Utah Driver License Point System

Utah uses a numerical point system that's lighter than most states' on a per-violation basis but uses higher overall thresholds. The Driver License Division assigns a point value to each moving violation conviction and tracks the running total over a 3-year window. When the total crosses 200 points in 3 years, the DLD issues a notice and schedules a mandatory administrative hearing.

How points are assigned

Utah's per-violation point values come from Utah Administrative Code R708-3 and are higher per offense than the small 1-3 point values used in California or New York. The maximum points for any single conviction is 80 points, reserved for the most serious moving violations. Common violations and their approximate point values:

• Speeding 1-10 mph over the limit: 35 points.
• Speeding 11-20 mph over: 55 points.
• Speeding 21+ mph over: 75 points.
• Running a red light or stop sign: 50 points.
• Failure to yield right of way: 60 points.
• Improper lane change or following too closely: 60 points.
• Reckless driving: 80 points.
• Negligent collision involving injury: 80 points.
• Failure to stop for a school bus: 60 points.
• Driving the wrong way on a one-way street: 70 points.

Equipment violations, parking tickets, registration violations, and most non-moving offenses do not carry points. DUI convictions are tracked separately as administrative actions rather than as point accumulations — see Utah DUI laws.

The 200-point threshold for adults

When an adult driver accumulates 200 or more points within 3 years, the DLD sends written notice and schedules a mandatory hearing. At the hearing, the driver can challenge the point calculation, present mitigating evidence, and propose a path forward. Possible outcomes:

• Probation with no immediate suspension, conditional on a clean record going forward.
• Suspension of 3 months for first-time hearings, longer for repeat hearings.
• Required defensive driving course or driver-improvement training as a condition of continued driving.
• Restricted license for work or school driving only.

The 70-point threshold for under-21 drivers

Drivers under 21 face a much lower threshold under Utah's graduated framework. The DLD treats accumulation by a teen driver as a sign of risk and acts quickly:

• 70 or more points in 3 years triggers a written warning and possible parent-teen conference.
• 140 or more points triggers a hearing similar to the adult 200-point hearing.
• Teen drivers convicted of any reckless driving lose their intermediate license outright until the conviction's review period ends.

Reducing points

Two ways to reduce the point total before it crosses a threshold:

• Defensive driving course (Driver Improvement) — voluntarily completing a DLD-approved course removes 50 points from the total. The credit can be used once every 3 years.
• Time — points roll off the active count 3 years after the offense date. Points are halved at 18 months from the offense for the purpose of the running total used at hearings.

The defensive driving option is the fastest practical reduction. Most courses run 8 hours and can be completed online with a Utah-approved provider. The completion certificate is filed electronically with the DLD, and the 50-point reduction is reflected on the next abstract within a week.

How points appear on the abstract

Both the conviction and its assigned point value appear on the Utah driving record abstract. The 3-year non-certified record shows the active point total and the running total of the past 3 years. The complete record retains conviction history beyond 3 years, but old convictions no longer count toward the active threshold.

Insurance impact

Utah insurers do not pull DLD point totals directly — they pull the underlying conviction history and apply their own internal rating system. As a result, the 50-point reduction from a defensive driving course does not retroactively erase a premium increase tied to a specific conviction. The course is most useful for keeping the DLD point total below the 200-point hearing threshold; insurance relief comes from the conviction simply rolling off the 3-year window.

If you receive a hearing notice

The DLD's hearing notice arrives by mail with a date typically 2-4 weeks out. Drivers can appear in person, request a written submission, or hire counsel to appear. Bring a current abstract, court dispositions for any disputed convictions, and proof of any defensive driving completion not yet credited. The hearing officer's decision is mailed within 30 days; license actions take effect on the date stated in the decision.