North Carolina Drivers License & Insurance Points Information
If the driver is convicted of certain motor vehicle violations in North Carolina, driver’s license points are placed against their driving record by the North Carolina DMV.
If the driver accumulates seven points, they may be assigned to a Driver Improvement Clinic. The clinic fee is $50. Upon completion of the clinic, three points are then deducted from their driving record.
If the driver accumulates as many as 12 points within a three-year period, their license may be suspended.
Accumulating eight points within this three-year period following the reinstatement of the license can also result in a license suspension.
If the driver’s license is suspended by the point system, it may be taken for:
- 60 days for the first suspension
- 6 months for the second suspension
- 12 months for the third suspension
When the driving privilege is reinstated, all previous driver’s license points are cancelled.
Quick View
Drivers License Points Guide
Non Commercial Vehicle
| Point Value | Conviction |
|---|---|
| 5 | Passing a stopped school bus loading or unloading children |
| 4 | Reckless driving |
| 4 | Hit and run, property damage only |
| 4 | Following too closely |
| 4 | Driving on wrong side of road |
| 4 | Illegal passing |
| 3 | Running through stop sign |
| 3 | Speeding more than 55 mph |
| 3 | Speeding through school zone |
| 3 | Failure to yield right of way |
| 3 | No driver's license or license expired more than one year |
| 3 | Running through red light |
| 3 | Failure to stop for siren |
| 3 | Speeding through safety zone |
| 3 | Failure to report accident where such report is required |
| 3 | No liability insurance |
| 2 | All other moving violations |
| 1 | Littering involving a motor vehicle |
Drivers License Points Guide
Commercial Vehicle
| Point Value | Conviction |
|---|---|
| 8 | Passing a stopped school bus loading or unloading children |
| 6 | Rail-highway crossing violation |
| 5 | Reckless driving |
| 5 | Hit and run, property damage only |
| 5 | Following too closely |
| 5 | Driving on wrong side of road |
| 5 | Illegal passing |
| 4 | Running through stop sign |
| 4 | Speeding more than 55 mph |
| 4 | Speeding through school zone |
| 4 | Failure to yield right of way |
| 4 | No driver's license or license expired more than one year |
| 4 | Running through red light |
| 4 | Failure to stop for siren |
| 4 | Speeding through safety zone |
| 4 | Failure to report accident where such report is required |
| 4 | No liability insurance |
| 4 | Possessing alcoholic beverage in passenger area |
| 3 | All other moving violations |
| 1 | Littering involving a motor vehicle |
Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP)
A safe driver insurance plan (SDIP) represents an attempt to reflect in automobile insurance rating the proposition that, in the aggregate, drivers who have violated the motor vehicle laws, or who have caused one or more accidents in the past, are more likely to be involved in automobile accidents in the future.
The North Carolina SDIP also applies to motorcycles and motorized scooters. N.C. G.S. 58-36-65 and N.C. G.S. 58-36-75 provides the statutory basis for the SDIP.
Keep in mind the points are assessed against a policy based upon the points on the named insureds, listed drivers, and drivers in the households. As to listed drivers and drivers in the household, if their points have already been used in surcharging the premium on another policy, there will be no further surcharged on any other policy.
Upon conviction of certain traffic offenses, insurance points are assigned to a driver; and based upon the number of points, the total premium for all coverages, except UM/UIM, would be surcharged.
Only the driver convicted of the traffic offense or found at fault in an accident is given points (unless the operator is a listed driver on the owner’s policy; i.e. son on father’s policy).
It is important to know that all coverages are surcharged, not just liability coverages.
North Carolina Insurance Points
| Point Value | Conviction |
|---|---|
| 12 | Manslaughter or negligent homicide |
| 12 | Pre-arranged highway racing or lending a car for such purpose |
| 12 | Driving with a BAC of .08% or more |
| 12 | Driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC of .04% or more |
| 12 | Hit and run driving involving bodily injury or death |
| 12 | Transporting illegal intoxicating liquor |
| 10 | Highway racing or lending a vehicle for such purpose, where the race is not pre-arranged |
| 10 | Speeding to elude arrest (at any speed) |
| 8 | Driving during a period of revocation or suspension of license or registration |
| 4 | Hit and run driving involving property damage only |
| 4 | Reckless driving |
| 4 | Passing a stopped school bus while it displayed warning signs |
| 4 | Speeding in excess of 75 mph where posted is less than 70 mph |
| 4 | Speeding in excess of 80 mph where posted speed is 70 mph or greater |
| 4 | Driving after consuming alcohol or drugs where driver is less than 21 years of age |
| 2 | Illegal passing |
| 2 | Following too closely |
| 2 | Driving on wrong side of road |
| 2 | Speeding more than 10 mph over posted speed limit, where driver's speed was in excess of 55 mph but less than 75 mph |
| 2 | Speeding 10 mph or less in a posted speed zone of 55 mph or greater * |
| * These points will not apply if driver has had no other moving traffic violations during the experience period (preceding three years). If driver enjoys this waiver, and then is convicted on another moving violation within 3 years, he then gets the points both from the new conviction and the waived conviction. This waiver will not apply to speeding in a school zone. A PJC will not count as a conviction and void this waiver. | |
| 2 | Speeding 10 mph or less where the posted speed is less than 55 mph ** |
| ** These points will not apply if driver has had no other moving traffic violations during the experience period (preceding three years). If driver enjoys this waiver, and then is convicted on another moving violation within 3 years, he then gets the points both from the new conviction and the waived conviction. This waiver will not apply to speeding in a school zone. A PJC will not count as a conviction and void this waiver. | |
| 2 | Any other conviction of a moving violation *** |
| *** Improper brakes is a moving violation and will generate 1 point |
North Carolina Insurance Points for Accidents
| Point Value | Type of Accident |
|---|---|
| 3 | Major: At-fault accident causing $2500 or greater in property damage. At-fault accident causes in excess of $1500 in bodily injury |
| 2 | Intermediate: At-fault accident causing property damage only between $1500 and $2500 |
| 1 | Minor: At-fault accident causing property damage of $1500 or less or bodily injury of less than $1500 |
There is a waiver of points for “minor” accidents where there is only property damage, no conviction of a moving traffic offense, and no licensed operators in the insured household has had any at-fault accidents in the previous three years. The waiver will not operate if there is any bodily injury.
If an incident generates both accident points and conviction points, only the higher total of points between the accident and the conviction(s) arising out of the accident will apply. The experience period defined as the three years immediately preceding the date of application or the preparation of the renewal. Insurance points will be applied for THREE POLICY YEARS.
Surcharges Based on Number of Insurance Points
| Points | % Surcharge |
|---|---|
| 1 | 25% |
| 2 | 45% |
| 3 | 65% |
| 4 | 90% |
| 5 | 120% |
| 6 | 150% |
| 7 | 180% |
| 8 | 220% |
| 9 | 260% |
| 10 | 300% |
| 11 | 350% |
| 12 | 400% |
