Vermont DMV Point System

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Vermont assigns DMV points to drivers convicted of moving violations under a system administered by the Vermont DMV's Driver Improvement Office. Points are tracked over a rolling 24-month window; reach 10 and you receive a warning letter, reach 20 and your license is subject to suspension.

How Vermont points are assigned

Common Vermont point values:

2 points — speeding 1-10 mph over the limit, failure to use a turn signal, failure to obey a traffic device, expired registration.
3 points — speeding 11-20 mph over, following too closely, improper passing, failure to yield right of way.
4 points — speeding 21-30 mph over, passing a stopped school bus, failure to stop for emergency vehicle.
5 points — speeding more than 30 mph over the limit, careless and negligent operation.
6 points — reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.
8 points — DUI conviction, leaving the scene of an accident with injury.
10 points — vehicular manslaughter, certain commercial-vehicle disqualifying violations.

The 10-point warning

When a Vermont driver accumulates 10 points within any 24-month period, the DMV mails a written warning letter to the address on file. The letter explains how many points are on the record, which convictions caused them, and how soon the driver risks suspension. Drivers can request a copy of their full Vermont driving record to see the underlying data.

The 20-point suspension

At 20 points in a 24-month window, the Vermont DMV initiates a license suspension. Standard durations:

10 days — first 20-point suspension.
30 days — second 20-point suspension.
90 days — third or subsequent.

Reaching 30 points in 24 months brings a longer suspension and a potential request for reexamination. The DMV reviews each case and may extend or shorten the standard period based on driving history and any aggravating circumstances.

How points clear

Vermont points fall off the active count 2 years after the conviction date. The conviction itself remains on the underlying driving record longer — typically 3 to 5 years for insurance and employment purposes — but the points stop being computed against the suspension thresholds after 24 months. There is currently no formal "point reduction course" in Vermont that lets a driver remove points by attending traffic school; the only way to clear points is to wait out the 2-year window.

How to check your point total

Order a Vermont driving record using form TA-VL-021 — either online through myDMV, by mail, or in person at any branch. The record itemizes each conviction, its point value, the conviction date, and the rolling 24-month total. Insurers and employers see the same data when they order an MVR with your authorization. See Vermont driving records.

Out-of-state convictions

Vermont participates in the Driver License Compact (DLC), so out-of-state moving-violation convictions are reported back to the Vermont DMV and counted against your record. Most reciprocal states report under similar standards, though minor speeding tickets in some states get rounded up or down depending on local conventions. If a reciprocal conviction looks wrong, dispute it with the DMV's Driver Improvement Office — provide the originating state's certified court abstract.

Junior Operator and CDL drivers

Vermont applies extra scrutiny to Junior Operators: any moving-violation conviction during the Junior Operator period can trigger DMV action even before reaching 10 points. CDL holders face federal disqualifying-offense rules that can suspend their CDL for 60 days, 120 days, or longer regardless of state-level point totals — the federal rules apply on top of Vermont's point system.

Insurance impact

Vermont insurers generally underwrite using a 3 to 5-year lookback on convictions and at-fault accidents, regardless of whether the points have rolled off the DMV's active count. A single major conviction (DUI, reckless, leaving the scene) can move a driver into a non-standard insurance market for several years. See Vermont car insurance for how the market handles drivers with elevated point totals.

What to do if you're approaching 20 points

If your record is over 10 points and growing, the simplest fix is to drive carefully and let the 24-month window age out the older convictions. If a recent ticket is in dispute, contesting it before conviction (rather than paying it off) avoids the points entirely — see Vermont traffic tickets for the contest process at the Judicial Bureau.