Pennsylvania Teen Driver Points and Suspension: 6 Points or 26 mph Over
When does a Pennsylvania driver under 18 lose the license?
A Pennsylvania driver under 18 is suspended in two cases: 6 or more points from violations before age 18, or a conviction for driving 26 mph or more over the posted limit before age 18. The first suspension is 90 days. Each later one is 120 days. The rule covers a learner's permit, a junior license and a regular license held before 18.
Where these Pennsylvania rules come from
The suspension rule is in Vehicle Code section 1538. The points schedule is in section 1535. The point system steps and the under-21 alcohol rules are in the PennDOT online Driver's Manual. Other details come from the PennDOT point system fact sheet (March 2024), the PennDOT Young Driver page, the junior license guide (PUB 178) and Vehicle Code sections 1503 and 3802(e). The rules are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services (pa.gov/dmv) before you drive.
Two triggers for an under-18 suspension in Pennsylvania
| Trigger | What counts | Date that matters | Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 mph or more over the limit | A conviction, guilty plea or no-contest plea for speeding under section 3362 | The speeding happens before age 18. The conviction can come before or after your 18th birthday. | 90 days the first time, 120 days after that |
| 6 or more points | Points on your record under section 1535 | The violations happen before age 18 | 90 days the first time, 120 days after that |
How long is a Pennsylvania under-18 suspension?
The first suspension is 90 days. Every later suspension is 120 days. These suspensions run one after the other and after any other suspension, so they never overlap. If you get two at the same time, the second counts as a later one and lasts 120 days. Some PennDOT pages show only 90 days. The law gives 120 days for each later suspension, and the PennDOT online manual and the 2024 point system fact sheet match the law.
How do Pennsylvania driver license points work?
When a licensed driver is convicted of a listed offense, PennDOT adds points to the record. The points count from the date of the violation, not the date of the conviction. PennDOT must assign them within six months of the conviction. A junior driver gets the same fines, penalties and points as any regular driver. When careless driving comes with another offense from the same time and place, only the other offense gives points. The table shows the points for common offenses.
Points for common violations in Pennsylvania
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding, 6 to 10 mph over | 2 |
| Speeding, 11 to 15 mph over | 3 |
| Speeding, 16 to 25 mph over | 4 |
| Speeding, 26 mph or more over | 5 |
| Failure to stop for a red light | 3 |
| Failure to stop for a stop sign | 3 |
| Careless driving | 3 |
| Failure to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights | 5, plus a 60-day suspension |
How a teen can reach 6 points, with an example
Say a 17-year-old is convicted of running a red light (3 points). Months later, the same teen is convicted of careless driving (3 points). That is 3 + 3 = 6 points from violations before age 18, so the under-18 suspension applies: 90 days if it is the first one. One conviction for 26 mph or more over gives 5 points and brings the suspension on its own, as this practice question on teen speeding shows. A school bus violation (5 points) plus a ticket for 6 to 10 mph over (2 points) is 7 points. The Pennsylvania school bus law explains when you must stop.
What happens at 6 points and at 11 points
What to do when the PennDOT suspension notice arrives
- 1
Read the start date
PennDOT mails a written notice that lists the date when the suspension begins.
- 2
Decide about an appeal
You can appeal within 30 days of the mailing date of the notice.
- 3
Return your license or permit
Send your license, learner's permit or camera card to the PennDOT Bureau of Driver Licensing by the start date in the notice.
- 4
Meet the restoration requirements
Serving the suspension is not enough. You must also meet all restoration requirements, including the restoration fee, before your driving privilege comes back.
How points come off a Pennsylvania driving record
Three points come off your record for every 12 months in a row without a violation that gives points, a suspension or a revocation. The 12 months count from your last violation or from the date your privilege came back, whichever is later. When a record stays at zero points for 12 months in a row, any new points count as a first accumulation.
Alcohol under 21: what section 3802(e) says
Under section 3802(e), a minor may not drive with an alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher in blood or breath within two hours after driving. PennDOT says that under 21 you are driving under the influence at 0.02 or more, and that the law does not let you drive with any measurable alcohol in your system. It is also illegal under 21 to buy, drink or hold alcohol, or to have alcohol in the car you drive. The practice question on the under-21 limit shows the 0.02 rule in a short scene. A DUI under 21 is a separate offense from the 6-point rule, with its own suspension.
DUI conviction under 21: penalties on two PennDOT pages
| Penalty | PennDOT online manual (first DUI) | PennDOT Young Driver page |
|---|---|---|
| License suspension | One year | 12 to 18 months |
| Jail | Two days to six months | 48 hours to six months |
| Fine | $500 to $5,000 | $500 to $5,000 |
Can a junior driver lose driving time in other ways?
Yes, by a separate rule. After a reportable crash that PennDOT finds you partly or fully responsible for, or after any conviction under the Vehicle Code, PennDOT may suspend a junior driver until age 18 or for up to 90 days. The same crash or conviction also keeps you at 1 non-family passenger under 18 after the first six months, instead of 3. The Pennsylvania junior license rules list the other limits.
Key takeaways
- A driver under 18 is suspended at 6 or more points from violations before age 18, or for a conviction for 26 mph or more over the limit before age 18.
- The first suspension is 90 days. Each later one is 120 days. They run one after the other.
- Points count from the date of the violation. Three points come off for every 12 clean months.
- Under 21, a blood or breath alcohol level of 0.02% or higher is DUI.
- Next step: practice Pennsylvania traffic laws on the free Pennsylvania Class C permit practice test, in English.
Pennsylvania teen driver points: common questions
Does a speeding ticket under 26 mph over cause a suspension?
Not by the speed rule alone. A conviction for 6 to 25 mph over gives 2 to 4 points. Those points can still add up with other violations to 6, and 6 points from violations before age 18 bring the 90-day suspension the first time. For a junior driver, PennDOT may also suspend after any Vehicle Code conviction, until age 18 or for up to 90 days.
If I get a ticket at 17 and go to court after I turn 18, does it still count?
Yes. For the 26 mph rule, the speeding must happen before 18, and the conviction or plea can come before or after your 18th birthday. For the 6-point rule, each violation must be from before age 18. Points count from the date of the violation.
Can I appeal a PennDOT suspension?
Yes. File the appeal in the Court of Common Pleas (Civil Division) of the county where you live. You must file it within 30 days of the mailing date of the PennDOT notice, so check the notice as soon as it arrives.
Does the under-18 suspension apply to a learner's permit?
Yes. PennDOT lists the same 6-point and 26 mph rule for the learner's permit, the junior license and a regular license held before 18. The law suspends the operating privilege, so it applies to the permit or license that you hold.
What happens if I do not send my license to PennDOT?
If your license or permit does not reach the PennDOT Bureau of Driver Licensing by the start date in the notice, PennDOT tells the police to pick it up. The suspension still starts on the date in the notice. Sending the license early does not start it early.
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