Nebraska DMV Point System

Nebraska tracks moving-violation convictions through a numerical point system administered by the Nebraska DMV. Once a driver accumulates 12 or more points within a 24-month period, the DMV automatically suspends the driver's license for six months. Convictions stay visible on the driver record longer than the points themselves count toward suspension, but only the active 24-month window drives the suspension math.

How points are assigned

Nebraska assigns points by violation type:

• 1 point — speeding 5 mph or less over the limit; failure to obey signal device for less serious violations.
• 2 points — speeding 6-10 mph over the limit; following too closely; improper lane change.
• 3 points — speeding 11-35 mph over the limit; failure to yield; running a red light or stop sign; improper passing; failure to obey traffic control device.
• 4 points — speeding more than 35 mph over the limit; reckless driving; passing a stopped school bus.
• 5 points — willful reckless driving; failing to render aid after an accident.
• 6 points — DUI conviction; leaving the scene of an accident with property damage; perjury during a Nebraska DMV hearing; driving on a suspended license.

Equipment violations — broken taillight, expired registration, no insurance — do not carry points but appear on the record and can result in fines and possible registration consequences.

The 12-point / 24-month suspension

The Nebraska DMV mails a notice when a driver has accumulated 12 or more points within any 24-month period. The license suspension is automatic and lasts six months from the date of the notice. The driver may request a hearing within 10 days of the notice if they believe the point total is incorrect or wish to argue the underlying convictions, but the hearing is narrow in scope — it does not relitigate the original tickets.

How points fall off

Each conviction's points stay in the active window for 24 months from the conviction date. After 24 months, the points fall out of the active count for suspension purposes, even though the conviction itself stays on the abstract for many years. A driver near the 12-point threshold can sometimes wait out a single conviction to drop below 12 active points if no new violations arrive.

Driver-improvement course

A Nebraska driver may complete an approved defensive-driving course once every 5 years to reduce points by 2. The course is an 8-hour classroom or online program offered by several state-approved providers. The reduction applies to the active 24-month window only and cannot reduce a record below zero. Drivers under suspension cannot use the course to shorten the suspension; the course must be taken before the suspension is imposed.

Provisional drivers and points

Drivers under 18 holding a Provisional Operator's Permit are subject to a stricter rule: any conviction that would carry 3 or more points triggers a mandatory point-reduction course; a second points-bearing conviction within 12 months suspends the permit until age 17. See Nebraska teen licensing for the full provisional rules.

Out-of-state convictions

Nebraska is a member of the Driver License Compact (DLC). Convictions for moving violations issued in other DLC member states are reported back to Nebraska and added to the driver's Nebraska record using the closest equivalent point value. Common pairings: a 15-mph-over speeding ticket from Iowa or Colorado typically converts to the Nebraska 3-point value.

Insurance impact

Insurers pull a 3-year or 5-year abstract and price each conviction against their own surcharge schedules. A single 3-point violation often produces a noticeable premium increase at the next renewal, while a 6-point DUI conviction or accumulation toward suspension can move a driver into a high-risk pool. SR-22 filings are typically required for major-violation reinstatements.

How to check your point total

Order a 5-year Nebraska driving record through the DMV portal. Each conviction line shows the date, violation, and points assigned. Sum the points for convictions within the most recent 24 months to compute the active total. The Nebraska DMV's online portal also lists your current active point count once you sign in with a Nebraska driver's license number.