Virginia DMV Points for Traffic Violations

A Practical Guide to What Each Charge Means

If you have received a traffic ticket in Virginia, one of the first things you probably want to know is simple: How many DMV points does this charge carry? That question matters because Virginia demerit points can affect your driving record, insurance rates, and, for more serious cases, your license status.

Virginia groups traffic offenses into point levels based on severity. The general rule is straightforward:

  • 3-point violations are lower-level traffic offenses.
  • 4-point violations are more serious moving violations.
  • 6-point violations are the most serious traffic offenses and include reckless driving, DUI-related offenses, license offenses, and other major violations.

The exact wording of the charge matters. A small change in how the offense is written can change the point value significantly. That is why drivers should always read the summons carefully and compare the exact language of the charge to the DMV point schedule.

Why Virginia DMV traffic points matter

A traffic conviction can affect more than just the court imposed sentence. Depending on the offense, it may also:

  • add demerit points to your DMV record,
  • trigger a driver improvement clinic requirement,
  • create license suspension risk,
  • raise insurance consequences,
  • and stay on your record for a long period of time.

Some of the more serious convictions may even remain on the defendant’s record permanently.

Virginia DMV Point Categories

6-point violations

These are the most serious traffic offenses in Virginia’s point system. They include reckless driving, serious alcohol-related offenses, suspended-license cases, habitual offender violations, and several crash-related offenses.

4-point violations

These offenses are more serious than ordinary speeding or lane violations, but generally less serious than the 6-point category. They often involve higher-speed speeding, failure to yield, unsafe passing, and railroad crossing violations.

3-point violations

These are the lowest demerit-point offenses. They include many common moving violations, lighting and signal violations, basic license and permit violations, and certain commercial motor vehicle offenses.

Reference List: Virginia Traffic Charges and DMV Points

6-Point Violations

Reckless Driving

  • Reckless driving—speeding in excess of 85 mph — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—racing — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—passing or overtaking an emergency vehicle — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—passing a school bus — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—passing on the crest of a hill — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—passing at a railroad crossing — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—passing two vehicles abreast — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—driving two vehicles abreast — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—driving too fast for conditions — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—failing to give a proper signal — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—faulty brakes/improper control — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—on parking lots, etc. — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—with an obstructed view — 6 points
  • Reckless driving—generally — 6 points

Driving Under the Influence

  • Possess or consume alcoholic beverage while operating a school bus transporting children — 6 points
  • Driving while intoxicated — 6 points
  • Driving while intoxicated felony — 6 points
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs — 6 points
  • Driving under the influence of drugs — 6 points
  • Driving after illegally consuming alcohol (persons under age 21) — 6 points
  • Driving while intoxicated—maiming — 6 points
  • Involuntary manslaughter/alcohol — 6 points
  • Refusing blood/breath test — 6 points
  • Driving while your license is suspended or revoked for driving while intoxicated — 6 points
  • Driving while your license is revoked for driving while intoxicated—maiming — 6 points
  • Driving while your license is revoked for driving while intoxicated—involuntary manslaughter — 6 points
  • Operating without ignition interlock—DMV requirement — 6 points

Manslaughter

  • Manslaughter — 6 points
  • Involuntary manslaughter — 6 points
  • Involuntary manslaughter/aggravated — 6 points

Habitual Offenders

  • Driving after being declared a habitual offender — 6 points
  • Allowing a person to drive when suspended for habitual offender and/or driving while intoxicated — 6 points

Licenses / Permits

  • Driving on suspended license — 6 points
  • Driving while your license is suspended or revoked — 6 points
  • Driving while your license is suspended or revoked for non-payment of court fines and costs — 6 points
  • Driving under suspension or revocation before giving proof of financial responsibility — 6 points

Commercial Motor Vehicles

  • Driving commercial motor vehicle while disqualified — 6 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle with blood alcohol .04 percent or more — 6 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle with blood alcohol .08 percent or more — 6 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle under influence of drugs — 6 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle under influence of drugs/alcohol — 6 points
  • Refusing blood/breath test while operating commercial motor vehicle — 6 points
  • Violating out of service order — 6 points

Other 6-Point Violations

Disregarding crossing guard/officer’s signal — 6 points

4-Point Violations

Reckless Driving / Speeding

  • Reckless driving—failure to stop before entering a highway — 4 points
  • Speeding — 4 points
  • Speeding 10–14 mph above the posted speed limit — 4 points
  • Speeding 15–19 mph above the posted speed limit — 4 points
  • Speeding 10–19 mph above the posted speed limit — 4 points

Passing

  • Passing when unsafe — 4 points
  • Passing to the left of approaching vehicle — 4 points

Stopping / Yielding

  • Failure to drive to the right and stop for police/fire/emergency vehicle — 4 points
  • Failure to stop for pedestrian with white cane — 4 points
  • Failure to stop and yield right-of-way — 4 points
  • Failure to yield right-of-way — 4 points
  • Failure to yield when turning left — 4 points
  • Failure to yield to funeral procession — 4 points

Keeping to the Right

  • Failure to drive on right half of highway or street — 4 points
  • Failure to keep to the right when crossing an intersection — 4 points
  • Driving to the left of rotary traffic island — 4 points

Following / Signaling

  • Following too closely — 4 points
  • Failure to signal before moving from curb — 4 points
  • Improper signal — 4 points

Railroad Crossings

Improper operation of crawler-type tractor over railroad crossing — 4 points

3-Point Violations

Speeding

  • Speeding 1–9 mph above the posted speed limit — 3 points
  • Impeding traffic, slow speed — 3 points

Passing / Driving

  • Improper passing — 3 points
  • Improper passing on the right — 3 points
  • Improper driving — 3 points
  • Improper stopping on highway — 3 points
  • Changing course after signaling — 3 points
  • Coasting with gears in neutral — 3 points
  • Failure to give way in favor of overtaking vehicle — 3 points
  • Failure to give way when abreast of another car — 3 points
  • Driving through safety zone — 3 points
  • Driving over fire hose — 3 points
  • Driving an electric mobility device, toy vehicle or bicycle on highway — 3 points
  • Driving a moped on interstate highway — 3 points
  • Failure to exercise due care—collision with pedestrian — 3 points
  • Unauthorized use of crossover on controlled highway — 3 points
  • Driving/riding on sidewalk — 3 points

Turning / Backing

  • Improper turn — 3 points
  • Improper U-turn — 3 points
  • Violation of right turn on red — 3 points
  • Violation of left turn on red — 3 points

Signs / Signals

  • Failure to obey highway sign — 3 points
  • Evading traffic control device — 3 points

Lights

  • Driving without lights/excessive lights — 3 points
  • Failure to dim headlights — 3 points
  • Parking without proper lights displayed — 3 points
  • Inadequate hazard lights — 3 points

Licenses / Permits

  • No Virginia driver’s license — 3 points
  • No Virginia license plate — 3 points
  • Failure to obtain a driver’s license — 3 points
  • No driver’s license—vehicle/motorcycle — 3 points
  • Failure to have license revalidated — 3 points
  • Learner’s permit violation — 3 points
  • Permitting unlicensed person to drive — 3 points
  • Driving in violation of restricted license (restrictions related to physical limitation, such as mechanical control device) — 3 points

Commercial Motor Vehicles

  • Driving commercial motor vehicle with alcohol in blood — 3 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle without license — 3 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle with more than one driver’s license — 3 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle without endorsement(s) — 3 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle without license in possession — 3 points
  • Commercial driver’s license/instruction permit violation — 3 points
  • Texting while operating commercial motor vehicle — 3 points
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle in left lane of interstate — 3 points
  • Driving in excess of 13 hours in a 24-hour period — 3 points
  • Driving public passenger-carrying vehicle under age — 3 points
  • Driving bus transporting school children without a safety belt — 3 points
  • Driving school bus without license — 3 points
  • Driving school bus under age — 3 points
  • Using wireless device while operating school bus — 3 points
  • Vehicle height exceeds limit for tunnels — 3 points

Other 3-Point Violations

HOV violation, second or subsequent offense — Northern Virginia planning district 8 — 3 points

Failure to stop at the scene of a crash, unattended property — 3 points

Failure to leave the scene of a crash at the direction of officer — 3 points

Failure to report a crash, unattended property, less than $250 damage — 3 points

Following/parking within 500 feet of fire apparatus — 3 points

Fail to change lanes/slow down for vehicle displaying flashing lights — 3 points

Drinking while driving — 3 points

Improper driving/riding motorcycle — 3 points

Driving with TV screen visible to driver — 3 points

Driving while using earphones — 3 points

What drivers should take from this

Virginia traffic charges are not all treated the same. A charge that sounds minor can still carry demerit points, and some of the most common offenses are more serious than many drivers realize. Speeding, failure to yield, improper passing, reckless driving, and suspended-license charges can all have very different consequences depending on the exact wording of the offense.

If you are looking at a Virginia traffic ticket, the most important thing is to identify the exact charge and then compare it to the DMV point level. That single detail often determines how serious the case really is.

Important note: point schedules and record-retention rules can change. Before relying on any specific point value for a real case, verify the current DMV rules and the exact code section on the summons or conviction order.

Final Thoughts: Always Consult a Lawyer

While some plea bargains are straightforward, others require negotiation with the Commonwealth’s Attorney and understanding how different judges handle traffic cases.

A traffic lawyer can help present mitigating factors, negotiate with prosecutors, and argue for a favorable charge reduction to protect your driving record, finances, and freedom.

Need legal help with a Virginia traffic offense? Contact our office today!