How Long Do DMV Points Stay on Your Record in California?

How Long Points Remain on Your California Driving Record

In California, the length of time a point stays on your DMV driving record depends on the severity of the underlying violation. The California Vehicle Code distinguishes between minor (one-point) violations and major (two-point) violations, and each category has a different retention period.

Understanding these timelines is important because points on your record affect not only your risk of license suspension under the Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS), but also your insurance rates. Insurance companies typically review your driving record when setting premiums, and points can lead to higher costs for several years.

Point Duration by Violation Type

One-Point Violations: 3 Years

Most one-point violations remain on your California driving record for 39 months (approximately 3 years and 3 months) from the date of the violation. This category includes common infractions such as speeding, running a red light, making an unsafe lane change, and at-fault accidents.

The 39-month period is measured from the violation date, not the conviction date. This is an important distinction because there can be a gap of weeks or months between when the violation occurred and when it appears as a conviction on your record.

Two-Point Violations: 7 to 10 Years

More serious two-point violations remain on your record for much longer. A DUI conviction stays on your DMV record for 10 years from the violation date. Other two-point violations, such as reckless driving or hit-and-run, typically remain for 7 years. These extended retention periods reflect the severity of the offenses and their relevance to your overall driving history.

Points vs. Violation Record: An Important Distinction

There is an important distinction between how long a point counts toward NOTS thresholds and how long the underlying violation appears on your driving record. For NOTS purposes, the DMV counts points accumulated within 12, 24, or 36-month windows. However, the violation itself remains visible on your record for the full retention period (39 months, 7 years, or 10 years depending on severity).

This means that even after a point has aged out of the NOTS counting window, the violation may still appear when an insurance company or employer pulls your driving record. Insurance companies in California can consider violations that appear on your record when calculating your premium, which is why the full retention period matters.

How Points Affect Your Insurance Rates

California law (Insurance Code Section 1861.02) allows insurance companies to consider your driving record when determining your premium. Most insurers review a three-to-five-year window of your driving history, though some may look further back for major violations like DUI.

A single one-point violation can increase your insurance premium by 20 to 40 percent depending on your insurer and your prior record. Multiple points or a two-point violation can result in even steeper increases. Some drivers with serious violations may be placed in a high-risk insurance category, which can dramatically increase costs.

Learn more about how traffic tickets affect your insurance premiums. How Traffic Tickets Affect Insurance →

Can You Remove Points from Your Record Early?

California does not offer a way to remove points from your driving record before their retention period expires. Once a conviction is recorded, the violation and its associated point will remain for the full 39 months, 7 years, or 10 years as applicable.

However, attending traffic school can mask a one-point violation so that it is not visible to your insurance company, even though the DMV still retains the conviction on your confidential record. This is the closest thing to early removal and is available only for eligible one-point violations.

The most effective way to prevent a point from appearing on your record in the first place is to successfully contest the underlying ticket. If a ticket is dismissed through Trial by Written Declaration or at trial, no point is added to your record.

Summary: Point Retention Periods at a Glance

• One-point violations (speeding, red light, etc.): 39 months from violation date
• Two-point violations (reckless driving, hit-and-run): 7 years from violation date
• DUI convictions: 10 years from violation date
• Traffic school completion: Masks point from insurance companies but violation remains on confidential DMV record
• Dismissed tickets: No point is added to your record

Find out how traffic school can mask a point from your insurance company. How Traffic School Removes Points →

Estimate the total cost of your ticket including fines and insurance impact. California Traffic Ticket Calculator →