Maine Driving Points are the hidden cost of a speeding ticket — they pile up on your license, and enough of them in a set time window will suspend your right to drive. This guide explains the Maine point system in plain English: exactly how many points a speeding ticket adds at each speed bracket, how many maine driving points trigger a suspension, how long points stay on your record, and how to check and reduce them.
All figures are estimates for general guidance, verified against Maine sources as of June 2026.
In This Maine Guide:
How Maine Driving Points Work
Maine uses a demerit POINT system. The Secretary of State (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) assigns demerit points for moving-violation convictions. Points accumulate on the driver’s record; at certain thresholds the BMV sends a warning letter or suspends the license.
Maine Driving Points by Speed Bracket
Here is how many maine driving points a speeding ticket typically adds, based on how far over the limit you were going:
| How Fast Over the Limit | Points Added |
|---|---|
| 1-10 mph over | 4 (Maine groups 1-14 mph over together as “under 15 mph over” — all receive 4 points) |
| 11-20 mph over | 4 points for 11-14 mph over; 6 points for 15-20 mph over (Maine’s breakpoint is at 15 mph over, not at 11 — 1-14 mph over = 4 points, 15-30 mph over = 6 points) |
| 21+ mph over | 6 points for 21-30 mph over the limit. Speeding 30+ mph over the limit is a Class E crime (up to 6 months jail, up to 1000 fine, and license suspension) and also carries 6 demerit points. |
How long points last: Points expire 1 year after the date they are assessed. For each conviction-free year, the Secretary of State awards 1 point credit (up to a maximum of 4 stored credits) that automatically offsets future demerit points.
How Many Maine Driving Points Until Suspension?
In Maine, 12 points within 1 year triggers a license suspension of up to 15 days. At 6 points within 1 year, the Secretary of State sends a warning letter. Additionally, for each subsequent suspension within a rolling period, suspension lengths increase. Each new speeding ticket pushes you closer to that limit, which is why watching your maine driving points matters even when a single ticket seems minor.
How to Check and Reduce Your Maine Driving Points
How to check your points: Request your driving record online through the Maine BMV Driver’s Record Check Service at maine.gov/bmv/drc/. A 3-year record costs 7. You can also request records by phone at (207) 624-9000 ext. 52116 or by mail. Your record shows accumulated points, suspensions, and convictions.
How to reduce your maine driving points: Complete the state-approved Maine Driving Dynamics course (a 5-hour defensive driving course administered by the Bureau of Highway Safety) to remove up to 3 demerit points. You may take this course only once per 12-month period. Additionally, the BMV awards 1 point credit for each conviction-free year (up to 4 stored credits). See our Maine traffic school guide for the full point-reduction process.
Reinstating a suspended license: After a points-based suspension, you must wait out the suspension period (up to 15 days for a first suspension), pay a 50 reinstatement fee to the Secretary of State, and ensure all fines and court fees are paid. You can pay online (with a 5 processing fee), by phone at (207) 624-9000 ext. 52100, by mail, or in person at any BMV branch office.
Insurance Points vs DMV Points in Maine
Maine insurance companies use their own internal point or surcharge systems that are separate from BMV demerit points. A speeding conviction may raise your insurance premiums even if the BMV points have expired, as insurers typically review your driving record for 3 to 5 years. Insurance surcharge points do not appear on your BMV record and are set by each insurer individually. A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide if a ticket has pushed your rate up.
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How Maine Driving Points Actually Work
A point system is the state’s way of tracking risky driving. Each moving violation adds a set number of points to your license, and the points stay on your record for a fixed period before they drop off. If you collect too many Maine driving points inside that window, the DMV suspends your license — which is why even a minor speeding ticket matters if you already have points.
It is important to separate two different kinds of points. DMV points are what the state uses to suspend your license. Insurance points are a separate system your insurer uses to set your premium, and they often last longer than DMV points. A single speeding ticket can therefore cost you twice: once toward a possible suspension, and again as a higher insurance bill.
Some states do not use points at all and instead apply a surcharge or simply track convictions, but the practical effect is the same — more violations mean a higher chance of losing your license and paying more to drive.
Keeping your Maine driving points low protects more than your license — it protects your wallet. Drivers with a clean record qualify for the best insurance rates, while each added violation can move you into a higher-risk tier. If a ticket has pushed your points up, acting quickly to reduce or contest it is usually worth the effort.
What to Do About Your Maine Speeding Ticket
Once you have a Maine speeding ticket, you generally have three choices, and the right one depends on the points involved, your driving record, and your insurance:
- Pay it — the fastest option, but paying is an admission of guilt that adds points and can raise your premium for years.
- Fight it — contesting can get the ticket reduced or dismissed, especially if the officer does not appear or the evidence is weak. See how to fight a speeding ticket in Maine.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the Maine traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the Maine points guide to see how close a ticket puts you to a suspension. There is no single right answer for everyone; the best choice depends on how many points the ticket adds, what your record looks like, and how much your insurance would rise.
Other Maine rules to know: (1) Speeding 30+ mph over the posted limit is a Class E crime in Maine, not just a civil infraction — it carries up to 6 months in jail and up to 1000 in fines in addition to points and suspension. (2) Maine awards 1 “good driver” point credit per conviction-free year, up to 4 stored credits, which automatically offset future demerit points — a unique incentive system.
(3) The BMV sends a mandatory warning letter at 6 points (50% of the suspension threshold). (4) Maine does not allow you to attend traffic school in lieu of a conviction — the Driving Dynamics course only removes up to 3 points after the fact, once per year. (5) Habitual offenders (3+ suspensions for certain major offenses within a 5-year period) face revocation for 1 to 5 years under Title 29-A, §2551.
Official Maine Sources & Resources
- Maine DMV: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/
- Maine Point Schedule: UNVERIFIED (Maine’s full demerit point schedule is established by Secretary of State rules under Title 29-A §2458; a standalone public URL for the complete schedule was not confirmed — check maine.gov/sos/bmv or request the Motorist Handbook)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A, §2458 (Suspension or revocation of license — demerit point system); Title 29-A, §2074 (Rates of speed — criminal speeding at 30+ mph over)
This Maine driving points guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Always confirm your current point total with the Maine DMV.
More Maine Traffic Ticket Guides
- Maine Speeding Ticket Cost
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Maine
- Maine Traffic School & Dismissal
- Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Fines, points, and procedures are estimates for general guidance and change when state laws change. Always verify the exact amount and process with your state DMV or the court listed on your citation, and consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.