Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
The Missouri DIP 36-month limit means a court-ordered Driver Improvement Program can keep points off a ticket no more than once in any 36-month period. A second DIP inside that window will not keep points off another ticket. Each use also needs its own court order and its own 60-day finish window.
Key Facts
- The limit: the DIP counts in lieu of points no more than once in any 36-month period. See what the law says.
- A second ticket: a second DIP inside the window does not keep those points off. See a second ticket.
- Each use: a court order, a finish within 60 days of conviction and a court report within 15 days. See each use.
- Fixed by law: no official source lets a court make it count more often. See the fixed rule.
- Checking with the DOR: the DOR FAQ lists a phone line and email for points questions and court orders. See checking your dates.
What the Missouri DIP 36-Month Limit Says
The rule is in RSMo 302.302.5. It says the program “shall not be accepted in lieu of points more than one time in any thirty-six-month period.”
In plain words, the DOR can accept a DIP in place of points only once in a 36-month span. It cannot keep points off a second ticket inside the window.
The Missouri Safety Center process sheet says it in a shorter way. “You cannot participate in D.I.P. more than once in a 36 month period of time.”
What “Any” 36-Month Period Means
The statute uses the word “any.” It does not tie the window to a calendar year. It also does not name the exact day the window starts.
If you are unsure how the window falls for your dates, ask the court on your ticket or the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR). They can look at your own record.
A Second Ticket Inside the Window
Say you used a court-ordered DIP on one ticket. Then you get another eligible ticket inside the 36-month window. The law does not let a second DIP be accepted in lieu of points for it.
A second DIP inside that window will not keep points off that ticket. Point values come from RSMo 302.302 and DOR Form 899:
- Speeding: 3 points under state law, or 2 under a city or county ordinance, at any speed.
- Other unlisted moving violations: 2 points, or 1 for a city stop-sign ticket with no accident.
- Careless and imprudent driving: 2 points on Form 899, or 4 for the “Careless & Imprudent 304.016” line.
Why the Added Points Matter
Points add up toward DOR action under RSMo 302.304. Four or more points in 12 months brings an advisory letter.
Eight or more in 18 months brings a suspension. Twelve or more in 12 months brings a one-year revocation, or 2 years without proof of insurance.
Here is simple math. Three 3-point state speeding tickets in 18 months reach 9 points.
That is past the suspension level. Our guide to point suspensions covers the details.
Every Use Follows the Same Rules
The 36-month limit is only one rule. Each time a DIP counts, the rest of RSMo 302.302.5 applies again:
- A court order. The court handling the ticket must order and verify the DIP. It is not automatic.
- An eligible ticket. It covers speeding, the careless and imprudent driving line and other unlisted moving violations.
- A finish date. The course must be completed within 60 days of the conviction date.
- A report. The court forwards a record of completion to the DOR within 15 days after you finish.
The DOR FAQ also says “you or the program may mail the completion form” to the DOR. Our DIP overview explains each rule.
Three Time Rules Side by Side
Three different time rules sit in RSMo 302.302.5. They are easy to mix up, so this table sets them apart:
| Time rule | Counted from | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| 60 days | The conviction date | When you must finish the course |
| 15 days | The day you finish | When the court sends its record to the DOR |
| 36 months | Any 36-month period | How often a DIP can count for points |
Only the 36-month rule looks back at your past. The other two look ahead from the current ticket.
What One Use Covers
One accepted DIP covers one ticket. The DOR accepts it “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that ticket only.
The law also lets a court certify 2 more points when a violation causes injury or property damage. The DIP covers those added points too, under RSMo 302.302.3 and 302.302.5.
One use does not reach these offenses, which are outside the DIP:
- DWI and driving while suspended or revoked.
- Leaving the scene and no insurance.
- Felonies.
Who Orders the DIP Now
The court that has your case orders and verifies the DIP. The law also lets a court that uses a centralized violation bureau established under RSMo 476.385 have that bureau order it.
The DOR FAQ still names the Fine Collection Center. But the Missouri courts say it stopped taking new citations on May 1, 2019. Each county now has a circuit violations bureau, so check your ticket for the court or bureau to contact.
The Limit Is Set by Statute
The 36-month rule is written into Missouri law. It is not a local habit or a provider rule. No official source says a court can make the DIP count for points more often.
The same is true of the 60-day rule. The statute sets it, counted from the conviction date. No official source mentions an extension.
This matters when you plan. The court decides whether to order the DIP. But the court does not set the 36-month limit or the 60-day window.
Facts to Know Before You Ask the Court
The DIP counts only once in any 36 months. This page does not tell you whether to ask for it on a given ticket. That choice belongs to you and the court.
Some facts can help you talk with the court:
- Know your dates. Find the conviction date of any ticket where a DIP counted before.
- Know the points. Look up how many points the new ticket carries.
- Know your total. Check how close you are to 4, 8 or 12 points in the time windows above.
A Missouri attorney can help with questions about your own case.
How to Check Your Dates
For the dates of an earlier DIP, ask the court that ordered it or the DOR. The DOR Tickets and Points FAQ lists 573-526-2407 and [email protected] for points questions. It lists the same contacts to check whether a court order was received.
Keep in mind that a DIP does not remove the ticket. The Safety Center sheet says the program “WILL NOT remove the ticket from the drivers record, only the points.”
Other Ways Points Go Down
The DIP is not the only rule that affects points. Under RSMo 302.306, points drop by one-third after a year with no moving-violation conviction. They drop by one-half after two years and to zero after three.
After reinstatement from a point suspension or revocation, the DOR sets your total to 4. Our guide to the DIP and point reduction covers every way points go down.
Drivers Who Never Get a Use
For some drivers, the 36-month question never comes up. The law bars them from the DIP no matter how long it has been:
- People with a CDL. This covers anyone who holds a commercial license or is required to hold one. The DOR commercial driver page says this applies in a noncommercial vehicle too.
- Commercial vehicle tickets. No DIP is allowed for a violation in a commercial motor vehicle.
- Motorcycle tickets. These call for an approved motorcycle-rider training course instead.
Our eligibility guide has the full list.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the official pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the limit matched in two places. RSMo 302.302.5 said “more than one time in any thirty-six-month period.” The Safety Center process sheet said “more than once in a 36 month period of time.”
RSMo 302.302 has a new version effective Aug. 28, 2026. The DIP wording on the 36-month limit was the same in the new and old versions.
The Safety Center DIP page said a driver must ask the court for permission to attend. It also said the court decides case by case.
For a list of acceptable providers, the DOR Tickets and Points FAQ sent readers to the Safety Center website. The Safety Center sheet is a guide, while RSMo 302.302.5 is the law, and the statute controls.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Each item below comes from Missouri law or an official page:
- Counting by calendar year. The law says any 36-month period, not one per year.
- Taking a second course and expecting no points. A second DIP inside the window is not accepted in lieu of points.
- Assuming the court can waive the limit. The limit is in the statute.
- Skipping the court order. Every use needs one.
- Counting 60 days from the wrong date. The window runs from the conviction date.
- Expecting the ticket to disappear. The conviction stays on your record.
How Requirements Can Vary
Missouri’s point values, suspension levels and Driver Improvement Program rules come from Missouri law (RSMo 302.302 and 302.304) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders the DIP for your ticket, and how your case is handled, is up to the court on your ticket. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.
Laws, forms and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order, the Missouri DOR website and the Missouri Revised Statutes before you enroll or pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can you take driver improvement in Missouri for points?
A DIP can be accepted in lieu of points no more than once in any 36-month period under RSMo 302.302.5. A court must order it each time.
What happens if I get a second ticket within 36 months?
A second DIP inside the window will not keep points off that ticket. RSMo 302.302.5 lets the DIP count in lieu of points only once in any 36-month period.
Can a judge let me use the DIP again sooner?
No official source says a court can make the DIP count for points more than once in any 36-month period. The limit is written into the statute.
Does the 36-month window start when I finish the course?
The statute says “any thirty-six-month period” and does not name a start date. Ask the court on your ticket or the DOR how it applies to your dates.
How do I find out if I used the DIP before?
Ask the court that ordered it, or contact the DOR. The DOR FAQ lists 573-526-2407 and [email protected] for points questions and to check whether a court order was received.
Does using the DIP take the earlier ticket off my record?
No. The DIP keeps points off the ticket it was ordered for, but the conviction stays on your record. The Safety Center sheet says the program “WILL NOT remove the ticket from the drivers record.”
Does the limit matter if my license is from another state?
The Missouri Safety Center sheet says the DIP “does not apply to out-of-state licensed drivers receiving a Missouri ticket.” The statute does not address it. Ask the Missouri court, and see our guide for out-of-state drivers.
Does the 60-day rule reset with each ticket?
Yes. Each DIP must be completed within 60 days of the conviction date for that ticket. The court then forwards a record of completion within 15 days.
Conclusion
The Missouri DIP can keep points off a ticket only once in any 36-month period, and a court must order it each time. Check your dates with the DOR and ask the court on your ticket before you enroll. If your court has ordered the DIP and you are within the limit, you can take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program online.
Related Articles
- Missouri Driver Improvement Program (DIP): The Complete Guide
- Reduce Points on a Missouri License: What the Law Allows
- Missouri Driver Improvement Program Eligibility: Who Can Use the DIP?
- Missouri License Suspension for Points: What Happens and How to Reinstate
Sources
- Missouri Revised Statutes 302.302 — Point system
- Missouri Safety Center — Driver Improvement Program Process (PDF)
- Missouri Safety Center — Driver Improvement Program
- Missouri DOR — Tickets and Points FAQs
- Missouri DOR — Form 899, Violation Descriptions and Points Assessed (PDF)
- Missouri Revised Statutes 302.304 — Points, suspension and revocation
- Missouri Revised Statutes 302.306 — Reduction of points after safe driving
- Missouri DOR — Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators and the Law
- Missouri Revised Statutes 476.385 — Centralized violations bureau and schedule of fines
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a driver improvement course provider serving Missouri and other U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Driver Improvement Program rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Missouri DOR, Missouri Revised Statutes and court sources, and consult a qualified Missouri attorney for advice about your own case.