Driving Tests

Kentucky Points for Teen Drivers: 7 Points, Phone Ban and Delays

informational·how to guide·Published September 2, 2026

How many points can a Kentucky driver under 18 get before a suspension?

A Kentucky driver under 18 who gets 7 or more penalty points in 2 years can have the driving privilege suspended or put on probation. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet sends a warning letter at 4 or more points. Points expire 2 years after the conviction date. Drivers 18 and older can face a suspension at 12 points.

Where these Kentucky point rules come from

The points, the warning letters, the suspension lengths and the probation rules come from 601 KAR 13:025, the Kentucky point regulation. The 180 day delays and the "more than six points" rule for minors come from KRS 186.450, KRS 186.452 and KRS 186.454. The phone ban, the fines and the school bus rule come from KRS 189.292, 189.294, 189.370 and 189.990 and from 2026 House Bill 7. The point expiry, the alcohol limit and State Traffic School come from the Kentucky Driver Manual of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), updated July 23, 2026. The facts are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (drive.ky.gov) and the Kentucky State Police before you drive.

The 7 point limit for Kentucky drivers under 18

Kentucky gives penalty points for a conviction of a moving traffic offense on the list of the point regulation. A person under 18 who gets 7 or more points within 2 years can have the driving privilege suspended or put on probation by the cabinet. The law says "more than six points", which is the same limit.

A suspension is not automatic: the rule says "may". Before any suspension, the driver gets a chance to meet a hearing officer at an informal hearing. The hearing officer can order a suspension or a probation period.

Points for common Kentucky tickets

Points for common Kentucky tickets
Violation	Points under 601 KAR 13:025
Speeding 15 mph or less over the limit	3
Speeding 16 to 25 mph over the limit	6
Failure to stop for a school or church bus	6 (the law says a minimum of 6)
Reckless driving	4
Following too closely	4
Failure to stop at a signal, railroad crossing or stop sign	3
Texting while driving	3
Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, or racing	Serious violation: an informal hearing, then a 90 day suspension or probation may follow

How long points count, with an example

Points expire 2 years from the date of conviction, and the limit counts only the points inside a 2 year period. The conviction entry stays on the driver record for 5 years from the conviction date.

Two tickets can reach the limit. Example: a teen is convicted of speeding 16 to 25 mph over the limit (6 points). Within 2 years, the teen is also convicted of texting while driving (3 points). 6 + 3 = 9 points, which is more than the 7 point limit for a driver under 18.

Kentucky point limits and suspension lengths: under 18 and adults

Kentucky point limits and suspension lengths: under 18 and adults
Rule	Under 18	18 and older
Warning letter	4 or more points in 2 years	6 or more points in 2 years
Suspension or probation may follow	7 or more points in 2 years	12 or more points in 2 years
Suspension, first accumulation	90 days to 6 months	90 days to 6 months
Suspension, second accumulation	1 year	1 year
Suspension, more accumulations within 2 years	2 years	2 years
Probation in place of suspension	Double the suspension period	Double the suspension period

The 180 day delay with a permit or intermediate license

You are under 18 with an instruction permit, and you break a permit rule or are convicted of a ticket with points or of DUI

At least 180 days are added, counted from the date of the violation, before you can apply for an intermediate license. You also must be 16.

You are under 18 with an intermediate license, and you break an intermediate license rule or are convicted of a ticket with points or of DUI

At least 180 days are added, counted from the date of the violation, before you can apply for an operator's license. You also must be 17.

You are under 18 and are convicted under the phone ban

To move up, you must hold the permit, and later the intermediate license, for at least 180 days without a phone ban conviction.

You are convicted of racing or of speeding 26 mph or more over the limit

You must appear for an informal hearing. A 90 day suspension or probation may follow.

The phone ban for Kentucky drivers under 18

A driver under 18 with a permit, an intermediate license or an operator's license cannot use a personal communication device while the vehicle moves on the traveled part of a road. This covers calls, not only texts. In an emergency, you may use the phone to summon medical help, the police or a public safety agency. A navigation system built into the vehicle is allowed, but typing into the GPS of a phone is not. Our free question on phone use by drivers under 18 tests this rule.

The fine is $25 for a first offense and $50 for each later offense. A texting conviction also adds 3 points.

Zero alcohol tolerance for Kentucky drivers under 21

All drivers under 21 are subject to zero alcohol tolerance, defined as .02 blood alcohol concentration. For a driver under 18, a DUI conviction also adds at least 180 days before the next license phase. Check the limit with our free question on the alcohol limit under 21.

Kentucky school bus stops: the rules since July 15, 2026

Stop for a school or church bus that has its stop arm and signal lights on, from any direction. Do not go until the bus has finished loading or unloading and has started to move.
You do not stop when you come from the opposite direction on a highway of 4 or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median.
A first conviction brings a fine of $200 to $500, or 30 to 60 days in jail, or both, and a minimum of 6 points. For a teen, 6 points is 1 point below the 7 point limit.
Since 2026 House Bill 7, a school district can put stop arm cameras on its buses. A camera violation brings a civil penalty of $300 the first time to the vehicle owner, with no points. Our guide to the 2026 Kentucky school bus law explains the cameras.

Key takeaways

Under 18, a suspension or probation can follow at 7 or more points in 2 years, with a warning letter at 4. For adults, the numbers are 12 and 6.
Speeding 16 to 25 mph over the limit and a school bus conviction are 6 points each. Texting is 3 points.
Points expire 2 years after the conviction date. The conviction stays on the record for 5 years.
Under 18, a ticket with points, a DUI or a license rule violation adds at least 180 days before the next license phase. The phone ban fine is $25, then $50.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Kentucky Class D practice test.

Kentucky teen driver points: common questions

Will I get a warning before my Kentucky license is suspended for points?

Yes. At 4 or more points in 2 years for a driver under 18, or 6 or more for an adult, the Transportation Cabinet sends a letter to the address on your driving history record. The letter gives your number of points and the penalties at the limit.

Do out-of-state tickets count on a Kentucky driving record?

Some do. Kentucky gives points for a conviction in any state for a violation on its point list, for example reckless driving or following too closely. The exception is speeding: a speeding violation in another state gets no Kentucky penalty points.

Can I get probation instead of a suspension in Kentucky?

Maybe. A hearing officer may place you on probation in place of a suspension. To be eligible, you must hold a valid operator license or intermediate license that is not suspended in any state, and you must appear at the informal hearing at the set time and place. Probation lasts double the suspension period, and you may have to attend State Traffic School.

What happens if I get another ticket while on probation?

A new conviction of a motor vehicle law ends the probation with a suspension. The same happens if you do not enroll in and finish the driver improvement clinic. After a probation period, you cannot get probation again for 2 years from the end of that period.

Can a teen go to State Traffic School for a ticket in Kentucky?

Only if the court sends you. The referral must come from the Kentucky District or Federal court where the violation happened. Traffic school is only for minor traffic violations, not for a conviction with a mandatory suspension. You can complete it only once every 12 months, and non-licensed and out-of-state drivers cannot attend.