Driving Tests

Nevada Demerit Points and Teen Driver Penalties Explained

informational·how to guide·Published May 27, 2026

How do demerit points work in Nevada?

In Nevada, the DMV adds demerit points to your record when a court reports a moving violation conviction. You get a notice by mail at 3 or more points, and 12 or more points within 12 months bring a 6-month license suspension. Points expire 12 months after the conviction date. A teen can also lose a license for alcohol, drug, firearm or truancy offenses.

Where these Nevada rules come from

The point rules and point values come from the Nevada DMV demerit points page. The teen rules come from the Nevada Driver's Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024) and the Nevada DMV teen license page. The DMV teen instruction permit page, suspensions and reinstatement page, driver license fees page and parents' guide to teen driving give the other details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Nevada DMV (dmv.nv.gov) before you drive.

How the Nevada demerit point system works

When a court convicts you of a moving traffic violation, it tells the DMV. The DMV adds the offense to your driving record and gives it demerit points based on how serious it is. Once you reach 3 points, the DMV sends a notice by mail, so keep your address current with the DMV.

The table below shows common violations. The DMV demerit points page links to a Violation Codes PDF with the complete list of offenses and points.

Demerit points for common Nevada violations

Demerit points for common Nevada violations
Violation	Demerit points
Reckless driving	8
Careless driving	6
Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign, or failure to yield right-of-way	4
Following too closely	4
Passing a school bus with flashing signals	4
Hand-held phone use or texting (second and later offenses)	4
Speeding 1 to 20 mph over the limit	2
Speeding 21 to 40 mph over the limit	4

What happens at 12 points?

If you collect 12 or more points within 12 months, you get a 6-month license suspension. Each point counts for 12 months only, so points from a conviction more than 12 months old no longer add to your total. The free practice question on what the DMV does at 12 demerit points checks this rule.

Can you remove points with traffic school in Nevada?

You have 3 to 11 points and you choose to take a DMV-approved traffic safety course

You may be eligible to have 3 points removed. The school reports your completion directly to the DMV. You can use a course to remove points only once every 12 months.

A court requires the course as part of a plea-bargain agreement

You get no point credit for that course. Points come off only when you attend by choice.

You already have 12 or more points

Point removal is open only to drivers with 3 to 11 points.

DUI, serious offenses and the under-21 alcohol limit

DUI and violations that cause serious injury or death do not use demerit points. They bring an immediate license suspension or revocation instead.

For drivers under 21, a chemical test that shows an alcohol concentration of 0.02% or more can lead to a license suspension or revocation, as the Nevada Driver's Handbook explains. At 0.08% or more, or with any detectable amount of a controlled substance, the driving privilege is revoked. The free question on the lowest alcohol level for a driver under 21 covers the 0.02 limit.

How a ticket can delay or cancel a teen's permit or license

The DMV may cancel an instruction permit if you violate driving laws or regulations. Before a minor gets a driver's license, the minor must also have six months with no at-fault crash, no moving violation conviction and no alcohol or drug conviction.

Until a teen turns 18, the parent or guardian who signed the Financial Responsibility Statement can also cancel the license with the Minor Affidavit (DP-38). The guide to Nevada teen driver license rules covers the passenger and curfew limits that start with the license.

Offenses that can cost a Nevada teen under 18 the license

An alcohol test of 0.02% to under 0.08%, or any court finding of DUI: the handbook's Young Drivers list says the license may be revoked for 185 days.
Buying, drinking or having alcohol, or using, having or selling drugs, even with no driving: a suspension, or a delay of the license, of up to 2 years.
Graffiti or damage to public or private property: a suspension or delay of up to 2 years.
A firearm offense: a suspension or delay of up to 1 year for a first offense.
A first offense of habitual truancy: a suspension of 30 days to 6 months, or a 30-day delay.
An unauthorized speed contest or trick driving display: a suspension of 6 months to 2 years.

How to get a suspended Nevada license back, and the fees

A suspended or revoked license does not come back on its own. You reapply at a DMV office, meet the other reinstatement requirements and pay the reinstatement fees. The suspension is separate from your court case, so follow the DMV steps even if your criminal charges were dismissed or reduced.

As of 2026, the DMV fee page lists $120 to reinstate after an alcohol or controlled substance offense, plus a $35 victim impact fee, and $75 after any other offense. Fees can change, so check the fee page before you pay.

Key takeaways

The DMV adds demerit points after a court reports a moving violation conviction, and the points expire 12 months after the conviction date.
12 or more points within 12 months bring a 6-month suspension. A traffic safety course that you choose can remove 3 points when you have 3 to 11 points, once every 12 months.
DUI and other serious offenses bring suspension or revocation, not points. Drivers under 21 can lose the license at 0.02% alcohol.
A teen can lose a license, or wait longer for one, after a moving violation, an at-fault crash, or an alcohol, drug, firearm, graffiti, truancy or speed contest offense.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Nevada Class C instruction permit practice test.

Nevada demerit points: common questions

How many points is a speeding ticket in Nevada?

It depends on how fast you went. The Nevada DMV lists 2 points for 1 to 20 mph over the limit, 4 points for 21 to 40 mph over and 5 points for 41 mph or more over. Driving too fast for conditions is also 2 points.

How long do demerit points stay on my Nevada record?

Demerit points expire 12 months after the date of conviction, and then they stop counting toward the 12-point suspension. The conviction itself does not go away: it stays on your permanent Nevada driving record.

Do tickets from another state add points to my Nevada license?

No. If you live in Nevada and are convicted of a ticket in another state, the offense goes on your Nevada driving record, but it adds no demerit points to your Nevada license. Contact the court listed on the ticket to ask about plea bargain options.

How can I check if my Nevada license is suspended?

Get a 10-year driver history from the Nevada DMV. It shows all license withdrawals, such as suspensions and revocations, from the past 10 years. You can get it at DMV kiosks across the state or request it online through the DMV website.

I got a ticket in Nevada but live in another state. What should I do?

Contact the Nevada court listed on your citation. Some Nevada courts may accept a traffic safety school from another state, but this is not guaranteed, so confirm with the court. If you already paid the ticket or were convicted, you do not need to contact the Nevada DMV. Ask your home state's DMV how the conviction may affect your license, including demerit points.