DMV Point System

How Points Affect You

If you receive a traffic ticket and are convicted of a moving violation points are assessed for each conviction. The worse the offense, the more points will be assessed against your license by the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). For fewer points you may be assessed a surcharge; if you continue to accumulate points, the MVC is empowered to suspend your driving privileges. Points are not assigned to your driving record for parking tickets.

Types of Points

Points are assigned a numeric value based on the seriousness of the offense. Some examples of infractions and the corresponding points include:

• Failure to keep right at an intersection: 2 points

• Improper turn at a traffic light: 3 points

• Improper passing in a no passing zone: 4 points

• Tailgating: 5 points

• Leaving the scene of an accident where personal injury occurs: 8 points

• You can find the complete list of offenses and points on the MVC site or by reading the New Jersey Driver’s Manual, Chapter Seven: Driving Privileges and Penalties.

Surcharges

A surcharge is a fee that is computed on an annual basis that can be charged to you in addition to court fines and fees based on an excessive number of points or a serious driving infraction.

The MVC makes it convenient to pay your surcharge:

• Online through its payment center.

• By telephone via credit card: (888) 651-9999.

• In person at a regional center.

• By mail with a check or money order to:

• New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission

• NJ-AISC

• P.O. Box 4850

• Trenton, NJ 08650

Suspensions

Your driver’s license can be suspended by the MVC for a variety of reasons, including getting 12 or more points on your driving record. If your driver’s license has been suspended, you must:

• Relinquish your license to the nearest regional center or mail it to:

• Motor Vehicle Commission

• Driver Management Bureau

• P.O. Box 134

• Trenton, New Jersey 08650

• Refrain from driving; if caught driving, it could mean up to five years in jail.

• Wait the required length of time on the suspension.

• Receive a Notice of Restoration from the MVC.

• Pay your $100 restoration fee online by using a credit card.

• Or pay your fee in person at a regional center or mail a check or money order to:

• New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission

• P.O. Box 140

• Trenton, NJ 08650-0140

Read more about suspensions in our page devoted to suspended licenses.

How to Lower Points

All point violations will always show up on your permanent driver history. But the point totals on your current driver status will go down the longer you go without another ticket. For each year you complete violation-free, three points will be deducted from your total. For more reductions, you can:

• Attend traffic school. By completing such a course, you should qualify for a 5% discount on your car insurance, as well as a two point reduction.

• Enroll in a Driver Improvement Program every two years to subtract three points from your license.

• Every five years, you can remove two points from your total by completing a Defensive Driving Course.