Key points
A suspension temporarily withdraws your privilege to drive.
Source: Handbook p. 28
“If your license is suspended, your privilege to drive has been withdrawn temporarily.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28After a revocation, you must reapply and pass the vision, knowledge and road skills tests.
Source: Handbook p. 28
“You must successfully complete the vision screening, two-part knowledge exam and road skills tests and pay the required fees when you re-apply.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28Failing to stop and identify yourself at a crash where someone is hurt or killed leads to suspension or revocation.
Source: Handbook p. 28
“failing to stop and identify yourself at the scene of a crash if someone has been injured or killed”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28Convictions may bring 3, 4 or 6 demerit points.
Source: Handbook p. 29
“Convictions may be assigned three, four or six demerit points.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 2918 points in 12 months or 24 points in 24 months brings a 90 day suspension and a driver improvement clinic.
Source: Handbook p. 29
“If you receive 18 demerit points within 12 months or 24 points within 24 months, DMV will suspend your driving privilege for 90 days and require that you complete a driver improvement clinic.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 29Drivers 18 or older must take a driver improvement clinic after 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months.
Source: Handbook p. 29
“DMV will require you to complete a driver improvement clinic if you accumulate 12 demerit points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 29A required driver improvement clinic must be finished within 90 days, or DMV suspends your license until you complete it.
Source: Handbook p. 29
“If you do not complete the clinic within 90 days, DMV will suspend your driving privilege until you complete the clinic and pay a reinstatement fee.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 29For a driver under 18, a third conviction brings revocation for 1 year or until 18, whichever is longer.
Source: Handbook p. 29
“Your third conviction will result in a revocation of your driving privilege for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer.”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 29Being 90 days or $5,000 behind on child support can get your license suspended.
Source: Handbook p. 30
“are late making child support payments by 90 days or $5,000”
Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 3, 4 or 6 points | demerit points assigned per conviction | Handbook p. 29 |
| 18 in 12 or 24 in 24 months | points that bring a 90 day suspension | Handbook p. 29 |
| 90 days | suspension for too many points, and deadline to finish a required clinic | Handbook p. 29 |
| 12 in 12 or 18 in 24 months | points that require a clinic for drivers 18 or older | Handbook p. 29 |
| 18 | age that sets the juvenile rules and the end of a third conviction revocation | Handbook p. 29 |
| 1 year | revocation for a third juvenile conviction | Handbook p. 29 |
| 90 days or $5,000 | late child support that can suspend your license | Handbook p. 30 |
3 questions from the Virginia practice test
1. How many demerit points can lead to a 90-day suspension or the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program in Virginia?
- 18 points within 12 months or 24 points within 24 months
- 12 points within 12 months
- 30 points within 36 months
- 6 points in any period
Show answer
18 points within 12 months or 24 points within 24 months. If you receive 18 demerit points within 12 months or 24 points within 24 months, DMV must offer a choice of a 90-day suspension or nine months in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program; either path also requires satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic. A lower threshold, 12 points in 12 months or 18 in 24, requires the clinic without the suspension. DMV monitors every driver's record over rolling 12 and 24 month windows.
2. At what point must an adult Virginia driver complete a driver improvement clinic because of demerit points?
- After 6 points in 12 months
- After 12 demerit points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months
- After 30 points in 24 months
- Only after a suspension
Show answer
After 12 demerit points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months. Drivers 18 or older must complete a driver improvement clinic when they accumulate 12 demerit points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months, and if the clinic is not completed within 90 days DMV suspends the driving privilege. Reaching 18 points in 12 months or 24 in 24 brings a 90 day suspension plus the clinic. Under 18, a single demerit conviction requires the clinic.
3. A Virginia driver ignores an officer's signal to stop, and the pursuing officer is killed as a result. What charge applies?
- A Class 4 felony
- A Class 1 misdemeanor
- A traffic infraction
- Reckless driving
Show answer
A Class 4 felony. If you do not obey a law enforcement officer's signal to stop and the officer pursues you and is killed as a direct result of the pursuit, you will be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Eluding police is a serious crime even without injury, and a death raises it to a felony carrying prison time. When signaled, pull over promptly to a safe spot and stay in the vehicle.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free Virginia practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Virginia Driver's Manual, Section 5: Penalties. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.