Points On License and Insurance​ in North Carolina

North Carolina has two different point systems for drivers - license points and insurance points. Both of these are commonly referred to as points on license and insurance​, and they can carry serious consequences for drivers. Understanding the difference between the two is essential if you’ve received a traffic citation or been involved in a moving violation.

License points are assessed by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you accumulate too many, you could face license suspension, mandatory driving courses, or increased scrutiny from law enforcement. Points can be added for offenses such as speeding, running a red light, reckless driving, or driving while impaired. These points stay on your driving record for three years and can impact your legal ability to drive.

Insurance points, on the other hand, are imposed by insurance companies based on the North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP). These points affect how much you pay for auto insurance. Even a single violation can raise your premiums significantly.

Understanding how points on license and insurance​ are calculated and applied is critical if you’ve been cited for a traffic violation. Even a seemingly minor offense can impact your driving record and lead to increased insurance premiums or a suspended license.

Driver License Points Guide: Non Commercial Vehicle

Point Value Conviction
5 Passing a stopped school bus
5 Aggressive driving
4 Reckless driving
4 Hit and run, property damage only
4 Following too closely
4 Driving on wrong side of road
4 Illegal passing
4 Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian
4 Failure to yield right of way to bicycle, motor scooter, or motorcycle
3 Running through stop sign
3 Speeding in excess of 55 mph
3 Failure to yield right of way
3 Running through red light
3 No driver's license or license expired more than one year
3 Failure to stop for siren
3 Driving through safety zone
3 No liability insurance
3 Failure to report accident where such report is required
3 Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted school zone speed limit
2 Failure to properly restrain a child in a restraint or seat belt
2 All other moving violations
1 Littering when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle

Driver License Points Guide: Commercial Vehicle

Point Value Conviction
8 Passing stopped school bus
6 Rail-highway crossing violation
6 Careless and reckless driving in violation of G.S. 20-140(f)
6 Speeding more than 15 miles over the limit or permit limit
6 Aggressive Driving
5 Reckless driving
5 Hit and run, property damage only
5 Following too closely
5 Driving on wrong side of road
5 Illegal passing
5 Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian
5 Failure to yield right of way to bicycle, motor scooter, or motorcycle
4 Running through stop sign
4 Speeding in excess of 55 miles per hour
4 Failure to yield right of way
4 Running through red light
4 No driver license or license expired more than one year
4 Failure to stop for siren
4 Driving through safety zone
4 Failure to report accident where such report is required
4 No liability insurance
4 Failure to report accident where such report is required
4 Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted school zone speed limit
4 Possessing alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a commercial motor vehicle
3 All other moving violations
1 Littering when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle

Insurance Points

Point Value Conviction Percent Insurance Increase
12 Transporting illegal intoxicating liquor for sale 340%
12 Driving While Impaired 340%
12 Driving a commercial vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of .04 or more 340%
12 Driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or more 340%
12 Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury or death
12 Prearranged highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for prearranged highway racing 340%
12 Manslaughter or negligent homicide 340%
10 Speeding to elude arrest 260%
10 Highway racing or lending a motor vehicle for highway racing 260%
8 Aggressive driving 200%
8 Driving during revocation or suspension of license or registration 200%
4 Driving by a person less than age 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs 90%
4 Speeding in excess of 80 mph where the speed limit is 70 mph or higher 90%
4 Speeding in excess of 75 mph where the speed limit is less than 70 mph 90%
4 Passing a stopped school bus 90%
4 Hit-and -run resulting in property damage only 90%
4 Reckless driving 90%
2 Speeding 10 mph or less over the speed limit in a speed zone of 55 mph or higher 55%
2 Speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit at a total speed of more than 55 mph and less than 76 mph 55%
2 Driving on wrong side of road 55%
2 Following too closely 55%
2 Illegal passing 55%
1 Speeding 10 mph or less over a speed limit under 55 mph 40%
1 All other moving violations 40%

No insurance points are assessed for speeding 10 mph or less over the posted speed limit, provided that it was not in a school zone and that there is no other conviction for a moving violation in the five year experience period.

No insurance points are assessed for a single Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC), but a second PJC in a household within 5 years may cause points to be assessed for both convictions.

Surcharges Based on Number of Points

Points % Surcharge
1 40%
2 55%
3 70%
4 90%
8 200%
10 260%
12 340%