How long do points stay on your license in Nevada?

Posted on March 15, 2022

Police looking at driver's license of pulled-over driver — Nevada driver's license points disappear after 12 months.

Nevada demerit points remain on your driver’s license for 12 months before disappearing. Accruing 12 or more points in a 12-month period of time typically triggers a six-month license suspension by the Nevada DMV. But you can usually get a restricted license after three months.

Here are five things to know:

All moving violations carry demerit points.
License suspensions range from six to 12 months.
Traffic School can erase three demerit points.
Driving on a suspended license is a crime.
Traffic tickets can be fought!

1. All moving violations carry demerit points

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles tacks on demerit points to your driver’s license every time you are cited for a moving violation. The more serious the traffic violation, the greater number of points you get.

For instance, a speeding ticket (NRS 484B.600) for going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit carries only one point under Nevada’s demerit point system. But reckless driving (NRS 484B.653) carries eight demerit points. And these points stay on your record for 12 months before vanishing.

Note that parking and non-moving violations do not cause demerit points to be added to your record. (An example of a non-moving violation is driving without registration or without auto insurance.) And DUI convictions have no demerit point value because they immediately trigger an automatic license suspension.¹

To obtain a copy of your driving record, refer to our article, Nevada Driving Record – How do I get it and what does it show? And for a complete list of traffic violations and their demerit point values, go to the Nevada DMV Violation Code List.

2. License suspensions range from six to 12 months

Accruing 12 demerit points in one year triggers a six-month driver’s license suspension in Nevada. But you can get a restricted license after three months.

Meanwhile, if you rack up 12 demerit points in one year for the second time in a three-year period, the license suspension will last one year. And a restricted license would be available six months into the suspension period.

Finally, getting 12 demerit points in one year for the third time in five years triggers another one-year license suspension. And you will not be able to get a restricted license at all.²

A restricted license usually allows you to commute to and from work, school, and medical appointments. To apply for a restricted license in Nevada, click here.

3. Traffic School can erase three demerit points

Nevada demerit points for traffic offenses go away after 12 months. But you may be able to remove three driver’s license points early by completing a DMV-approved traffic safety course.

However, a driving course that the court orders you to complete as part of a plea bargain does not erase demerit points. And you cannot remove more than three points through traffic school in one year, even if you do traffic school more than once.³

To see a list of Nevada DMV-certified traffic schools in Las Vegas and throughout the state of Nevada, click here.

A driving history of 12 demerit points in a one year period triggers a suspension of driving privileges.

4. Driving on a suspended license is a crime

If your license does get suspended for picking up too many demerit points, make sure not to drive during the suspension period. Driving on a suspended/revoked license (NRS 483.560) is a misdemeanor carrying:

Up to $1,000 in fines; and/or
Up to 6 months of jail.

Plus, your original license suspension period will be doubled.⁴

5. Traffic tickets can be fought!

If you get a traffic ticket, you may think it is best just to pay the fine and get on with your life. But even after your case is closed, your demerit points remain on your record for a full 12 months. And picking up just one or two more minor moving violations could max out your 12-point allowance and trigger a six-month license suspension.

More often than not, an experienced Nevada traffic ticket attorney can get traffic charges reduced to a non-moving violation or a full dismissal – and with no demerit points at all. Twelve demerit points can add up quickly in one year, so it is worth trying to get your traffic charges lessened or dropped. It may be the only way to safeguard your license.

Legal References

NAC 483.510. In addition to carrying demerit points, traffic convictions carry fines and will likely cause your insurance company to increase your insurance premiums.
NRS 483.473. See Nevada State Dep’t of Motor Vehicles v. Turner (1973) 89 Nev. 514 (“Whenever any licensee has accumulated 12 demerit points the department [of motor vehicles] shall suspend the license of such licensee until the total of his demerits has dropped below 12 demerits in the next preceding 12 months.”). See Bauer v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1985) 705 P.2d 623 (“When any driver has accumulated three or more demerit points, but less than 12, the department shall notify him of this fact. If, after the department mails this notice, the driver presents proof to the department that he has successfully completed a traffic safety school course, approved by the department, for the number of hours prescribed by the course, with the approval of the department as constituting a course of instruction, the department shall cancel three demerit points from his driving record. If the driver accumulates 12 or more demerit points before completing the traffic safety school, he will not be entitled to have demerit points canceled upon completion of the course, but must have his license suspended. A person may be allowed to attend only once in 12 months for the purpose of reducing his demerit points. The three demerit points may only be canceled from a driver’s record during the 12-month period immediately following the driver’s successful completion of the traffic safety school.”).
NRS 483.448.
NRS 483.560.

About the Author

Neil Shouse

A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, Court TV, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.