Does Texas do points on driver’s licenses? Texas is one of the majority of states that employ point systems to indicate when a driver has been found guilty of a traffic violation. In a nutshell, drivers should avoid doing anything that would add points to their licenses. Furthermore, auto insurance becomes more expensive if you have multiple tickets and car accidents.
In Texas, there is a rather simple points system. Moving infractions are worth two points, and those that cause an accident are worth three points. The Texas Driver Responsibility Law states that if a driver receives six or more points in a three-year period, they must start paying surcharges.
1. You Need to Keep Track of the Points on Your License
Keeping track is essential since accumulating points could result in your license being suspended. The number of points added depends on how serious the offense was. If you are convicted of seven or more moving violations in Texas during a 24-month period, your license will probably be suspended.
2. Not All Tickets or Offenses Give You Points
Thankfully, lesser violations don’t add points to your license. This includes parking tickets or a “fix-it ticket” for a broken tail light. Additionally, these are often “correctable violations,” meaning you can keep them off your record by fixing the problem and getting proof of correction signed by an authorized person, such as a DMV clerk, police officer, or county court clerk.
3. Points Stay On Your Record for a Long Time
Points on your driving record can result in a suspension of your license for anywhere between two and three years for minor offenses and up to ten years for major offenses like driving under the influence. A “chargeable period” is the amount of time that a moving violation or accident affects your car insurance rate. After that time, it shouldn’t affect your rate anymore.
4. Car Insurers Don’t Use the DMV’s Point System.
While the DMV has a license point system in place, car insurance companies don’t use them. Each company uses its proprietary point systems to determine how much to raise your insurance premium depending on your traffic violation or ticket. If you have a great company and policy, they may not raise it at all!
Protect Yourself With Auto Insurance
If you find yourself in a fender bender or with a speeding ticket or two on your record, your mistakes can end up counting against you. The good news is that these offenses won’t affect you forever.
Tickets and accidents can lead to points on your license and a rise in your auto insurance premiums. But after a certain number of years, insurance companies can’t use these offenses against you anymore. And remember, if you do get points, your insurance premium does not have to rise astronomically.
If you have questions about this, like wondering how the point on your driver’s license will affect your car insurance, reach out to Pronto Insurance and ask!
