North Dakota Teen Driver Points: How Many Points Cancel a License?
How many points cancel a teen's license in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, a driver under 18 who gets 6 or more points (the law says more than five) has the permit or license canceled. The teen then starts over as if never licensed: written and vision tests, a new instruction permit, the full holding period, driver education and a road test. Adults are suspended at 12 points.
Where the North Dakota teen points facts come from
The cancellation rule, the start-over steps, the work permit rule and the driving record requests come from the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) driver record page. The point values and the point reduction rules come from the NDDOT points schedule page and N.D.C.C. chapter 39-06.1. The minor's cancellation law (section 39-06-01.1) and the teen phone rules are in North Dakota Century Code chapter 39-06 and chapter 39-08. Other facts come from the Noncommercial Driver License Manual (2025-2027) and the NDDOT driver license, driver training schools and traffic safety laws pages. This guide is current as of 2026 and is not legal advice. Confirm the rules with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (dot.nd.gov) before you drive.
North Dakota points rules at a glance
| Who | Points or event | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Driver under 18 | 6 or more points (more than five) | Permit or license is canceled |
| Driver under 18 | Alcohol or drug offense while driving, and the court orders it | License can be canceled |
| Driver 18 or older | 12 or more points | Driving privileges suspended 7 days for each point over 11 |
Does the minor's cancellation apply to a permit?
Yes. North Dakota cancels the permit or the license of a driver under 18 who has 6 or more points. This includes a teen who drives with an instruction permit or a restricted Class D license.
Under North Dakota law, a point counts toward the cancellation only when two things are true. The act happened while the driver was a minor. And the teen admitted the violation, pled guilty, or was found guilty or found to have committed it.
Which tickets use up a teen's points fastest?
One 6-point ticket cancels a teen's permit or license by itself. Careless driving and passing a stopped school bus against the law are each 6 points.
Smaller tickets also add up. Points drop only after 3 months with no new points, so two tickets less than 3 months apart add up in full. Example: 5 points for 21 to 25 mph over a 55 mph limit, plus 2 points for a permit condition violation, is 7 points. That is over the limit. A violation that is not in the schedule gets no points.
Point examples from the North Dakota schedule
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Driving in violation of the conditions of an instruction permit | 2 |
| Violating a restriction of a restricted Class D license (not the eyeglass or contact lens rules) | 4 |
| Speeding 21 to 25 mph over a limit of 65 mph or less | 5 |
| Speeding 16 to 20 mph over a limit posted over 65 mph | 5 |
| Careless driving | 6 |
| Passing a school bus in violation of the law | 6 |
Do phone rules matter for teen points?
Yes. North Dakota law does not let a teen with an instruction permit, a restricted Class D license or a Class D license (ages 16 and 17) use a phone to talk, compose, read or send messages while the vehicle moves. NDDOT lists a $20 fine and 4 points for a 14- or 15-year-old who breaks this rule. Four points leave a teen only 2 points from cancellation. Check the rule with our free question on a 17-year-old permit holder and a ringing phone. For the emergency exceptions, see our guide to the North Dakota texting and cell phone law.
What about an alcohol or drug offense?
A teen can also lose the permit or license for an alcohol-related or drug-related offense while driving, even with few points. North Dakota law lets the license be canceled only when all five conditions are true:
1. The teen was a minor at the time of the offense.
2. The teen pled guilty, was found guilty, or was found to have committed the offense.
3. The offense created an imminent risk of injury to another person.
4. A smaller penalty would not prevent future risk to others.
5. The court orders the cancellation.
After that, the same start-over steps apply as for points.
What to do after a North Dakota minor's cancellation
- 1Know where you stand
The state treats the teen as if the teen never had a license. After any suspension period ends, the first thing it can issue is an instruction permit or a restricted instruction permit.
- 2Pass the tests again
Take the written test and the vision test, and bring a parent's permission. Then get a new instruction permit.
- 3Hold the permit for the full period
Hold it at least 12 months if you are under 16, or at least 6 months if you are 16 or 17.
- 4Finish driver education
After a cancellation, the law lets the teen meet the driver education rule with an internet course or a course at an approved commercial driver training school. The NDDOT manual also lists 30 hours of driving supervised by a parent or legal guardian with the internet course. For the other training paths, see our guide to North Dakota driver's ed requirements.
- 5Take the road test
The road test comes after driver education and the required holding period of the permit.
Can a teen get a work permit after a cancellation?
No. A work permit (a temporary restricted license) is not given to anyone under 18. This includes a teen who lost a license for too many points.
NDDOT lists a Minor Driver's License Recertification course for a minor who had a cancellation for 6 or more points or for an alcohol or drug violation while driving. For a teen under 16, this course does not meet the general classroom and behind-the-wheel training rules.
How do points go down?
Points do not go back to zero after a cancellation. They drop by 1 for every 3 months with no new points, counted from the date the last points were entered. A defensive driving course takes off 3 points once every 12 months. For a minor with 6 or more points, it applies only after the cancellation period.
For some violations of 5 or fewer points, you can take a defensive driving course "in lieu of points". Send proof of completion to NDDOT within 30 days after you tell the court. It is not allowed for offenses of 6 or more points, and it removes the 3-point course reduction option.
Key takeaways
- A driver under 18 with 6 or more points (more than five) has the permit or license canceled. An adult is suspended at 12 points.
- One careless driving ticket or one school bus violation is 6 points, which is enough alone.
- After a cancellation, the teen starts over: tests, parent permission, a new permit, the 12-month or 6-month holding period, driver education and a road test.
- A teen under 18 cannot get a work permit. Points do not go back to zero; they drop 1 point for each 3 months with no new points.
- Next step: practice on the free North Dakota Class D practice test. The questions are in English only.
North Dakota teen driver points: common questions
Do points count if my teen does not have a license yet?
Yes. North Dakota records points on a driving record even if the person never had a North Dakota license. A ticket for driving without a license is 0 points, but other tickets in the schedule, such as speeding, get their full points. A driver who never had a license and reaches 12 or more points is treated as driving under suspension.
How can I check my teen's point total in North Dakota?
Ask NDDOT for a driving record. A limited driving record shows the current point total, and you can request it online. A complete record also shows violations older than three years and crash information. For a complete record, send form SFN 51386 (Request for Driver Abstract) and a $3 fee to the NDDOT Driver License Division.
Can a parent cancel a teen's permit or license in North Dakota?
Yes. A minor needs the consent of a parent or legal guardian for a permit or license. The person who gave consent can withdraw it at any time, and the permit or license is then canceled. The teen can get it back with parental consent again or at age 18. This path has no link to the points total.
Will my insurance company see my teen's points?
Yes, if it checks the driving record. A record check shows violations from the last three years that carry 3 or more points. A 3-point or larger ticket can show even when it is far below the 6-point cancellation limit. Ask your insurer how it uses a young driver's record.
Practise for your North Dakota Class D Knowledge test
5 free practice tests with 100 questions, answers and explanations.
Start free Practice Test 1Share or ask AI about this article
Continue the conversation or send this guide to someone who needs it.
Related guides
How to Get a Class 7 Learner's Licence in Alberta (2026 Steps)
You can apply for an Alberta Class 7 learner's licence at 14. See the four steps, the knowledge test fee, the temporary licence and what you may drive.
Florida Learner's License at 15: Requirements, Hours and Rules
How to get a Florida learner's license at 15: the tests, the course, parental consent, who must ride with you, when you can drive and what comes next.
Can International Students Drive in Michigan? License Rules
Yes, if you are temporarily in the U.S., you may drive on your home license, with a translation or IDP if it is not in English. See the F-1 and J-1 documents.