West Virginia Point System
West Virginia uses a point system to track moving violations and trigger administrative actions against drivers who accumulate too many. Points are assessed by the WV DMV after a court conviction or guilty plea; they remain on the driver's record for 24 months from the conviction date and can be reduced by completing an approved Driver Improvement Program. The thresholds work in two stages — a 6-point warning letter and a 12-point automatic suspension.
How points are assigned
Each moving violation in West Virginia carries a fixed number of points. The most common assessments:
- Speeding 1-10 mph over the limit: 3 points.
- Speeding 11-15 mph over the limit: 4 points.
- Speeding 16+ mph over the limit: 5 points.
- Failure to obey a stop sign or traffic signal: 4 points.
- Failure to yield right-of-way: 3 points.
- Improper passing or improper lane change: 4 points.
- Following too closely: 3 points.
- Reckless driving: 6 points.
- DUI (first): 6 points.
- Leaving the scene of an accident: 8 points.
- Driving on a suspended license: 6 points.
- Drag racing: 6 points.
- Failure to stop for a school bus: 4 points.
Equipment violations, parking violations, and most administrative offenses do not carry points.
The 6-point warning
When a West Virginia driver accumulates 6 or more points, the WV DMV mails a warning letter. The letter is informational — no action is taken yet — but it puts the driver on notice that further violations will trigger a suspension. The warning letter typically encourages the driver to enroll in an approved Driver Improvement Program to reduce the point balance before any suspension threshold is reached.
The 12-point suspension
When a West Virginia driver accumulates 12 or more points, the WV DMV initiates an administrative license suspension. The standard first suspension is 30 days; subsequent suspensions for repeated point thresholds are longer. Before the suspension takes effect, the WV DMV mails a notice of suspension giving the driver an opportunity to request a hearing.
How points roll off
Points are assessed against the conviction date and remain on the driver's record for 24 months. After 24 months, the points roll off the record automatically — but the conviction itself remains on the underlying driving history and can still be relevant to insurance pricing, employer background checks, and DUI-priors counting under the 10-year DUI lookback. The roll-off is points only, not the conviction. See driving records for how the record displays both.
Driver Improvement Program
West Virginia's Driver Improvement Program is a state-approved course (typically 4-6 hours, classroom or online) that teaches defensive driving and traffic-law basics. Completing the course can:
- Remove up to 3 points from a driver's record once every 24 months.
- Reduce the length of a points-based suspension when ordered by the WV DMV.
- Mitigate insurance premium increases at the driver's renewal.
The program is offered by approved providers across West Virginia and online; the cost is typically $30-$50. Completion is reported electronically to the WV DMV.
Hearings and appeals
Before any suspension based on points, the WV DMV must give the driver written notice and an opportunity to request an administrative hearing before the WV Office of Administrative Hearings. The driver must request the hearing in writing within 30 days of the notice. The hearing is held before an administrative law judge, who can:
- Confirm the suspension as proposed.
- Reduce the suspension length.
- Suspend the suspension pending completion of a Driver Improvement Program.
- Vacate the suspension if procedural errors are shown.
See suspended license for the full reinstatement framework.
Under-21 drivers
West Virginia drivers under 21 face the same point thresholds as adults but with stricter consequences for moving violations during the Level 1 permit and Level 2 intermediate license periods. Any moving-violation conviction during the Level 2 period can extend the 12-month clean-record clock toward Level 3. See Level 2 Intermediate License for the under-18 rules.
Pulling your point balance
The current point balance and conviction history are visible on a West Virginia driver record. The standard 3-year MVR shows current point balance and all points assessed in the past 3 years. Pulling the record once a year is a reasonable habit for any driver close to a threshold, especially after a recent moving violation. See also traffic tickets for how a citation flows from court conviction to point assessment.