A speeding ticket can lead to a Missouri license suspension because a guilty plea adds points to your driving record, and the Department of Revenue (DOR) suspends your license at 8 points in 18 months. The best way to avoid that is to get the ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point infraction before you plead, because a ticket that carries no points cannot push you toward a suspension. This post explains the point limits, what happens with out-of-state tickets, and how to keep your license or get it back.
How Many Points Can You Accumulate Before Your License Is Suspended?
You can accumulate 7 points in 18 months without a suspension, and the 8th point triggers one. When you plead guilty and pay the fine for a speeding ticket or other traffic violation, points are added to your driving record. If you accumulate 8 points within 18 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days, if it’s your first suspension. Your license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months.
The DOR also sends a point accumulation advisory letter once you reach 4 points in 12 months, which gives you a warning before the limit. A speeding ticket from a city or county police officer is 2 points, and the same ticket from the Missouri State Police is 3 points, so 3 or 4 tickets in a short time can add up quickly. A traffic ticket lawyer can work on each ticket before it ever reaches your record.
| Points on Your Record | Time Period | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8 or more | 18 months | Suspension: 30 days (1st), 60 days (2nd), 90 days (3rd) |
| 12 or more | 12 months | 1-year revocation |
| 18 or more | 24 months | 1-year revocation |
| 24 or more | 36 months | 1-year revocation |
Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, Tickets and Points FAQs and Driver Responsibilities and Penalties; RSMo 302.304.
How Long Is a Missouri License Suspension for Points?
A Missouri license suspension for points lasts 30 days for a first suspension, 60 days for a second suspension, and 90 days for a third or later suspension. Each suspension makes the next one longer, so a single ticket that tips you over 8 points affects more than that one month.
A revocation is more serious than a suspension. A revocation lasts 1 year, and the DOR requires you to pass the complete driver examination before you can get a license again. The DOR may also require proof of insurance on an SR-22 form before reinstatement, depending on the type of suspension or revocation. A 30-day suspension therefore comes with insurance paperwork that lasts far longer than the suspension itself.
Do Out-of-State Tickets Cause Points to Be Added to Your Driving Record?
Yes, out-of-state tickets cause points to be added to your Missouri driving record when they result in a conviction. Tickets you receive in other states are reported to your home state, and the DOR posts a point-assessable conviction from another state to your Missouri record. (See the post on why out-of-state convictions appear on your Missouri driving record.)
Those points count toward the same 8-point limit as a ticket you receive at home. A driver with 2 Missouri tickets and a speeding ticket from a road trip can reach the suspension limit without ever being stopped in the same state twice.
How Can You Prevent Your License From Being Suspended?
You can prevent your license from being suspended by hiring a traffic law attorney to get your speeding ticket amended to a non-moving violation. You will still have to pay a fine and court costs (and the fine will be higher after the ticket is reduced to a non-moving violation), but no points will be added to your driving record, and your car insurance rates won’t be affected.
This is what getting a ticket “fixed” means. Instead of pleading guilty to speeding, Andrea negotiates a plea bargain deal with the Prosecutor and judge so the ticket becomes a non-moving, no-point infraction such as illegal parking. The result is possible in many cases but depends on the facts, the court, and your driving record. For the step-by-step process, see the separate post on how to get your speeding ticket fixed.
Timing matters because the points are added after a guilty plea or conviction. Paying the ticket is a guilty plea, so the decision to hire an attorney comes before you pay, not after.
Why Does an Amended Ticket Matter If You Already Have Points?
An amended ticket matters because each ticket you keep off your record leaves room under the 8-point limit for the next one. Points are reduced over time: after 1 year of driving without new points, your remaining points drop by one-third, after 2 years the remainder is reduced by one-half, and after 3 clean years the points go to zero. Until then, every new conviction adds to what is already there. Most convictions stay on your driving record for 3 years, while a conviction that caused a suspension stays for 5 years after reinstatement.
Some tickets carry far more points than speeding, such as 4 points for no insurance or 12 points for driving while suspended. A short read on Missouri traffic ticket points lists how many points common violations add.
The post on reckless driving covers how long a careless and imprudent conviction stays on your record.
What Should CDL Drivers Know About Speeding Ticket Points?
CDL drivers should know that a speeding ticket can put a commercial license at risk faster than it does for other drivers, because a trucker’s income depends on the license. A suspension or downgrade can end a driver’s ability to work, so keeping points off the record matters even more. Andrea handles CDL ticket cases for truck drivers, and the same goal applies: get the ticket amended to a non-moving violation so no points are added.
What to Do if Your License Is Already Suspended
If your license is already suspended, you can hire an attorney to get the underlying tickets reduced and then work toward reinstatement. If your driver’s license is suspended because you have unpaid speeding tickets, or because you failed to appear in court, you can hire an attorney to get your tickets reduced to non-moving, no-point violations. After you pay the fine and court costs for the tickets, the court will lift the suspension and you can get your driver’s license reinstated.
A suspension for points works differently, because it comes from the DOR once the points are on your record. In that case, reinstatement requires the DOR’s steps: the reinstatement fee (the DOR lists $20 for a point suspension, so check the current amount with the DOR) and any SR-22 insurance filing the DOR requires. The post on getting a suspended license reinstated explains the next steps.
A license suspended in Missouri post covers the Missouri process in more detail. For the status of your own record, the DOR’s automated line is (573) 526-2407.
Driving while your license is suspended is a separate ticket worth 12 points, so it is best to stay off the road until the DOR confirms you are reinstated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Missouri?
A speeding ticket is 2 points from a city or county police officer and 3 points from the Missouri State Police. Excessive speeding is 2 to 3 points. Those points are added only if you plead guilty or are convicted.
How Many Speeding Tickets Before a License Suspension in Missouri?
The number of speeding tickets before a suspension depends on the points, and 4 tickets worth 2 points each in 18 months reach the 8-point limit. With 3-point tickets, 3 tickets are enough to reach 9 points. Other violations on your record count toward the same total.
Can a Lawyer Get a Speeding Ticket Reduced to No Points in Missouri?
A lawyer can often negotiate to amend a speeding ticket to a non-moving, no-point infraction, though the result is possible rather than certain. Andrea handles speeding tickets for this purpose, and it is very likely that you won’t have to appear in court if she handles your case.
How Long Do Points Stay on Your License in Missouri?
Points drop by one-third after 1 year, by one-half of the rest after 2 years, and to zero after 3 clean years. The conviction itself usually stays on your driving record for 3 years. Some convictions, such as no insurance, stay permanently.
Will My Insurance Rates Go Up After a Speeding Ticket?
Insurance rates can increase after a guilty plea to a speeding ticket because the conviction shows up on your driving record. A ticket amended to a non-moving violation keeps the points off your record, and your car insurance rates won’t be affected.
The Bottom Line
Eight points in 18 months suspends your Missouri license, 12 points in 12 months revokes it for a year, and a guilty plea to a speeding ticket is what adds the points. Getting the ticket amended before you plead is the best way to protect your license, your insurance rates, and your job. Andrea handles every call and every case personally. She offers a free consultation with a flat fee price quote up front. Call The Rogers Law Firm at (314) 724-5059 to talk through your ticket.
You can also review the pricing page before you call.
