If you’ve recently received a traffic ticket, you’re probably asking two urgent questions: “How many points are on my license?” and “Am I about to be suspended?”
In New York, this is a serious concern. Your insurance rates and your very privilege to drive depend on your point total.
Let’s clear up the biggest myth: You cannot check your point total for free. The only way to see your official point status is to purchase your official Driving Record from the DMV.
This guide will show you the fastest way to get your record online, explain what the points mean, and (most importantly) show you the only real way to reduce your point total.
How to Order Your Official NY Driving Record (The 3 Methods)
This is the only way to see your current point total.
Method 1: Online (Fastest and Cheapest)
- Cost: $7.00
- What You Get: An instant, downloadable, and printable PDF of your record. This is perfect for a quick, personal check.
- How to Do It:
- Go to the official MyDMV website.
- You must log in or create a “NY.gov ID” account.
- Once logged in, look for the “My License” or “Driver Record” services.
- Select the option to “Order My Own Driving Record.”
- Pay the $7.00 fee with a valid credit or debit card.
- The system will generate your record as a PDF, which you can save and print.
Method 2: In-Person (For Certified Copies)
- Cost: $10.00
- What You Get: An official, certified hard copy. This is what you need for most court or legal proceedings.
- How to Do It:
- This is a walk-in service. You do not need an appointment for this.
- Visit any NYS DMV Office.
- Complete the Driver Abstract Request Form (MV-15) at the office.
- Present your valid driver’s license as proof of identity.
- Pay the $10.00 fee. You will receive your record on the spot.
Method 3: By Mail
- Cost: $10.00
- What You Get: An official, certified hard copy mailed to you.
- How to Do It:
- Download the Form: You must complete the Request for Driving Record Information (Form MV-15).
- Include Payment: Include a $10.00 check or money order payable to “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.”
- Include ID: Add a photocopy of your valid, government-issued ID.
- Mail Your Request: Send the form, fee, and ID copy to the address on the form:NYS Department of Motor Vehicles MV-Processing 6 Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12228
How the New York Point System Actually Works
Once you have your record, you need to understand what you’re seeing.
The “11 Points in 18 Months” Rule This is the only rule that matters for suspension:
- If you accumulate 11 or more points in any 18-month period, your license will be suspended.
- The 18-month clock starts from the date of the violation, not the date you paid the ticket.
How Long Do Points Really Last?
- For Suspension (18 Months): Points count toward an 11-point suspension for 18 months from the date of the violation.
- For Insurance (3-4 Years): The conviction itself (e.g., “Speeding 21-30 mph over”) stays on your public record for up to 4 years. This is what your insurance company sees when they set your rates.
Common NY Traffic Violations and Their Point Values:
| Traffic Violation | Points |
| Speeding 31 – 40 MPH over limit | 8 |
| Speeding 21 – 30 MPH over limit | 6 |
| Failure to stop for a school bus | 5 |
| Improper cell phone use | 5 |
| Use of portable electronic device (“texting”) | 5 |
| Following too closely (Tailgating) | 4 |
| Speeding 11 – 20 MPH over limit | 4 |
| All other speeding violations | 3 |
| Failure to obey a traffic signal, stop, or yield | 3 |
| Improper passing or unsafe lane change | 3 |
| Other moving violations | 2 |
How to Reduce Points on Your NY License (The Only Real Way)
This is the most misunderstood topic. You cannot “consult the DMV” or “wait a year” to have points removed.
The only way to reduce your active point total is to take the Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP).
- What It Is: A 6-hour defensive driving course, approved by the NYS DMV, which you can take online or in a classroom.
- What It Does (This is Critical):
- It “hides” 4 points from your active total for suspension calculations. For example, if you have 10 points, completing this course means the DMV now only counts 6 points toward a suspension.
- It guarantees a 10% reduction on your auto insurance premium for 3 years.
- What It Does NOT Do:
- It does not physically remove the points or the conviction from your record.
- It does not prevent your insurance from seeing the conviction.
- It does not reduce your points below zero.
You can take this course once every 18 months to get the point-reduction benefit.
FAQs
The points will not appear on your record until after you have been convicted. This means after you have paid the fine (which is a guilty plea) or have been found guilty in court.
This is a separate, mandatory fine (or “assessment”) billed to you by the DMV if you get 6 or more points in an 18-month period (or for a DUI conviction). It starts at $100 per year for 3 years. This is in addition to your court fine, and if you fail to pay it, your license will be suspended.
No. Your official record will still show 10 points. However, for the purpose of suspension, the DMV will now only count 6 of them.
No, but yes. New York does not add points from other states. However, NY has a “reciprocal agreement” with most states. If you get a conviction in another state (e.g., speeding in New Jersey), that conviction will be reported to the NY DMV and will appear on your driving record, which your insurance company can see.
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