You can get points on your license for these offenses in NC. Will your insurance go up?
In North Carolina, tickets for common offenses such as speeding and reckless driving can result in points on your driving record.
And if you accumulate a certain number of points, your driving privileges could be suspended.
But what happens if you are involved in an accident? Will you get points on your driving record, even if you weren’t at fault? How much will your auto insurance rates go up?
North Carolina uses two point systems: one for driving records, and another to regulate how much your insurance rates rise after a ticket or accident.
Here’s what you need to know about the state’s point systems:
What can cause points on your NC driver’s license?
According to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, you can get points on your driving record if you are convicted of certain motor vehicle violations.
Points are issued for the following offenses, according to the NCDMV driver handbook:
Passing a stopped school bus: 5
Aggressive driving: 5
Reckless driving: 4
Hit and run, property damage only: 4
Following too closely: 4
Driving on the wrong side of the road: 4
Illegal passing: 4
Failure to yield right of way to pedestrians: 4
Failure to yield right of way to motorcycle: 4
Running through a stop sign: 3
Speeding in excess of 55 mph: 3
Failure to yield right of way: 3
Running through a red light: 3
No driver license or expired for more than one year: 3
Failure to stop for a siren: 3
Driving through a safety zone: 3
No liability insurance: 3
Failure to report an accident: 3
Speeding in a school zone: 3
Failure to properly restrain a child: 2
All other moving violations: 2
Littering involving a motor vehicle: 1
Your license can be suspended if you accumulate 12 points within a three-year period, or eight points in the three years following a license reinstatement, NCDMV says.
If your license is suspended, it may be taken for 60 days for the first suspension, six months for the second and 12 months for the third, according to the driver handbook.
However, when your driving privileges are reinstated, all previous points are canceled.
Do driver’s license points affect insurance rates in NC?
Insurance companies use a different point system called the Safe Driver Incentive Plan, “created by state law to give drivers a financial incentive to practice safe driving habits,” according to the N.C. Department of Insurance.
The plan regulates how much insurance companies can raise your rates based on the type of moving violation or at-fault accident you are involved in.
For example, if you cause an accident that results in damages of $2,300 or less, you would get one SDIP point and insurance companies can raise your rates by 40%.
Convictions of driving while impaired or hit-and-runs that result in bodily injury or death can lead to 12 SDIP points and rate increases of 340%.
Is there a way to remove points from your NC driving record?
Drivers can request to attend driver improvement clinics if they accumulate seven points on their driving record, according to NCDMV.
After completion of the course, three points are deducted from the driving record.
NCDMV sends a letter to any individual who might qualify for a driver improvement clinic. Drivers must then apply for a hearing and pay any associated fees. NCDMV will then assign a hearing date.
Where can I see how many points I have on my NC driving record?
North Carolina driver’s license holders can view record information by logging into their MyDMV accounts at edmv.ncdot.gov.
To log in, you’ll need to enter your driver’s license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number and date of birth.
Once you log in, the number of points associated with your driving record will be displayed at the bottom of the page, under “Your Driving Status.”
This story was originally published November 27, 2023 at 11:08 AM with the headline "You can get points on your license for these offenses in NC. Will your insurance go up?."
