Arkansas Driving Points System for Teen and New Drivers
How many points does a ticket give in Arkansas, and when do you lose your license?
Each moving violation in Arkansas adds 3 to 8 points, by how serious it is. When a ticket puts you at 10 points, the DFA mails you a warning letter. At 14 or more points, a hearing is set automatically, and the result can include probation or a suspension. If you miss the hearing, your license is suspended automatically.
Where the Arkansas points rules come from
The point range, the 10-point warning and the 14-point hearing come from the Driver Improvements page of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) Office of Driver Services. The points for each ticket come from the DFA violations and points table. The clean-record rules for teen drivers come from Act 928 of 2025, and the teen phone rules from Act 394 of 2009. The age waiver and underage alcohol rules come from the DFA age waiver and underage offenses pages and the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide (October 2026). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.
Arkansas points for common tickets
| Ticket | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding | 3 |
| Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit | 5 |
| Failure to obey a stop sign or a traffic signal | 3 |
| Failure to yield the right of way | 3 |
| Following too closely | 3 |
| Careless driving | 3 |
| Passing a school bus that shows a warning not to pass | 8 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
What happens at 10 and 14 points in Arkansas
Clean record needed before the next Arkansas license
| Next license | Time free of a serious accident and a serious traffic violation conviction |
|---|---|
| Learner's license | Last 6 months |
| Intermediate license | Last 6 months |
| Regular license, when you hold an intermediate license | Last 12 months |
Can a ticket delay your intermediate or regular license?
Yes. Under Act 928 of 2025, your driving record is checked before you get a learner's or intermediate license, and again before an intermediate driver gets a regular license. A serious traffic violation conviction or a serious accident in that time can push back your next step. The same law lets the DFA issue an intermediate license to drivers 16 or older, for up to 2 years. If you are 18 or older, ask the DFA which license you get. The guide to the Arkansas intermediate license explains each stage.
What a ticket does to an Arkansas age waiver
An age waiver (hardship license) lets the DFA license a driver under 16 who shows a real need. To apply, you cannot have any at-fault accident, traffic violation or suspension, in Arkansas or in another state. After you get the waiver, one moving traffic conviction, any breach of the waiver limits or one at-fault accident revokes it, and the DFA considers no other waiver. The guide to the Arkansas hardship license age waiver lists the steps to apply.
Phone rules for Arkansas teen drivers
- Under the law, a driver with a learner's or intermediate license must not use a cell phone or another interactive wireless device while driving, except for an emergency.
- Under 18, hands-free use is not allowed either. The practice question on phone use under 18 checks this rule.
- Texting while driving is not allowed at any age.
- On the DFA table, texting while driving is 0 points, and a cell phone warning for a minor is 0 points.
Underage DUI suspensions in Arkansas
- If you are under 21, you can be arrested for underage driving under the influence at an alcohol concentration of 0.02 percent in breath or blood. The practice question on the underage alcohol limit checks it.
- First underage DUI, BUI (boating) or refused test: a 90-day suspension.
- Second offense: a 1-year suspension.
- Third offense: a 3-year revocation, or until age 21 if that is longer.
Key takeaways
- Each moving violation adds 3 to 8 points. At 10 points the DFA mails a warning letter, and at 14 or more points it sets a hearing.
- If you miss the hearing, your license is suspended automatically.
- You need 6 months free of a serious accident and a serious traffic violation conviction before a learner's or intermediate license, and 12 months before a regular license.
- One moving conviction revokes an age waiver, and a first underage DUI means a 90-day suspension.
- Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Arkansas Class D practice test.
Arkansas driving points: common questions
How many points is a speeding ticket in Arkansas?
On the DFA points table, a speeding conviction is 3 points, and speeding 15 mph or more over the limit is 5 points. For speeding, Arkansas uses only three codes of that table: S15, S92 and S93. Speeding is a moving violation, so these points count toward the 10-point warning letter and the 14-point hearing.
How do I get my license back after an underage DUI in Arkansas?
Finish a state-sanctioned drug and alcohol education or treatment program, and attend a Victim Impact Panel class. Send the completion certificates to Driver Control. Then pay the $25 reinstatement fee at a state Revenue Office, by mail or online at mydmv.arkansas.gov. If your license status is Revoked, you must also pass all phases of the Arkansas driver's license exam.
Can I get a restricted permit during an underage DUI suspension in Arkansas?
Possibly. After an underage DUI, BUI or refused test, the DFA can issue a Restricted Driving Permit for a period equal to the length of the suspension. A Driver Control Hearing Officer decides if you are eligible. Ask Driver Control about the permit when you start the reinstatement steps.
How long is a license suspension for minor in possession of alcohol in Arkansas?
A minor in possession or misrepresentation of ID (alcohol) suspension is 60 days for a first offense, 120 days for a second and 1 year for a third. For a person under 18, the court must order the suspension. Before reinstatement, you complete a state-sanctioned drug and alcohol education or treatment program and pay a $100 reinstatement fee.
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