Demerit points on your Virginia driving record don’t have to stay there. Virginia gives drivers multiple ways to reduce their point balance and get their record moving in the right direction. Whether you recently got a traffic ticket or have been carrying demerit points for a while, understanding your options puts you in control of your driving record.
This guide covers the three ways to get points off your license in Virginia, explains how the driver improvement course works, and helps you decide when taking the course makes the most strategic sense.
Three Ways to Reduce Demerit Points in Virginia
Virginia’s point system is managed by the DMV, and every licensed driver starts with zero points. You can hold a maximum of +5 safe driving points. When you commit a traffic violation, demerit points are subtracted from your balance. There are three ways to improve your point balance.
1. Complete a Driver Improvement Course (+5 Points)
The fastest and most impactful way to get points off your license in Virginia is to complete a state-approved driver improvement course. When you finish the course, the DMV adds 5 safe driving points to your record. That’s the maximum you can hold, and it’s the only method that adds multiple points at once.
The course is 8 hours long and covers defensive driving techniques, hazard awareness, Virginia traffic laws, and strategies for avoiding future violations. You can take the course voluntarily to improve your point balance, or you may be ordered by a court to complete it as part of a traffic case disposition.
There’s one important restriction: you can only receive the 5-point credit from a driver improvement course once every 24 months. If you completed a course within the past two years and received the point credit, you’ll need to wait before you’re eligible for the credit again.
2. Earn Safe Driving Points Over Time (+1 Point Per Year)
Virginia automatically awards 1 safe driving point for every calendar year you hold a valid Virginia driver’s license without any violations or suspensions. These points accumulate over time, up to the maximum of +5.
This method requires no action beyond driving safely and keeping your license in good standing. However, it’s the slowest way to rebuild your point balance. If you’re sitting at -5 or lower, it could take years to get back to a positive balance through this method alone.
Safe driving points are awarded at the end of each calendar year. If you receive a violation during the year, you won’t earn the safe driving point for that year. Combining this approach with a driver improvement course is often the most effective strategy for getting your record back on track quickly.
3. Wait for Demerit Points to Expire (2 Years)
Every demerit point assigned to your Virginia driving record has an expiration date. Demerit points remain on your record for 2 years from the date of the offense (not the date of conviction or the date you paid the fine). After 2 years, those demerit points are automatically removed by the DMV.
Keep in mind that while the demerit points expire after 2 years, the violation itself stays on your driving record longer, typically 3 to 5 years depending on the offense, and up to 11 years for serious violations like DUI. Insurance companies can see your full record, so even after your demerit points expire, the violation may still affect your premiums.
Waiting for expiration is a passive strategy. If your point total is dangerously low and you are at risk of suspension, waiting alone is not a good option.
How the Driver Improvement Course Works
The Virginia driver improvement course is an 8-hour program approved by the DMV. It is sometimes referred to as a defensive driving course, a traffic school, or a point reduction course. Regardless of the name, the course follows a standardized curriculum and produces the same result: 5 safe driving points added to your record.
What the Course Covers
The 8-hour course covers defensive driving strategies, hazard recognition and collision avoidance, the effects of alcohol and distracted driving, Virginia traffic laws, and how the demerit point system works. It’s an instructional program, not a test of your existing knowledge. At Abba Driving School, we maintain a 100% pass rate. If you attend and participate, you’ll complete the course and receive your certificate.
In-Person Requirement for Drivers Under 20
If you’re under the age of 20, Virginia law requires you to complete the driver improvement course in person. Online courses aren’t an option for younger drivers.
Abba Driving School offers in-person driver improvement classes in Haymarket, VA, with sessions scheduled every two weeks. Our location serves drivers throughout Northern Virginia, including Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas, and Warrenton.
Frequency Limitation
You can take the driver improvement course as often as you want, but the DMV will only award the 5-point credit once every 24 months. You could still take the course within that window for other reasons, such as an insurance discount or a court order, but the points won’t be added to your record a second time.
Points Credit vs. Insurance Discount: You Must Choose One
One detail that trips up many drivers: when you complete the course, you must choose between 5 safe driving points or an insurance discount (typically around 5%, lasting 3 years). You can’t receive both from the same course.
If you’re dealing with demerit points, the 5-point credit is almost always the better choice. Points directly affect your risk of license suspension. If your record is already clean and you just want to save on premiums, the insurance discount may make more sense. Our Virginia demerit points guide explains how these benefits work in more detail.
When Should You Take the Course? Strategic Advice
Think about timing based on your current situation:
Take the Course Now If:
- Your point balance is at 0 or below. You’re in the danger zone. At -12 points, the DMV will send you a warning letter. At -18 points, your license can be suspended. Adding 5 points immediately creates a buffer against further violations.
- You have a court date coming up. Completing the course before your court appearance shows the judge you’re taking your driving record seriously. Some judges reduce fines or amend charges for drivers who have proactively completed a driver improvement course.
- You’ve been ordered by the court to complete the course. If a judge has ordered you to take a court-ordered driver improvement course, you must complete it within the timeframe specified.
- Your license is at risk of suspension. If you’re approaching the -18 point threshold, the 5-point credit from the course could be the difference between keeping your license and losing it.
Consider Waiting If:
- You completed a course within the past 24 months. You won’t receive the point credit again until the 24-month window resets.
- Your point balance is already at +5. The DMV won’t add points beyond +5, so the point credit would have no effect. In this case, the insurance discount is the better choice.
- You have a pending ticket that hasn’t been processed yet. It may be worth waiting so that the 5-point credit offsets the impact of the new violation rather than being applied before it hits your record.
Take Action on Your Driving Record
Demerit points aren’t permanent. Virginia gives you clear tools to improve your situation, and the driver improvement course is the most effective one available.
Abba Driving School offers the Virginia Driver Improvement Course for $100 at our Haymarket, VA location. Classes run every two weeks, the 8-hour program is clear and direct, and you’ll walk out with a certificate that adds 5 safe driving points to your record. We have been serving drivers in Northern Virginia since 2011, and our instructors make the 8 hours as productive and engaging as possible.
If you’re ready to get points off your license, register for the next available class. The sooner you complete the course, the sooner those 5 points are added to your record.