Driving Tests

Virginia Demerit Points for Drivers Under 18: Clinic and Suspension

informational·how to guide·Published August 13, 2026

What happens after a ticket if you have a Virginia permit or license under 18?

If you are convicted of a demerit-point violation, or a safety belt or child restraint violation, committed before age 18, Virginia DMV requires a driver improvement clinic. If you do not finish it within 90 days, DMV suspends your permit or license until you do. A second conviction means a 90-day suspension. A third means revocation for one year or until age 18, whichever is longer.

Where the Virginia teen points facts come from

The steps for drivers under 18 come from the Virginia DMV page on traffic violations for drivers under age 18 and from section 46.2-334.01 of the Code of Virginia. The clinic cost and the online option come from the DMV driver improvement page. The rules for ages 18 and older and the seat belt rule come from the Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39, April 2026). The two-year rule for points comes from the DMV page on how points are assessed. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.virginia.gov) before you drive.

Virginia penalties for drivers under 18, by conviction

Virginia penalties for drivers under 18, by conviction
Conviction	What DMV does
First conviction	A driver improvement clinic is required. If you do not finish it within 90 days, DMV suspends your permit or license until you do.
Second conviction	DMV suspends your permit or license for 90 days.
Third conviction	DMV revokes your permit or license for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer.

Which violations count, including seat belt tickets?

A conviction for a demerit-point violation counts, and so does a safety belt or child restraint conviction. Your age on the day of the violation matters: the steps cover a violation committed before your 18th birthday.
Under Virginia law, the driver and all passengers, front and rear, must wear safety belts. If you carry anyone younger than 18, you must secure that passenger in a safety belt, booster seat or child safety seat. Test yourself with our free question on who must wear a seat belt.
If one event leads to several convictions, those convictions together do not start the 90-day suspension or the revocation.

What to do after the first conviction

1
Read the DMV order
After the court reports the conviction, DMV sends an order that requires the clinic. Note the date: you have 90 days. Our free question on a teen's first demerit-point conviction checks this rule.
2
Choose a clinic
An in-classroom or an online clinic meets the rule for a violation committed before age 18.
3
Finish the full course
If DMV requires a clinic, you must complete the entire eight-hour course.
4
Finish within 90 days
If you do not, DMV suspends your permit or license until you complete the clinic. The Driver's Manual says you must also pay a reinstatement fee.

What happens after a second conviction?

DMV suspends your permit or license for 90 days. The law says this suspension runs after any other suspension, revocation or denial, not at the same time.
If you have no other way to travel, you may ask the juvenile and domestic relations district court where you live for a restricted license. The law limits it to trips between home and work, or between home and a college or university where you are enrolled. The court decides, and the restricted license can last no longer than the suspension.

What happens after a third conviction?

DMV revokes your permit or license for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer. The law says this revocation also runs after any other suspension, revocation or denial.
For example, if the revocation starts when you are 16, it lasts until your 18th birthday, because that period is longer than one year. If it starts when you are 17 or older, it lasts one year.

Which rule applies to your age?

The violation happened before your 18th birthday

The three-step rule above applies: clinic, then 90-day suspension, then revocation.

The violation happened at age 18 or 19

DMV requires a driver improvement clinic if you are convicted of a demerit point or safety belt or child restraint violation committed at that age.

You are 18 or older and collect points from more than one ticket

The point limits in the next table apply.

Point limits for drivers age 18 and older

Point limits for drivers age 18 and older
Demerit points	What DMV does
12 points within 12 months, or 18 points within 24 months	A driver improvement clinic is required. If you do not complete it in 90 days, DMV suspends your driving privilege.
18 points within 12 months, or 24 points within 24 months	DMV suspends your driving privilege for 90 days and requires a clinic.

How long do demerit points stay on a Virginia record?

Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the date that you commit the offense. A conviction is given three, four or six demerit points, and DMV checks your 12-month and 24-month totals.
The conviction itself can stay on your record for a different length of time. That time depends on how serious the violation is.

Safe driving points: who gets them in Virginia

A driver improvement clinic can give you 5 safe driving points, once every 24 months. The highest balance on your record is 5 points.
Under 18: you get safe driving points only when you take a clinic on your own. A clinic that DMV or a court required gives none.
Age 18 or older: if a court requires the clinic, the court decides if you get safe driving points.

How much is a driver improvement clinic, and can you take it online?

A clinic costs no more than $100. The sessions last eight hours and take place at sites around the state and online. If you are under age 20, you may choose a clinic with online or classroom instruction. If a court ordered your clinic, ask the court if it accepts a computer-based course before you sign up.

How can a new driver avoid a clinic or a suspension?

Each demerit-point or safety belt conviction for a violation before age 18 moves you one step closer to a revocation, so wear your safety belt and know the limits of your permit or license. A violation of the provisional license passenger limit or the midnight to 4:00 a.m. limit is a traffic infraction. For a second or later violation, the court may suspend your privilege to drive for up to six months. The provisional license rules and the learner's permit rules explain these limits.

Key takeaways

A first conviction under 18 means a driver improvement clinic. DMV suspends your permit or license if you do not finish it within 90 days.
A second conviction means a 90-day suspension. A third means revocation for one year or until age 18, whichever is longer.
Safety belt and child restraint convictions count in the same steps as demerit-point convictions.
Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offense date. A clinic costs no more than $100 and can be taken online.
Next step: practice on the free Virginia passenger practice test.

Virginia teen driver points: common questions

Does a ticket from another state count on my Virginia record?

Yes. DMV adds demerit points to your Virginia record for traffic convictions in other states. DMV also posts traffic violations that carry no demerit points. Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the date of the offense.

Will a driver improvement clinic lower my car insurance?

Not directly through DMV points. Insurance companies use their own points, and those points are not related to DMV demerit points. If you take a clinic to reduce your insurance premium, you do not get safe driving points. If a court assigns the clinic, you do not get the insurance premium reduction.

I go to college outside Virginia. Can I get more time to finish the clinic?

Maybe. A student at a college outside Virginia, or a military member or dependent stationed outside Virginia, may get an extension of the 90-day limit. DMV gives the extension only if no approved clinic is offered in your area. It lasts until a break in your schedule.

Can my parent take the driver improvement clinic?

Yes. When DMV directs a teen to a clinic for a violation committed before age 18, the law lets a parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person in the role of a parent attend that clinic. The adult can then get a reduction in demerit points or an award of safe driving points.