Alabama Traffic Points: License Suspension and Insurance Costs
Updated: Oct 28
Related guide: Alabama Traffic Tickets: What to Do Before CourtQuick answer: How do Alabama traffic points work?
Alabama’s point system applies after a conviction—not simply when a ticket is issued. ALEA’s point-system schedule currently lists two points for speeding 1–25 mph over the limit, five points for speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, and six points for reckless driving or reckless endangerment involving a vehicle. Under ALEA’s ordinary schedule, 12–14 points within two years result in a 60-day suspension. A conviction loses its point value for suspension purposes after two years but remains on the driving record. Insurance consequences are separate and depend on the insurer and the driver’s record.
Before resolving a ticket in Selma, Dallas County, or West Alabama, confirm the exact charge, your current record, and whether a separate licensing rule applies.
How many points does an Alabama traffic ticket carry?
ALEA publishes point values for common moving violations. Examples include:
Speeding 1–25 mph over the limit: 2 points.
Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit: 5 points.
Reckless driving or reckless endangerment involving a vehicle: 6 points.
Failure to yield or passing a stopped school bus: 5 points.
Illegal passing or driving on the wrong side of the road: 4 points.
Following too closely or disregarding a traffic-control device: 3 points.
Other moving violations often carry two points, but the exact charge matters. ALEA also lists six points for certain alcohol-related convictions that do not require mandatory revocation and for “administrative per se” matters. A DUI or test-refusal case can involve separate licensing rules; do not assume the ordinary point chart describes the entire consequence.
When do points suspend an Alabama license?
For the ordinary point-system schedule, ALEA counts points from convictions within a rolling two-year period. Its published suspension periods are:
12–14 points: 60 days.
15–17 points: 90 days.
18–20 points: 120 days.
21–23 points: 180 days.
24 or more points: 365 days.
For example, two convictions for speeding at least 26 mph over the limit total ten points. A later two-point moving-violation conviction within the same two-year window could reach the twelve-point threshold. Your own record and conviction dates matter more than the number of tickets you remember receiving.
Do not assume a single citation is harmless. A driver with prior points may cross a threshold after one more conviction. Other license actions can arise outside the ordinary point system. ALEA says a driver subject to Alabama’s graduated-driver-license rules can face an automatic 60-day suspension for certain individual offenses, including reckless driving. Commercial drivers face additional disqualification rules. If you receive an ALEA notice, read it promptly and pay attention to its response deadline.
Do Alabama traffic points ever expire?
Yes—for suspension calculations. ALEA says a traffic conviction loses its point value two years after the conviction date. The conviction itself remains on the driving record. This is a rolling lookback, not a calendar-year reset, and the end of the point period does not automatically remove the underlying conviction.
A suspension can make it difficult to get to work, school, or medical appointments. Driving while your license is suspended can create a separate legal problem; our Alabama suspended-license guide explains why checking your status and reinstatement requirements matters.
Can a ticket affect car insurance after the points expire?
ALEA’s two-year point period is a license-suspension rule, not an insurance-pricing rule. Insurers may consider traffic convictions and driving history when rating coverage, but the factors and time periods vary. No single three- or five-year lookback or percentage increase applies to every Alabama driver. A conviction may cost more than the court fine, or it may be treated differently under your particular policy. Ask your insurer or agent how a specific disposition would be rated, and compare coverage-matched quotes before assuming a dollar amount.
What should you do before paying a ticket in Dallas County?
First, read the exact offense, court date, and instructions on the citation. Check your driving record and any prior convictions in the relevant two-year period. For a citation that is eligible for pre-court payment, paying it generally means entering a guilty plea; not every charge can be resolved that way. A conviction—not merely receiving a citation—is what triggers points under the point schedule.
Whether to contest a charge, seek an amended disposition, or resolve it as written depends on the evidence and the court. No lawyer can promise that a ticket will be dismissed or reduced. If your job requires driving, you hold a commercial license, you are subject to graduated-license rules, or you already have points, the stakes may be higher. Elliott Owen Lipinsky’s Selma-based criminal-defense practice can review traffic-related charges in Dallas County and across West Alabama and explain the available next steps.
For local court and defense information, review the Dallas County criminal-defense guide or the firm’s broader Alabama criminal-defense page.
Browse the firm’s Alabama legal resources for related court, licensing, and criminal-defense guides. Official payment and plea information is available from the Alabama Traffic Service Center.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a speeding ticket in Alabama?
ALEA lists two points for speeding 1–25 mph over the limit and five points for speeding 26 mph or more over the limit. Points follow a conviction, and a separate insurance effect depends on the insurer and your record.
Will one ticket suspend my license?
One ordinary two- or five-point conviction generally does not reach the twelve-point threshold for an adult driver with no prior points. But one new conviction may push a driver with existing points over the threshold, and graduated-license, commercial-license, DUI, or other rules can apply separately.
How long does a ticket affect insurance in Alabama?
There is no single Alabama insurance lookback period or guaranteed premium increase. An insurer may consider a conviction after its ALEA points have stopped counting for suspension. Ask your insurer how it treats the specific offense and disposition.
Can a defensive-driving course erase points?
Do not assume a class will erase points from an existing conviction. Confirm any court-approved option and its effect on the charge and your driving record before entering a plea.
Discuss an Alabama traffic charge
Need help evaluating an Alabama traffic charge? Call (334) 230-7986 or request a free case review before entering a plea. The office can review the citation, court date, and driving record and explain available next steps. No result is guaranteed, and contacting the office does not create an attorney-client relationship.
