How Many Points Do I Get for High Speed Tickets in Florida?

Drivers in Florida often want to know how many points a speeding ticket or other traffic violation adds to their driving record. Florida law uses a point system to track traffic violations, and too many points within a certain period can lead to license suspension. Understanding the Florida point system is critical if you want to protect your driving privileges, avoid higher insurance rates, and keep a clean driving history.

How the Florida Point System Works

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles assigns relative values to each moving violation. Points are added to a Florida license when a driver accumulates citations, and point penalties increase based on the severity of the violation.

The point system is designed as a graduated scale:

• Minor traffic tickets add 3 points
• More serious traffic offenses add 4 points
• Severe traffic violations involving reckless driving, crashes, or leaving the scene can add 6 points

If a driver accumulates too many points in a certain period, the result is a suspended license. Florida law sets clear rules for point suspensions:

• 12 points within 12 months = 30 day suspension
• 18 points within 18 months = 3 month suspension
• 24 points within 36 months = one year suspension

Point Values for Common Traffic Violations

The number of points assigned varies depending on the violation. A complete list of point values under Florida law includes:

• Speeding violations (15 mph or less over the posted speed limit): 3 points
• Speeding violations (16 mph or more over the limit): 4 points
• High speed tickets involving crashes resulting in property damage or injury: 6 points
• Failure to stop at a steady red signal or other traffic control signal: 4 points
• Passing a stopped school bus or failure to stop for a school bus: 4 points
• Leaving the scene of a crash resulting in property damage: 6 points
• Failure to yield or other moving violations that cause a crash: 6 points
• Other common traffic violations such as careless driving: 3 to 4 points depending on circumstances

How Many Points for a Speeding Ticket in Florida

A speeding ticket in Florida almost always adds points to your driving record. The number of points depends on how far over the speed limit you were traveling:

• 3 points for speeding 15 mph or less over the limit
• 4 points for speeding 16 mph or more over the limit
• 6 points for speeding violations that cause a crash

So how many points for going 20 over the speed limit? In Florida, that violation adds 4 points to your record.

Do Speeding Tickets Go on Your Record in Florida?

Yes. All speeding tickets go on your Florida driving record. Even minor speeding violations become part of your driving history and may affect your insurance rates. Florida traffic laws require courts and the clerk’s office to report traffic tickets to the Florida Department of Highway Safety, which maintains the Florida driving record database.

Insurance and the Florida Point System

Many points on your driving record almost always lead to higher insurance costs. Even 3 points from a minor speeding ticket can increase insurance rates, depending on your insurance company. Insurance providers use your driving record to calculate risk, and more points signal risky driving behavior.

How much do 3 points affect insurance in Florida? It varies, but most drivers see insurance premiums rise by 10 to 15 percent after a minor violation. More serious violations, such as reckless driving or high speed tickets, can cause much higher rate hikes.

Driver Improvement and Avoiding Points

Florida law allows drivers to avoid points by electing to take a driver improvement course. Completing a basic driver improvement course or other approved traffic school program prevents points from being added to your record for eligible violations.

Key facts about driver improvement options:

• You can elect traffic school once every 12 months and no more than five times in your lifetime
• You must complete the basic driver improvement course within 30 days of electing it
• You must submit proof of completion to the county clerk to avoid points being added
• The court may order a driver improvement course for certain violations, such as high speed tickets or passing a stopped school bus

Taking a driver improvement course can help reduce points, avoid points, and in some cases even remove points from your record after a certain period.

Point Suspensions and Hardship Licenses

If a driver accumulates too many points, Florida law requires a point suspension. For example, 24 points within 36 months results in a one year suspension. Drivers with a suspended license may apply for a hardship license to drive for business purposes only. To qualify for a hardship license, you must complete a driver improvement course, show proof of completion, and apply for full reinstatement through the Florida Department of Highway Safety.

Why Legal Representation Matters

If you are facing a high speed ticket or other traffic offenses in Florida, you should consider legal representation. An attorney can fight the citation, argue for outright dismissal, or negotiate for reduced points. Legal representation may also help avoid license suspension or additional penalties that affect your driving privileges. Attorney David A. Haenel, who leads SuperSpeederLawyer.com, has defended thousands of drivers in Florida traffic court. As the former chair of the Florida Bar Traffic Court Rules Committee and a former prosecutor, he understands how the Florida point system works and how to protect drivers from harsh penalties. SuperSpeederLawyer.com is a branch of The Law Place, giving drivers access to decades of combined legal experience.

FAQs

Do speeding tickets go on your record in Florida?

Yes. All speeding tickets are reported to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and appear on your Florida driving record.

How much do 3 points affect insurance in Florida?

Three points from a minor moving violation can raise insurance rates by 10 to 15 percent, depending on the insurance provider.

How many points does a speeding ticket give you in Florida?

A speeding ticket adds 3 points if you were 15 mph or less over the limit, 4 points if you were 16 mph or more over, and 6 points if the speeding violation caused a crash.

How many points for going 20 over the speed limit?

Going 20 mph over the posted speed limit in Florida adds 4 points to your driving record.

Call for a Free Consultation

If you have questions about how many points you may face after a speeding ticket or other violations in Florida, contact SuperSpeederLawyer.com today for a free initial consultation. Led by attorney David A. Haenel and supported by The Law Place, our team will review your traffic citation, explain the Florida point system, and fight to protect your driving privileges.