How Many Points for Driving With a Suspended License in Georgia?

How the Georgia Driver's License Point System Works

In Georgia, driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense – not a point-assessed moving violation. It does not add points to your driving record. Instead, a conviction under driving with a suspended license carries mandatory jail time, and the court may add a fine. You will also face an automatic six-month extension of your existing suspension. The consequences are far more severe than any point addition.

Georgia's Department of Driver Services assigns points to your record for moving violations under Georgia law regarding point assessment. Points are assessed when you are convicted of traffic offenses. Examples include speeding, reckless driving, or running a red light. These points stay on your driving record. They accumulate over consecutive 24-month periods.

Drivers may reduce their point total once every five years. Under Georgia law, completing a defensive driving course reduces your points by seven – but not below zero. A court may also order a driver to attend a defensive driving course. If completed, no points are assessed for that specific violation and the court must cut the fine by 20 percent. This court-ordered option is also available once every five years.

How Many Points Before Your License Is Suspended in Georgia?

Many drivers ask how many points before license suspension takes effect. For drivers of any age, the threshold is 15 points. This applies within any consecutive 24-month period. Once you reach 15 points, DDS will suspend your license. No preliminary hearing is required.

For drivers under 21, the rules are stricter. Under Georgia law regarding junior driver point accumulation, a driver under 18 who accumulates 4 or more points in any consecutive 12-month period is suspended. For a driver under 21, a single conviction carrying 4 or more points triggers suspension by operation of law. An example is speeding 24 mph or more over the limit. A first such suspension runs six months, and reinstatement requires a defensive driving course.

So how many points is a license suspension in Georgia? Here are common point values under Georgia law regarding point assessment:

• Speeding 15-18 mph over the limit: 2 points
• Speeding 19-23 mph over the limit: 3 points
• Speeding 24-33 mph over the limit: 4 points
• Speeding 34 or more mph over the limit: 6 points
• Aggressive driving: 6 points
• Reckless driving: 4 points
• Disobedience of a traffic-control device or officer: 3 points

If you are wondering after how many points is your license suspended, the answer depends on your age. Every driver is suspended at 15 points in 24 months. Drivers under 18 face suspension at just 4 points in 12 months. Drivers also search for how many points to get suspended license status, or how many points on your license is considered a suspension. Both questions point to the same totals above.

Does Driving With a Suspended License Add Points to Your Record?

Many drivers ask: does driving on a suspended license add points? The answer may surprise you. Driving on a suspended license does not add any points to your Georgia driving record.

Driving on a suspended license is not classified as a moving violation under the DDS point schedule. Instead, it makes it a criminal offense. A first conviction is a misdemeanor. A second or third conviction within five years is a high and aggravated misdemeanor. A fourth or subsequent offense within five years is a felony.

The distinction matters. Most drivers expect this charge to work like a speeding ticket. In reality, the consequences are far worse than a few points. A conviction triggers a mandatory additional six-month license suspension. DDS imposes this suspension automatically upon receiving the conviction record. No limited driving permit is available during this additional suspension period.

Insurance companies will also see the conviction on your record. They typically treat it as a major violation. This may result in significantly higher rates or policy cancellation.

Penalties for Driving With a Suspended License in Georgia

Criminal penalties for driving with a suspended license escalate sharply with each subsequent offense within a five-year period. Offense dates are measured from arrest date to arrest date.

First offense (misdemeanor):

• Jail: not less than 2 days, up to 12 months
• Fine: the court may impose a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000
• Additional license suspension: 6 months
• Reinstatement fee: $210 (or $200 by mail)

Second or third offense within 5 years (high and aggravated misdemeanor):

• Jail: not less than 10 days, up to 12 months
• Fine: the court may impose a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,500
• Additional license suspension: 6 months
• Reinstatement fee: $310 (or $300 by mail) for a second offense; $410 (or $400 by mail) for a third

Fourth or subsequent offense within 5 years (felony):

• Prison: not less than 1 year, up to 5 years
• Fine: the court may impose a fine of not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000
• Additional license suspension: 6 months

Fines under this statute are discretionary – the court "may" impose them in addition to mandatory jail time. However, the jail minimums are mandatory. Even a first offense requires at least two days behind bars. No limited driving permit is available during a suspension imposed under this statute.

When Does Georgia Revoke (Not Just Suspend) a License?

Drivers sometimes ask how many points till your license is revoked. Accumulating points alone does not cause revocation. Point accumulation leads to suspension, which is temporary. A first point suspension runs one year, a second within five years runs three years, and a third runs two years with no early reinstatement.

Revocation is more severe. It is tied to habitual violator status. Under Georgia law regarding habitual violators, a driver is declared a Habitual Violator after three or more convictions within five years. The convictions must be for serious offenses. These offenses include DUI and hit and run. They also include racing on highways, fleeing or attempting to elude police, vehicular homicide, and serious injury by vehicle.

Habitual violator revocation lasts five years. During the first two years, the driver cannot drive at all. After two years, a probationary license may be requested. Strict conditions apply to such requests. You must complete a defensive driving course. You must provide proof of financial responsibility. You must provide a sworn affidavit about substance use. You must show extreme hardship.

Driving during the five-year revocation, before DDS issues a new license, is a felony. The penalty is a fine of not less than $750 or imprisonment of one to five years, or both. A suspended-license conviction does not itself count toward habitual violator status, but the serious offenses listed above do count.

How to Avoid or Challenge a License Suspension

Several options may help drivers who are near the point threshold or facing a suspended-license charge. Each has eligibility limits. Legal counsel improves outcomes – particularly for criminal charges where jail is mandatory.

Point reduction through defensive driving. Under Georgia law, completing a defensive driving course reduces your point total by up to seven points. This is available once every five years.

Nolo contendere pleas. For certain traffic offenses, only a first nolo contendere plea within five years escapes counting as a conviction, so no points are assessed. For drivers under 21, a nolo plea always counts as a conviction. For driving on a suspended license, a nolo plea counts as a conviction for sentencing purposes. Only one nolo plea is accepted within five years for driving while suspended, disqualified, or without a license.

Appealing a DDS suspension. A point suspension comes with no preliminary hearing, but a department decision may be appealed to superior court. The appeal must be filed within 30 days, and it does not postpone the suspension. Suspensions take effect upon notice.

Negotiating reduced charges. In some cases, an attorney may negotiate a reduction to a lesser charge in traffic court. This depends on the specific facts of your case and the jurisdiction.

A limited driving permit is not available during a suspension imposed for driving with a suspended license.

Charged With Driving on a Suspended License in Atlanta? Talk to a Defense Attorney

Driving with a suspended license carries mandatory minimum jail time even on a first offense. These charges should not be handled without defense counsel. The stakes increase with each subsequent offense. A third conviction within five years is a high and aggravated misdemeanor carrying at least 10 days in jail.

One common defense to a driving-on-suspended charge is lack of proper notice. Georgia case law, not the statute, requires the State to prove the driver had actual knowledge or legal notice of the suspension. Under Georgia law regarding suspension notice requirements, suspensions take effect when the driver receives actual knowledge or legal notice – whichever comes first. If DDS failed to send proper notice or sent it to the wrong address, this defense may apply.

William C. Head, PC focuses on DUI and criminal traffic defense in the Atlanta area. We serve Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett county courts. If you are facing a driving-on-suspended charge, contact our Atlanta office for a free case review. Acting quickly matters because of arraignment timelines and hearing deadlines.

Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Call or submit a contact form today to discuss your specific situation with a licensed Georgia defense attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Points Does It Take to Suspend a License in Georgia?

For drivers of any age, accumulating 15 points within any consecutive 24-month period results in a license suspension. Drivers under 18 face suspension at 4 or more points in any 12-month period, and drivers under 21 are suspended for any single conviction worth 4 or more points. Points are assessed under Georgia law regarding point assessment for moving violations only.

Does Driving With a Suspended License Add Points to Your Record in Georgia?

Driving on a suspended license does not add any points to your Georgia driving record. It is a criminal offense, not a point-assessed moving violation. Instead of points, a conviction triggers mandatory jail time and a fine the court may add. You also face an automatic additional six-month suspension.

How Long Does a License Suspension Stay on Your Record in Georgia?

Points assessed under Georgia law regarding point assessment accumulate over consecutive 24-month periods. A conviction for driving on a suspended license remains on your criminal record permanently unless expunged. The additional six-month suspension begins on the date of conviction.

Can I Get a Limited Driving Permit if My Georgia License Is Suspended?

It depends on the reason for suspension. Georgia law regarding driving with a suspended license specifically states that no limited driving permit is available for a suspension imposed under that statute. For other types of suspensions, a limited permit may be available under certain conditions.

What Is the Penalty for a Second Offense of Driving With a Suspended License in Georgia?

A second conviction within five years is a high and aggravated misdemeanor. It carries a mandatory minimum of 10 days in jail, up to 12 months. The court may impose a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,500. DDS will also add another six-month suspension to your record.