If you want to know how to get points off your license in Ohio or how to remove points from your license in Ohio, this guide is for you.
Ohio drivers found guilty of violating traffic rules receive a ticket from the officer for the traffic offense. When a driver gets a ticket, traffic violence is also added as ‘points’ on their Ohio driving record. Depending on the offense, multiple points can be added to the driving record. Minor infractions, like failure to yield, and texting while driving can add two points while major infractions, like drag racing or driving the vehicle under the influence (DUI/OVI) can result in 6 points accumulation on record. A driver can cited with 2,4 or 6 points on the driving record.
When a driver accumulates 12 points in two years, Ohio BMV automatically suspends their driving license for six months. To reinstate a driving license, a driver needs to take a remedial driving course, pay a fine, and retake a driving test.
How Ohio license points system work?
The Ohio BMV consistently monitors points received on driving records within two years. When you commit your first offense, the points are assigned to your driving records depending on the minor or more serious offense.
Let’s say that you’ve received a ticket for not stopping a vehicle at a traffic light, the court clerk sends a certificate for the same to notify Ohio BMV and explain the violation you committed. The BMV assigns points based on a predetermined table (check below), in this case, a 2-point on your driving record. These points will stay on your driving records for two years. Assuming you’ve accumulated points on 31st December 2024, these two points will automatically fall off on 31st December 2026.
When you receive 6 points on your driving record over two years, Ohio BMV issues a warning letter citing the violations and assigned point value.
However, if you receive 12 points within two years, the Ohio BMV will immediately suspend your license for six months. Also, because Driver’s records are public information, insurance companies can access them at any time, resulting in higher premiums.
| Traffic Offense | Points |
| Speeding 6 mph to 29 mph of a posted speed limit of 54 mph or less | 2 |
| Speeding over 11 mph to 29 mph of a posted speed limit of 55 mph or more | 2 |
| Slow Driving | 2 |
| Driving under suspensions for FRA, failure to pay child support, unpaid judgments | 2 |
| Failure to yield | 2 |
| Failure to yield to pedestrians on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk | 2 |
| Too close to a vehicle | 2 |
| Texting while driving | 2 |
| Running at the top Sign | 2 |
| Disobeying a traffic control device | 2 |
| Breaking traffic signal | 2 |
| Improper passing | 2 |
| Improper turn | 2 |
| Improper U-turn | 2 |
| Marked lane violation | 2 |
| Operating a vehicle without being in reasonable control of the vehicle | 2 |
| Speeding over 30 mph of the speed limit | 4 |
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Operating a vehicle with unlawful alcohol concentration | 4 |
| Operating a vehicle without being in reasonable control of the vehicle | 4 |
| Driving under a 12-point suspension, OVI suspension, or other suspension/revocation | 6 |
| Street racing | 6 |
| Operating Vehicle under the Influence (OVI)/Driving Under the Influence (DUI); alcohol or/and drugs | 6 |
| Vehicular homicide or manslaughter | 6 |
| Fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer | 6 |
| Leaving the accident scene | 6 |
*Check the official Ohio BMV point chart for the final understanding of the point table
How To Remove Points from Licence in Ohio
Here is the ultimate truth, If you receive points on your driving record, it will remain on your driving record permanently; however, for license suspension, the BMV considers points accumulated within two years. Ohio BMV won’t provide any direct way to remove those points from the driving record. But there are some things you can do to save your license from getting suspended.
1) Enroll in A Remedial Driving Course
The most effective way to remove points or get extra point credit on your license is by completing a Remedial driving course. Ohio BMV-approved traffic schools allow a driver to sign up both online and offline for the course to add 2 points to driver records. When you complete the course, you will receive two points on your record. This credit won’t remove existing points but provides a buffer against future violations.
When you accumulate points on your Ohio driver’s license, initially, your license will be suspended if you reach 12 points within two years. Upon completing the remedial driving course your suspension threshold increases to 14 (12 + 2) points over two years. Remember, This only applies if you have between 2 and 11 points on your record when you complete the course.
What is an Adult Remedial Driving Course?
Adult remedial driving course is a defensive driving program approved by Ohio BMV for various purposes including license suspension, 12-point suspension, and two-point credit.
Remedial Driving covers topics including Ohio traffic laws, safe driving techniques, accident prevention, point system, distracted driving, and more. An online course can take at least 8 hours to complete, but offline times can vary.
If you want to enroll in a remedial driving course, make sure that the traffic school or course provider is approved by Ohio BMV. Otherwise, it won’t be valid for two-point credit.
We have partnered with 2 Cool Traffic School to provide an Online Remedial Driving course from your device.
Limitations to receive two points through a remedial driving course
- Course provider or traffic school must be approved by Ohio BMV. You can check the list here.
- If the court suspends the driver’s license, the course provider cannot approve any point credit.
- If the court ordered drivers to take the course, two points won’t be credited to the driving record.
- Two points won’t be relevant when a driver has already accumulated 12 points on driving records within two years.
- You can take a remedial driving course to remove 2 points from your license only once every three years. Even if you take the course multiple times within this period, you’ll only receive the point reduction benefit once.
- A driver may take a remedial driving course up to five times for a two-point credit in their lifetime.
2) Wait for Points to expire
Points on driving records automatically expire after two years and won’t be used for driving license suspension. But, they remain visible on the driving record even after expiration. While Ohio BMV won’t count those points to suspend a license after point expiration, insurance companies and employers can use those to increase rates and fewer employment opportunities.
3) Contesting a citation in court
When police issue a citation, you can appeal it by filling a petition with your county court or local municipal within 20 days. During the hearing, you have to provide evidence that you haven’t violated the motor vehicle code. Upon proven, points won’t be added to your driving record.
4) Practice Safe Driving
The points on the driving record remain there and available to the public. Even if that expires, insurance companies will likely take it as an advantage to raise premiums. So, practicing safe driving and following traffic rules will intact your driving license and insurance budget-friendly.