Insurance points vs DMV points in NC

Updated 6/9/2019

Insurance points and DMV points are often confused for being one in the same, which is simply not the situation in North Carolina. Most people are simply concerned about the effect of insurance points on their car insurance rate after receiving a traffic citation. DMV points mainly come into play if you receive enough points to result in revocation of your privilege to drive. It is important to realize insurances rates can still go up from an incident not resulting in insurance points such as a ticket for improper equipment or an accident that was not your fault.

​The chart below is based on the North Carolina Department of Insurance Safe Driving Incentive Plan and is an attempt to showcase the difference between insurance and DMV points along with the potential insurance rate increase.

Offense	DMV points	Insurance Points	Insurance % increase
Failure to have a child in a restraint or seatbelt	2	0	0%
Littering involving a motor vehicle	1	1	30%
Speeding 10 mph or less over a speed limit under 55 mph*	2	1	30%
Unsafe movement	2	1	30%
Stop sign or Stop light violation	3	1	30%
Following too closely, Driving on the wrong side of the road, or Illegal Passing	4	2	45%
​Speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit at a total speed of more than 55 mph and less than 76 mph	3	2	45%
​Speeding 10 mph or less over the speed limit in a speed zone of 55 mph or higher*	Varies	2	45%
Reckless Driving	4	4	80%
​Hit-and-run resulting in property damage only	4	4	80%
​Passing a stopped school bus	5	4	80%
​Speeding in excess of 75 mph when the speed limit is less than 70 mph*	3	4	80%
​Speeding in excess of 80 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph or higher*	3	4	80%
Driving after consuming if under 21	Suspension	4	80%
​Driving during revocation or suspension of license or registration	Suspension	8	195%
​Aggressive driving	5	8	195%
​Highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for highway racing	Suspension	10	260%
Speeding to elude arrest	Suspension	10	260%
​Manslaughter or negligent homicide	Suspension	12	340%
​Prearranged highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for prearranged highway racing	Suspension	12	340%
​Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury or death	Suspension	12	340%
DWI	Suspension	12	340%
​Transporting illegal intoxicating liquor for sale	Suspension	12	340%

* No insurance points are to be accessed for a first conviction for speeding 10 mph or less over the posted speed limit if the violation did not occur in a school zone and there are no other moving violations in the prior three year experience period.