 22350 or 22349) | 1 |
| Speeding over 100 mph (VC 22348(b)) | 2 |
| Running a red light or stop sign | 1 |
| Handheld cell phone, within 36 months of a prior | 1 |
| Reckless driving, DUI, or hit-and-run | 2 |
Point values come from the DMV point counts in the Judicial Council's 2026 Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule. An at-fault accident can also add a point.
When Points Put Your License at Risk
Under Vehicle Code 12810.5, the DMV can treat you as a "negligent operator" if you get:
- 4 points in 12 months
- 6 points in 24 months
- 8 points in 36 months
Reaching one of these levels can lead to probation or a suspension of your license. The DMV usually sends warning letters as points build up.
How Long Do Points Stay on Your Record?
For most minor violations, like a typical speeding ticket, the point generally stays on your DMV record for about three years. Serious violations, like DUI, stay much longer. Insurance companies often look back three years or more when they set your rates.
How Traffic School Keeps a Point Off
If your ticket qualifies, traffic school is the main way to keep a speeding point off your record. Under California law, one conviction in any 18-month period can be kept confidential when you finish traffic school, so the point stays off the record your insurance company sees and doesn't count toward the negligent operator levels.
In general you need a valid driver's license, a one-point ticket, no more than 25 mph over the limit, and no traffic school in the past 18 months. Two-point tickets, like speeding over 100 mph, don't qualify. Commercial license holders who got the ticket in their own car can usually attend, but the conviction still shows on their record, without a point. For step-by-step help, see how to keep a speeding ticket off your record.
How to Check Your Points
You can request a copy of your driving record from the California DMV online. It shows your convictions, accidents, and point count. It's a good idea to check it before you renew your insurance or if you think you're close to a negligent operator level.
What a Speeding Ticket Costs
Points aren't the only cost. A speeding ticket for 1 to 15 mph over the limit is a little over $200 in most counties, and the price rises quickly with speed. See what a speeding ticket costs in California.
Keep the Point Off Your Record
FastOneDay is a California DMV-licensed online traffic school, License #E0103. Here's how it works:
- Take the whole course free and pay only when you're ready for the final exam
- Use your phone, tablet, or computer, and log in and out as often as you like
- Turn on the audio if you'd rather listen than read
- The final is open book, and you need 70% to pass
- We report your completion to the court and the DMV electronically the same day you pass
- Live phone help 7 days a week, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., at (888) 928-3383
- 100% money-back guarantee
Most students finish in one day. Register now, see how it works, or try the free demo. Cutting it close? Read what to do when traffic school is due tomorrow.
Helpful Traffic Ticket Guides
- Where to find your citation number
- How much is a speeding ticket in California?
- Pay a California traffic ticket online
- Check our license on the DMV traffic school list
