Florida offers SunPass, an electronic tolling system using a transponder attached to your car to read your account information as you pass through tolls.

How Drivers License Points Work in the State of Texas


Whether you call them driver's license points, demerit points, or DMV points, they aren’t a good thing for drivers. Some states, now excluding Texas, use a point-based system to keep track of when a driver gets convicted of a traffic violation. Read this guide, and you'll be an expert on how license points used to work in Texas — and the new system Texas uses.

Update to the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP)

On September 1, 2019, Texas repealed the DRPand all of its related license suspensions. This means both the point system and the extra surcharges no longer exist. Previously, if you got a ticket, you had to pay an additional surcharge based on how many points you received. So if you owed any money due to surcharges or had a license suspended because of not paying surcharges, you don't have to worry. 

Penalties for Moving Violations

Texas now has a fine-based system for traffic violations. The system isn't standard across the state — it varies from city to county. For example, in Harris County, fines range from $75 for not updating your vehicle registration to $1,080 for passing a stopped school bus. But on average, a ticket will cost you around $150. Check out your local city or county's website for a better look at what you would have to pay for a ticket.

Now that you know the potential consequences of committing a traffic violation, here are some of the infractions you'll get fined for:

Consequences of Too Many Violations

Unfortunately, if you rack up too many violations, you're at risk of your license getting suspended. If you commit more than four moving violations in one year or more than seven in two years, there's a good chance you'll have your license suspended. Insurance agencies also check the violations on your record when they set your monthly fees. The more violations you have, the more you should expect to pay.

Another thing to worry about is if you have a commercial driver's license in Texas. If you have a CDL and commit more than two moving violations in three years your CDL gets suspended for 60 days. If you commit three in three years, your license gets suspended for 120 days. You can receive longer suspensions for alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident, and illegal railroad crossings.

How to Check Points on a License in Texas

In Texas, your driving history is quite easy to check on. All you have to do is go to the Texas Department of Public Services website and use the Online Driver Record Request System. Depending on how detailed a driving record you want, it costs anywhere between $6.50 and $22. You will receive your record immediately after paying by either email or a PDF download. Records are no longer available by mail. 

Avoid Traffic Violations in Texas

Now that you know how the point system used to work in Texas, learn how to avoid traffic violations. One way to prevent yourself from committing a moving violation is by taking a defensive driving course on Aceable.com. Our classes will teach you the rules of the road so you won't make any traffic mistakes. Complete a defensive driving course entirely online and at your own pace through Aceable. 

Need a traffic ticket dismissed? Get your defensive driving course taken care of online today!

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Updated 1/19/23