Missouri Driver License Points System Explained

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Missouri driver license points go on your record only after a conviction, and each kind of ticket has a set value. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) mails a letter at 4 points in 12 months, suspends at 8 points in 18 months and revokes at 12 points in 12 months. A court-ordered Driver Improvement Program (DIP) can keep points off one new ticket, but it does not take away points you already have.

Key Facts

Points need a conviction: the DOR adds points only after a conviction or a forfeited bond. See how the system works.
Speeding: 3 points under state law and 2 under a city or county ordinance. See point values.
Three action levels: a letter at 4 points, a suspension at 8 and a revocation at 12 or more. See what happens at 4, 8 and 12 points.
Points go down: clean years cut them, and reinstatement resets them to 4. See how points go down.
The DIP: a court order can keep points off one new ticket, not old ones. See where the DIP fits.

How Missouri Driver License Points Work

Missouri’s point rules are in RSMo 302.302. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) keeps your driving record and adds the points. If you searched for the Missouri DMV, the DOR is the official agency.

Points come from a conviction, not from the traffic stop. The statute says, “Points shall be assessed only after a conviction or forfeiture of collateral.” A forfeited bond counts the same way as a conviction.

Under RSMo 302.304, points are counted from the date of conviction. That date matters, because the DOR looks back over set windows of time.

Two more rules shape every total:

State or local charge: one act can be charged under state law or under a city or county ordinance. Points may go on for either charge, “but not for both.”
Injury or damage: a court can certify 2 more points when a violation causes personal injury or property damage.

Point Values for Key Violations

Each conviction carries a fixed number of points. The DOR lists them on Form 899, marked “Revised 08-2026.” The statute, RSMo 302.302, sets the point values in law.

Here are key values from the statute and Form 899:

Speeding: 3 points under state law, 2 points under a county or city ordinance.
A moving violation not listed in the law: 2 points.
A city stop-sign ticket with no accident: 1 point.
Careless and imprudent driving: 2 points on Form 899, or 4 for the line it calls “Careless & Imprudent 304.016.”
Failure to maintain insurance: 4 points.
First DWI: 8 points, and 12 for a second or later conviction.
Driving while suspended or revoked: 12 points.
Leaving the scene of an accident: 12 under state law, 6 under an ordinance.
Failing to stop for a school bus: 5 points, added on Aug. 28, 2026.

Speeding points do not rise with speed. They also do not depend on who wrote the ticket. Our Missouri points chart lists every value, and our guide to speeding ticket points covers speeding alone.

What Happens at 4, 8 and 12 Points

The DOR acts at three levels under RSMo 302.304. Each level has its own look-back window, and each window counts from conviction dates.

Your total	Inside this window	The DOR’s response
4 points or more	12 months	A point accumulation advisory letter by mail
8 points or more	18 months	A suspension of your license
12, 18 or 24 points or more	12, 24 or 36 months	A revocation of your license

The first level is a notice, not a penalty. The DOR FAQ says the DOR “will send you a point accumulation advisory letter.” It is a warning that your total is climbing.

How Many Points to Suspend a License in MO

The answer is 8 points in 18 months. The statute says the director “shall suspend” the license at that level.

A first suspension ends after 30 days, a second after 60 days and a third or later after 90 days. That holds only if proof of insurance is filed. Without it, the suspension lasts 2 years.

Revocation at 12 Points or More

A revocation comes at 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 24 months or 24 points in 36 months. It ends after 1 year if proof of insurance is filed, or 2 years if not.

After a revocation, you must pass the complete driver examination before you drive again. The DOR reinstatement page lists a $20 fee and proof of insurance for two years.

Here is the math. Three 3-point speeding convictions in 18 months reach 9 points, which passes the 8-point level.

Four of them in 12 months reach 12 points. Our guide to license suspension for points covers each step after that.

How a Missouri ticket turns into points, from the charge and conviction to the DOR look-back windows and action levels

How Points Go Down

Points do not stay at the same level forever. Two rules in the law lower a total.

The first is clean time. Under RSMo 302.306, a driver with no moving-violation conviction sees the total fall in three steps:

After 1 year: points drop by one-third.
After 2 years: the rest drop by one-half.
After 3 years: the rest are withdrawn, so the total is zero.

The second rule is reinstatement. After a point suspension or revocation ends, the DOR lowers your total to 4 points.

No clean-time credit builds while a license is suspended or revoked. It also does not build while you drive on a limited privilege.

Our guide on how long points stay walks through the timing. For every way a total can fall, see how to reduce points.

Where the DIP Fits

The Driver Improvement Program (DIP) comes from RSMo 302.302.5. It is not automatic. It counts only when the court handling your ticket orders it and verifies that you finished.

When it counts, the DOR accepts the DIP “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that one ticket. The conviction still stays on your record. The DIP does not remove points you already have, and it does not lower the fine.

The law sets these limits:

Which tickets: speeding, the careless and imprudent line, other moving violations not listed and the extra 2 points for injury or damage.
Which tickets are left out: DWI, driving while suspended, leaving the scene, no insurance and felonies.
Deadline: finish within 60 days of the conviction date.
How often: no more than once in any 36-month period.
Format: online or in person, meeting the National Safety Council eight-hour standard.
Reporting: the court forwards a record of completion to the DOR within 15 days.

The DIP is never open to anyone who has a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or must have one, in any vehicle. A motorcycle ticket needs a motorcycle-rider course instead. The DOR FAQ sends readers to the Missouri Safety Center for a list of programs.

Checking Your Points and Record

The DOR Tickets and Points FAQ says to call 573-526-2407 to find out how many points you have. You can also email [email protected].

A driver record costs $2.82 from the DOR Driving Records page. A license office adds a $2 processing fee.

Our guide on how to check points covers each option. To read the record itself, see your Missouri driving record. To see if your license is active, read how to check if your license is suspended.

Points and the Ticket Are Separate

Your point total can reach zero while the ticket stays listed. The DOR FAQ explains when a ticket conviction may come off the record:

3 years after the conviction, in general.
5 years after reinstatement, if the ticket led to a point suspension or revocation.
Never, for certain types of convictions that must stay on the record.

Our guide on how long a ticket stays on your record covers removal. For who else can see the record, read our background check guide.

Tickets From Other States

A ticket outside Missouri can still count. The DOR FAQ says out-of-state and federal-property convictions are posted to your Missouri record.

The FAQ adds, “The point value is determined by the violation conviction code.” So a ticket from another state can raise your Missouri total.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the Missouri DOR, statute and court pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the point values and action levels matched. Three details stood out.

First, Form 899 lists plain “Careless & Imprudent” at 2 points and “Careless & Imprudent 304.016” at 4. The statute gives 4 points only to the 304.016 line, so the exact charge matters.

Second, the DOR FAQ still says “the court or the Fine Collections Center may authorize” the DIP. The Missouri Courts fine schedule page says the Fine Collection Center stopped accepting new citations on May 1, 2019. The statute puts the order with the court, and the statute controls.

Third, RSMo 302.302 added a 5-point value for failing to stop for a school bus. It took effect on Aug. 28, 2026.

Five events that change a Missouri point total, from a new conviction to a court-ordered DIP

Common Mistakes

Each point below is checked against a statute or DOR page:

Counting from the ticket date. Points count from the conviction date.
Expecting more points for more speed. Speeding is 3 or 2 points at any speed.
Using an old careless and imprudent value. Form 899 lists 2 points, or 4 for the 304.016 line.
Ignoring the 4-point letter. It shows your total, and 8 points in 18 months brings a suspension.
Expecting a course to clear old points. A court-ordered DIP only covers one new ticket.
Treating zero points as a clean record. The ticket can stay listed after the points are gone.

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 many points is a speeding ticket in Missouri?

A speeding ticket is 3 points under state law and 2 under a city or county ordinance. The value does not change with your speed. A court can add 2 points if the violation caused injury or property damage.

How many points does it take to suspend a Missouri license?

The DOR suspends a license at 8 points in 18 months. A revocation comes at 12 points in 12 months, 18 in 24 or 24 in 36.

What is a point accumulation advisory letter?

It is a notice the DOR mails when your record shows 4 or more points in 12 months. It tells you your point total. It is not a suspension.

Do points ever go away in Missouri?

Yes. With no moving-violation conviction, points drop by one-third after 1 year, by one-half after 2 years and to zero after 3 years. The ticket itself can stay on the record longer.

Can the DIP remove points I already have?

No. The DIP does not remove points already on your record. When a court orders it and verifies it, the DOR does not add points for that one ticket.

Can a CDL holder use the DIP?

No. RSMo 302.302.5 bars the DIP for anyone who has a CDL or must have one. That rule covers tickets in any vehicle, including a personal car.

What happens to points after reinstatement?

After a point suspension or revocation ends, the DOR lowers your total to 4 points. No clean-time credit builds while the license is suspended or revoked.

Conclusion

Missouri driver license points follow fixed rules: a value for each conviction, three action levels and cuts for clean years. Check your total with the DOR, and read any letter it mails you. If the court on your ticket has ordered the DIP, finish it within 60 days of your conviction date. Take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program online once you have that order.

Sources

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.