Driving Tests

Nebraska Teen Driver Points: How Many to Lose a License

informational·how to guide·Published August 29, 2026

How many points can a teen get in Nebraska before losing the license?

In Nebraska, 12 points within two years means license revocation, for six months the first time. A driver under 21 with a license or POP and six or more points in 12 months must finish a driver improvement course of at least four hours within three months, or the license is suspended. For a teen under 18, three or more points also delay the POP and the Class O license.

Where the Nebraska point rules come from

The point values come from Nebraska law (section 60-4,182) and the Nebraska DMV point system page. The under-21 rule comes from section 60-4,130.03 and the DMV under-21 point page. The other rules come from sections 60-4,120.01, 60-4,120.02, 60-4,125, 60-4,183, 60-4,188 and 60-6,211.01, the DMV point revocation and POP pages, and the Nebraska Driver's Manual (January 2025). Where a DMV page or the manual differs from the law, this guide follows the law. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Nebraska DMV (dmv.nebraska.gov) before you drive.

What each common violation costs in Nebraska points

What each common violation costs in Nebraska points
Violation	Points
Speeding 1 to 5 mph over (ticket on or after Nov. 14, 2020)	0
Speeding 6 to 10 mph over, business or residential district	2
Speeding 6 to 10 mph over, county road, state highway or interstate	1
Careless driving	4
Reckless driving	5
Texting with a handheld device (any driver)	3
Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm out and red lights flashing	3
Most other reported moving violations	1
Parking, safety belt, no license on you	0

How long do points stay on a Nebraska driving record?

Points go on the record after a conviction, as of the date of the violation. For the 12-point rule, points count for two years after the violation date. The conviction itself stays on the driving record for five years. A conviction in another state adds points as if the violation happened in Nebraska.
Faster speeding brings more points, and the value depends on the road type. The DMV point page lists each speed band for each road type.

What are the Nebraska POP limits, and do they add points?

A teen with a Provisional Operator's Permit (POP) has three limits. No driving from midnight to 6 a.m., except between home and work or a school activity, or with a parent, guardian or licensed adult 21 or older. In the first six months, at most one passenger under 19 who is not immediate family. No use of any interactive wireless device while driving.
The manual lists 1 point for a POP passenger, night or phone violation, and a $200 fine for a first teen phone violation. Police enforce these limits only when the driver is also cited or charged with another violation, and a court may revoke the POP. Try our free POP passenger question.

What happens at 6 points under 21, or at 12 points?

You are under 21, hold a license or POP and get six or more points in 12 months

The DMV orders a driver improvement course of at least four hours. The DMV calls it a Defensive Driving Course. Finish it within three months of the notice date.

You finish the under-21 course before the suspension date

The DMV withdraws the suspension from your driving record.

You do not finish the under-21 course within three months

The DMV suspends the license. The FAQ below tells you how to get it back.

Any driver gets 12 or more points within two years

The license is revoked for six months. A second point revocation within five years lasts three years.

You want the license back after a 12-point revocation

Finish a driver improvement course of at least four hours after the revocation date, pay a $125 reinstatement fee and keep proof of financial responsibility (SR-22) on file with the DMV for three years.

How do points block the POP and the Class O license?

A POP is not issued after three or more points in the six months before applying. A teen under 18 gets a Class O license only after 12 months with a POP and fewer than three points in the previous 12 months. In our free practice question, Ava has held her POP for nine months, so she cannot yet get a Class O license.
With three or more points, a point-credit course does not remove the points or give the Class O. The teen qualifies at 18, or once the previous 12 months show fewer than three points. See the steps for the Class O license after the POP.

What else can cost a Nebraska teen a permit or license?

Learner's permit violation: when a minor is convicted of breaking an LPD or LPE permit rule, the court must impound or revoke the permit. The teen cannot get another permit or license until age 16.
Any driving restriction: a violation can result in a suspended or revoked license.
Alcohol under 21: it is unlawful to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more. The manual says a first offense means the court impounds the permit or license for 30 days. Check the limit with our free under-21 BAC question.

Can a course take points off a Nebraska driving record?

Yes, if you have fewer than 12 points. A voluntary DMV-approved driver improvement course of at least four hours takes 2 points off the points of the previous two years, or 1 point if only 1 point is on the record. The credit can be used once every five years. Finish the course before the violation that would add the 12th point. A course that you must take under the under-21 rule or after a point revocation gives no credit.

Key takeaways

12 points in two years revokes a Nebraska license, for six months the first time. Under 21, six points in 12 months means a driver improvement course of at least four hours within three months.
Three or more points in the six months before you apply block a POP. Three or more points in the previous 12 months block the Class O before age 18.
Texting with a handheld device is 3 points. A POP passenger, night-driving or phone violation is 1 point.
A voluntary course gives a 2-point credit once every five years. A course that the DMV orders gives no credit.
Next step: practice on the free Nebraska Class O learner's license practice test.

Nebraska teen driver points: common questions

How will we know if our teen must take the under-21 course?

The Nebraska DMV sends the notice by regular U.S. mail to the last-known address in its records. The three months to finish the driver improvement course count from the date of that notice. If the course is done before the suspension date, the DMV withdraws the suspension, so start the course soon after the notice comes.

How does a Nebraska driver under 21 get a suspended license back?

The license stays suspended until the driver finishes a DMV-approved driver improvement course of at least four hours, or turns 21. Either way, the driver pays a $50 reinstatement fee to the Nebraska DMV. At 21 the course is no longer required. A card payment online adds a $3.00 fee.

Do Nebraska points count from the ticket date or the court date?

From the ticket date. The Nebraska DMV counts points from the date of the violation, not from the hearing or judgment date. A late court date does not move the two-year count for the 12-point rule; the count still starts on the day of the violation.

Can I drive to work while my Nebraska license is revoked for points?

Possibly. A driver revoked under the Nebraska point system can apply for an employment driving permit or a medical hardship driving permit, if no other suspension, revocation or impoundment is open on the record. These permits do not cover a commercial motor vehicle. Ask the Nebraska DMV how to apply.

Do you have to retake the driving tests after a Nebraska point revocation?

Yes. A driver whose license or driving privileges are revoked must test and apply for a new license. This is in addition to the course, the $125 reinstatement fee and the SR-22 proof. Study the Nebraska Driver's Manual again before you test.