Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
If you are asking how many points to suspend license in delaware, the suspension rules start at 12 calculated points within 24 months, when the DMV requires a Behavior Modification course within 90 days or a 2-month suspension. At 14 points the suspension is mandatory and lasts 4 months, and it grows by 2 months for every 2 more points, up to 12 months at 22 points. Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit can also bring a suspension under the serious speeding rules in Regulation 2208.
Key Facts
- 12 points: finish a Behavior Modification course within 90 days or serve a 2-month suspension. See what happens at 12 points.
- 14 to 22 points: a mandatory suspension of 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 months. See the action table.
- Serious speeding: 25 mph over brings a 1-month suspension, plus 1 month for each added 5 mph. See serious speeding.
- Occupational license: it may be issued for “extreme hardship,” with limits. See occupational license.
- Getting it back: the DMV lists a $50.00 suspension reinstatement fee. See reinstatement.
- Course credit: the 3-point credit “does not decrease your overall point values.” See the course credit.
How Many Points to Suspend License in Delaware
The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) runs a Problem Driver Program under Regulation 2208. The DMV, not the court, assigns points after a conviction. The Justice of the Peace Court says it plainly on its traffic FAQ page: “The Court does not assess points.”
The DMV acts on calculated points. Under Regulation 2208, section 4.13, a violation counts at full value for 12 months from the violation date. It then counts at half value for the next 12 months.
The DMV only takes action on convictions within the 24-month period after the offense date. Our guide on how long points stay on a Delaware license explains that count in detail. For the value of each violation, see the Delaware point system guide.
DMV Actions by Point Total
Regulation 2208, section 4.6, sets each step. The DMV Driver Improvement FAQ repeats them.
| Calculated points (24 months) | DMV action | Extra rule |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Advisory letter | The defensive driving credit does not affect the letter |
| 12 | Behavior Modification course within 90 days, or a 2-month suspension | The suspension applies if the course is not done |
| 14 | Mandatory 4-month suspension | Reinstatement needs the course within the previous 2 years |
| 16 | Mandatory 6-month suspension | Same course rule |
| 18 | Mandatory 8-month suspension | Same course rule |
| 20 | Mandatory 10-month suspension | Same course rule |
| 22 | Mandatory 12-month suspension | Same course rule |
Example: two convictions for speeding 15-19 mph over (5 points each) and one red light violation (3 points) total 13 points if all count at full value. That passes 12 but stays below 14.
What Happens at 8 Points
At 8 calculated points, the DMV sends an advisory letter. It is a warning, not a suspension. Regulation 2208, section 4.15, says the purpose of the letter “is to express our concern about the operator’s driving habits.”
A defensive driving course does not change this step. The rule says “DDC credits will not impact the issuance of an advisory letter.”
What Happens at 12 Points
At 12 calculated points, the DMV requires a Behavior Modification course. Regulation 2208 calls it a “behavior modification/attitudinal driving course.” You must finish it within 90 days after the notice.
If the course is not done in time, a 2-month suspension applies. The rule also lets a driver choose the suspension instead of the course.
This course is not the voluntary defensive driving course. The DMV requires it, so it does not earn the insurance reduction under 18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6)d.
Our guide to the Behavior Modification course covers who must take it.
Mandatory Suspensions From 14 to 22 Points
At 14 calculated points, the course option ends. The suspension is mandatory, and its length rises with your total:
- 14 points: 4 months
- 16 points: 6 months
- 18 points: 8 months
- 20 points: 10 months
- 22 points: 12 months
A suspension at this level comes with one more rule. To get your license back, you need a Behavior Modification course completed within the previous 2 years.
Serious Speeding Suspensions
High speeds can lead to a suspension on their own. Regulation 2208, section 4.7, sets these steps:
- 20 to 24 mph over: an advisory letter, if you have fewer than 12 calculated points.
- 25 mph over: a mandatory 1-month suspension, plus 1 more month “for each additional 5 MPH.”
- 25 to 29 mph over: you may take the Behavior Modification course instead of the suspension.
- 30 mph or more over: the DMV FAQ says the suspension is mandatory.
- 50 mph or more over, or 100 mph or more: a 1-year suspension, with no occupational license for the first 3 months.
As an example of how the rule reads, 30 mph over is 5 mph past the 25 mph line. That adds a second month to the first one.
Occupational License During a Suspension
The DMV may issue an occupational license in some suspension cases. The DMV Driver Improvement FAQ says one may be issued for “extreme hardship.”
It is not open to everyone. Under Regulation 2208, you cannot get one in these cases:
- You had 2 prior suspensions under the policy within 3 years.
- You were issued an occupational license under the policy in the previous 12 months. Regulation 2208, section 4.9, allows no more than one in any 12-month period.
- You have 15 or more points in 24 months. In that case, you must wait until your points drop below 15.
For serious speeding of 50 mph or more over, or 100 mph or more, no occupational license is issued for the first 3 months. Ask the DMV Driver Improvement section about your own case at 302-744-2509.
Driving While Suspended
A conviction for driving during a suspension makes it longer. The DMV Driver Improvement FAQ says doing so “shall extend the period of suspension or revocation for a like period up to one year.”
For questions about your own dates, call the DMV Driver Improvement section.
Getting Your License Back
Reinstatement can involve a course rule and a fee. At 14 points or more, you need a Behavior Modification course finished within the previous 2 years.
The DMV Fees page lists these amounts, with fees updated in October 2025:
- DL suspension reinstatement: $50.00
- DL revocation reinstatement: $200.00
These are the listed fees only, and this article does not give a total. Check your DMV notice and the fee page before you pay.
Check Your Points: Delaware Driving Record Online
You can order a Delaware driving record online to check your history. The MyDMV driving record FAQ says anyone with a Delaware driver license who creates a MyDMV account can buy a certified copy.
The record comes as a PDF, and you pay by card. The MyDMV FAQ names Mastercard or Visa credit cards.
The DMV offers a 3-year, 5-year or full record. The DMV Fees page lists the Driver’s License Record at $25.00. An online copy cannot be used for CDL medical certification.
You can also get a record in person at a DMV office or by mail. Our Delaware driving record guide covers each way to order one.
Does a Defensive Driving Course Help?
A course approved by the Delaware DMV adds a 3-point credit to your record. Under Regulation 2208, section 4.2.2, the credit takes effect on the date you finish the course.
The credit has firm limits. The DMV Point and Speed System page says it is “only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances.” It also says the credit “does not decrease your overall point values.”
The rules add a few more limits:
- It “will not be applied retroactively once an action item is in effect.”
- It does not affect the 8-point advisory letter.
- Regulation 2208, section 4.2.3, says the credits “shall not be considered when determining the eligibility of a school bus operator.”
- The course “remains valid for three years from the completion date.”
Our guide on getting points off a Delaware license explains what the credit does.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the official pages we checked on October 28, 2026, three details stood out.
First, Regulation 2208 is titled “Concerning Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program (Formerly Reg. No. 45).” The JP Court traffic FAQ still calls the speeding point rule “DMV Policy #45.”
Second, the regulation gives a course option at 25 to 29 mph over. The DMV FAQ adds that at 30 or more over, the suspension is mandatory. Third, the DMV Fees page notes updated fees effective October 1, 2025 and October 10, 2025.
Common Mistakes
- Expecting the court to set your points. The JP Court says “The Court does not assess points.”
- Thinking 12 points means an automatic suspension. It brings a 90-day course window first.
- Missing the 90-day window. A 2-month suspension applies if the course is not done.
- Counting on the 3-point credit to lower a total. It “does not decrease your overall point values.”
- Driving during a suspension. A conviction for it can extend the suspension “for a like period up to one year.”
- Using an old course for reinstatement. At 14 points or more, the course must be from the previous 2 years.
How Requirements Can Vary
Delaware’s point system, defensive driving course rules and insurance discount come from state law and state regulations (Regulations 2208, 2224 and 607, and section 2503 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code) and apply statewide. How your ticket is handled is up to the court on your ticket. The fines in the Delaware Code do not include court costs and assessments, so the amount due is on your ticket.
Laws, regulations and DMV fees can change. Check your ticket, any DMV letter, the Delaware DMV website and the Delaware Code before you take a course or pay a ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you lose your license at 12 points in Delaware?
Yes, if you do not finish the Behavior Modification course within 90 days. Then a 2-month suspension applies. The suspension is mandatory starting at 14 points.
How long is a suspension at 14 points?
Four months. Each 2 more points adds 2 months, up to 12 months at 22 points. To get your license back, you need a Behavior Modification course from the previous 2 years.
Does the advisory letter suspend my license?
No. The 8-point advisory letter is a warning. Regulation 2208 says it is meant “to express our concern about the operator’s driving habits.”
Can one speeding ticket suspend a Delaware license?
Yes, at high speeds. A conviction for 25 mph over brings a 1-month suspension, plus 1 month for each added 5 mph. At 50 mph or more over, or 100 mph or more, the suspension is 1 year.
Can I get an occupational license during a suspension?
The DMV may issue an occupational license for “extreme hardship.” It is not issued after 2 prior suspensions under the policy in 3 years, or if you were issued an occupational license in the previous 12 months. With 15 or more points, you must wait until you drop below 15.
How much is the reinstatement fee?
The DMV Fees page lists $50.00 for a DL suspension reinstatement and $200.00 for a revocation reinstatement. Check your DMV notice for any other steps in your case.
Will a defensive driving course stop a suspension?
Not once an action is in effect. The 3-point credit “will not be applied retroactively once an action item is in effect.” It only applies to future violations, in certain circumstances.
Conclusion
In Delaware, 12 calculated points brings a Behavior Modification course or a 2-month suspension, and 14 to 22 points brings a mandatory suspension of 4 to 12 months. For your own case, read your DMV notice and contact the DMV or a Delaware attorney.
Drivers who want to learn about the voluntary course can see the Delaware defensive driving course at Driving Logic, which is coming soon. If you want a voluntary defensive driving course now, choose one from the DMV’s approved list.
Related Articles
- Delaware Point System: How Driving Points Work
- Aggressive Driving Course Delaware: Behavior Modification
- Delaware Driving Record: How to Get It and Check Your Points
- How Long Do Points Stay on Your License in Delaware?
Sources
- 2 DE Admin Code 2208 — Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program
- Delaware DMV — Driver Improvement FAQ
- Delaware DMV — Point and Speed System
- Delaware DMV — Fees
- Delaware DMV — MyDMV Driving Record FAQ
- Delaware DMV — Copy of Driving Record
- Delaware Justice of the Peace Court — Traffic FAQs
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, an online driver education course provider serving drivers in several U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Delaware course rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court, DMV notice and case facts, and they can change. Use official Delaware DMV, Delaware Code and court sources, and consult a qualified Delaware attorney for advice about your own case.