DMVZoneBlogNC DMV points run from 1 to 5. At 7 points you can take a driver improvement clinic to cut 3. At 12 points in three years your license is suspended for up to 60 days the first time.
North Carolina gives 1 to 5 DMV points per conviction. Passing a stopped school bus and aggressive driving carry 5, reckless driving carries 4, and running a red light carries 3. Reaching 12 points within three years means a suspension of up to 60 days for a first time. At 7 points you may be offered a driver improvement clinic that removes 3 points.
North Carolina runs two separate point systems. This page covers DMV license points, which decide whether you keep your license. Insurance points are different and decide how much your premium goes up. One ticket usually brings both.
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Passing a stopped school bus | 5 |
| Aggressive driving | 5 |
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Hit and run, property damage only | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Driving on the wrong side of the road | 4 |
| Illegal passing | 4 |
| Failing to yield to a pedestrian, bicycle or motorcycle | 4 |
| Running a red light or stop sign | 3 |
| Speeding over 55 mph | 3 |
| Speeding in a school zone | 3 |
| Failing to yield right of way | 3 |
| Failing to stop for a siren | 3 |
| Driving without a license or without insurance | 3 |
| Failing to report a crash | 3 |
| Child restraint violation | 2 |
| All other moving violations | 2 |
| Littering from a vehicle | 1 |
Points on a speeding ticket depend on how fast you were going. Speeding over 55 mph is 3 points; most slower speeding tickets are 2. A ticket in a school zone is 3 no matter the speed.
How many NC DMV points for passing a stopped school bus?
Answer: D. Passing a stopped school bus carries 5 points, the highest on the chart.
How many points lead to a North Carolina suspension?
Answer: C. 12 points within three years triggers a suspension.
What does the driver improvement clinic do?
Answer: B. Completing the clinic takes 3 points off, once every five years.
The suspension rule looks at points from the past three years. Reinstatement after a suspension clears them.
Convictions reported from other states can be added to your North Carolina record, so treat them like a local ticket.
NCDMV at (919) 715-7000.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official North Carolina DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
Under North Carolina's Safe Driver Incentive Plan, 1 insurance point raises your premium 40%, 4 points raise it 90% and a DWI's 12 points raise it 340%. Here is the full chart and the 2025 rule changes.
In North Carolina, going more than 15 mph over the limit at speeds above 55, or over 80 mph, means a 30-day license suspension. A speeding ticket also adds 2 or 3 DMV points and up to 4 insurance points.
North Carolina drivers with 7 DMV points may be offered a driver improvement clinic. Finishing it removes 3 points, once every five years. It does not lower insurance points.