Driving Tests

Missouri Points and Penalties for Teen Drivers: 0.02 BAC and Abuse and Lose

informational·how to guide·Published September 12, 2026

What happens if you get a ticket or drink as a teen driver in Missouri?

A conviction adds points: 3 for speeding under state law, 4 for careless and imprudent driving and 5 for failing to stop for a school bus. At 8 points in 18 months, Missouri suspends your license. Under 21, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02% or more at a traffic stop can cost you your license, and Abuse and Lose means a 90-day suspension for a first offense.

Where the Missouri point and alcohol rules come from

The point values are in RSMo section 302.302. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) explains the point steps in its tickets and points FAQ and Abuse and Lose in its Abuse and Lose FAQ. The other rules come from RSMo 302.304, 302.178, 302.505 and 302.400, the Missouri Driver Guide (August 2026) and the DOR minor in possession and graduated driver license FAQs. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Missouri Department of Revenue (dor.mo.gov) before you drive.

How many points a Missouri conviction adds

How many points a Missouri conviction adds
Violation	Points	Detail
Speeding, state law	3	Speeding under a county or municipal ordinance adds 2 points.
Careless and imprudent driving, state law	4	Under a county or municipal ordinance, it adds 2 points.
Failure to stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading students	5	A violation of RSMo 304.050, subsection 1.
Other moving violation not listed in the section	2	A municipal stop sign violation with no accident adds 1 point.
First conviction for driving while intoxicated	8	A first conviction for a BAC of 0.08% or more also adds 8.
Driving with a suspended or revoked license	12	Applies before your driving privilege is restored.
Injury or property damage from a listed violation	2 extra	Applies to violations such as speeding, careless driving and DWI, when the court certifies the damage.

When do points go on your Missouri record?

Points go on your record only after a conviction or a forfeiture of collateral, and they count from the date of the conviction. A ticket in another state or on federal property, such as a military base, also counts: when DOR gets notice of the conviction, it posts the ticket to your Missouri record. Try the practice question on the point total that leads to a suspension.

Point totals that bring a suspension or revocation

Point totals that bring a suspension or revocation
Points on your record	What Missouri does
4 points in 12 months	DOR sends you a notice of your point total.
8 points in 18 months	Your license is suspended: 30 days the first time, 60 days the second time, 90 days the third time and after. Without proof of insurance on file, the suspension lasts two years.
12 points in 12 months, 18 in 24 months or 24 in 36 months	Your license is revoked for one year, or two years without proof of insurance on file. Then you must pass the complete driver exam and apply for a new license.
After reinstatement	DOR cuts your total to 4 points.

How points affect an intermediate license and your full license

You want an intermediate license

You need no alcohol-related enforcement contact in the last 12 months and no point-assessed non-alcohol traffic conviction in the last 6 months.

You hold an intermediate license and collect 6 or more points in 12 months

DOR may require you to finish a driver-improvement program. The program does not replace the points.

You turn 18 and want the full license

You need 12 months with no alcohol-related contact and no point-assessed traffic conviction. Under 21, until the offense is 12 months old or you turn 21 (whichever comes first), you can only renew the intermediate license. The guide to the full driver license at 18 lists the other steps.

You break the curfew or passenger rule

That is an infraction with no points. A ticket such as speeding still adds points. The curfew and passenger rules have the limits.

The 0.02% BAC limit for drivers under 21

The Missouri Driver Guide says it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.02% or more if you are under 21, and illegal to possess or buy alcohol. When an officer stops you for a traffic offense and your BAC is 0.02% or more, DOR suspends or revokes your license. This action is separate from any criminal charge, and the result of that charge does not change it. The question on the BAC limit for drivers under 21 tests this rule. The adult limit is 0.08%.

What happens at a stop with a BAC of 0.02% or more

The officer takes your license and gives you a notice. Your license is suspended or revoked after 15 days.
If the officer marks it on the notice, you can use the notice as a 15-day driving permit.
The notice lets you ask for a hearing or, if you are eligible, an immediate 90-day Restricted Driving Privilege.
If you get a hearing, you can drive legally until 15 days after DOR mails the decision.

Abuse and Lose and minor in possession: how long you lose your license

Abuse and Lose and minor in possession: how long you lose your license
Offense	First offense	Second offense	Third or later
Abuse and Lose (under 21): alcohol-related traffic offense, alcohol possession or use while driving, drug possession or use, license alteration, a second alcohol offense before 18	90-day suspension	One-year revocation	One-year revocation
Minor in possession (over 15 and under 21): buying or possessing alcohol, RSMo 311.325	30-day suspension	90-day suspension	One-year revocation

How Abuse and Lose works

After a court finds a driver under 21 guilty of one of these offenses, it must order the suspension or revocation. You must surrender your license, instruction permit or intermediate license to the court. If you are under 16, a juvenile court holds the order until 30 days before your 16th birthday and then sends it to DOR. Minor in possession also covers being visibly intoxicated and a BAC above 0.02%.

Getting your license back after Abuse and Lose

Send DOR the Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) completion form or a comparable program form, and the $45 (U.S. dollars) reinstatement fee, before your suspension or revocation ends.
After a revocation, also send proof of liability insurance (an SR-22 form) and keep it on file for two years. A 90-day suspension needs no SR-22.
During a suspension or revocation, you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege for work, school, your alcohol program or medical treatment.

Key takeaways

Points come only after a conviction: 3 for speeding under state law, 4 for careless and imprudent driving, 5 for a school bus.
4 points in 12 months bring a notice, 8 in 18 months a suspension, and 12 in 12 months a one-year revocation.
A point conviction in the last 6 months blocks an intermediate license, and one in the last 12 months blocks the full license.
Under 21, a BAC of 0.02% or more at a traffic stop can cost you your license, and Abuse and Lose means a 90-day suspension for a first offense and a one-year revocation after that.
Next step: practice the road rules on the free Missouri Class F practice test.

Missouri teen driver points and alcohol rules: common questions

Does a speeding ticket put points on my Missouri license?

Only if you are convicted or forfeit collateral. State-law speeding adds 3 points, and speeding under a county or municipal ordinance adds 2. A court can order a driver-improvement program that DOR accepts in place of the points. This works only once in 36 months, and you must finish the program within 60 days of the conviction.

How long do points stay on my Missouri record?

Without new points, your total drops by one-third after 1 year, by one-half after 2 years and to zero after 3 years. A ticket conviction may come off your record three years after the conviction. Some convictions stay on your record permanently, even when your points reach zero.

Can I drink a little and still drive if I am under 21 in Missouri?

No. The limit is 0.02% BAC, and it is illegal to buy or possess alcohol under 21. Drinking counts as possession. A first minor in possession offense can cost a driver over 15 and under 21 a 30-day suspension.

Do I need an SR-22 after a 0.02% BAC stop in Missouri?

No, not on a first offense. A minor with a BAC of 0.02% or more does not have to file proof of insurance on a first offense. In other DWI and BAC cases, you must file proof of insurance with the Driver License Bureau and keep it on file for two years. The most common way to file is an SR-22 from your insurance company.

Do I have to retest after an Abuse and Lose revocation?

Yes. DOR requires a retest when you reinstate after an Abuse and Lose revocation, which follows a second or later offense. After a 90-day suspension, you retest only if your license expired during it and has been expired for more than six months. A minor in possession revocation also needs a retest.

Will Abuse and Lose or minor in possession stay on my driving record?

It can come off, but not by itself. You must send DOR a written request. DOR removes an Abuse and Lose action only after five years from the reinstatement date. A minor in possession action comes off only if you are at least 21 and five years have passed since reinstatement.