Points, citations and suspensions

Key points

1. Points stay on your driving record for 2 years from the conviction date.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “Points remain on your driving record for two (2) years from the conviction date.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

2. At 6 points or more, the DMV sends you a letter of caution.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “When you have six (6) points or more on your record, the DMV will send you a letter of caution”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

3. When you accumulate 12 points, your license is subject to suspension.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “When you accumulate 12 points on your record, your driver's license is subject to suspension.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

4. An approved 8 hour defensive driving class removes 3 points, once every 12 months.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “You may have three (3) points deducted from your record by completing an approved eight (8) hour defensive driving class. Motorists are only eligible for this point reduction once every 12 months.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

5. Violations you receive in other states become part of your West Virginia driving record.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “Traffic violations you receive in other states will become part of your West Virginia driving record and, if warranted, points will be assessed.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

6. If you fail to comply with a court action, the DMV suspends your license until you prove compliance and pay all penalty fees.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “The DMV will suspend your driver's license until you present proof of compliance with the court action and all penalty fees are paid.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

7. Using someone else's license, lending yours, or using a fictitious license brings a 90 day suspension.

   Source: PDF page 28

   “It is also illegal to use someone else's license as your own, to permit someone else to use your driver's license, to permit someone to use your identity documents to obtain a license, or to use or display a fictitious license. The penalty for these offenses is a 90-day suspension.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 28

8. Driving while revoked for DUI means a mandatory 30 days to 6 months in jail and another 6 month revocation.

   Source: PDF page 29

   “The penalty for driving while your driver's license is revoked on a DUI is a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 30 days to six (6) months. The law also requires that your driving privilege be revoked for six (6) months.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 29

9. Littering can bring a fine of $50 to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or at least 30 hours of litter pickup.

   Source: PDF page 87

   “Upon conviction, an individual can be fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000, imprisoned in the county jail for not more than 60 days, or sentenced to remove litter from any public or private roadway for a total of not less than 30 hours.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 87

Numbers to know

3 questions from the West Virginia practice test

1. 1. At how many points is a West Virginia driver's license subject to suspension?

   1. 12 points
   2. 6 points
   3. 8 points
   4. 18 points
   Show answer

   12 points. A West Virginia license is subject to suspension when the driver accumulates 12 points. Six points brings only a letter of caution. Eight points is the value of a single fleeing from an officer conviction on the point scale, not the suspension level. Eighteen points is not a threshold in the handbook. Since points last two years, the 12 point total is counted from the points still on the record.

2. 2. What can happen when a driver fails to comply with a court action and its penalty fees?

   1. The DMV will suspend the driver's license until compliance is proven and fees are paid
   2. The DMV will erase the court action from the driving record
   3. The driver will automatically receive a replacement license
   4. The penalty applies only if the ticket was a traffic ticket
   Show answer

   The DMV will suspend the driver's license until compliance is proven and fees are paid. West Virginia suspends the driver's license when the court reports a failure to appear or comply, and the suspension remains until proof of compliance and all penalty fees are provided. The rule covers any type of ticket, court order, or decision, not only traffic tickets. The DMV does not erase the matter or issue a replacement credential automatically. Handle citations promptly, keep proof of payment or compliance, and confirm the record is cleared before assuming the driving privilege is restored.

3. 3. What is the West Virginia penalty for letting someone else use your driver's license?

   1. A 90 day suspension
   2. A $25 fine and no suspension
   3. A 30 day suspension
   4. A one year revocation
   Show answer

   A 90 day suspension. Letting someone else use your license, using another person's license, lending identity documents to get a license, or displaying a fictitious license all carry a 90 day suspension. A small fine with no suspension understates it. Thirty days is shorter than the stated penalty, and a one year revocation is not the listed penalty. Giving false information on a license application is also illegal.

Source: the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter II: Driver Responsibilities. 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.