Points vs. Premiums: Can Moving Violations Be Removed from Your Record?
The moment those flashing lights appear in your rearview mirror, your mind likely jumps to two things: how much the fine will cost and how many points will hit your license. For drivers in California and Florida, these points are more than just numbers—they are triggers for massive insurance premium hikes and potential license suspensions.
A common question drivers ask after the dust settles is: "Can I get this violation off my record?" The answer depends entirely on your state's laws and how quickly you act. While you cannot technically "delete" a conviction once it is finalized, there are powerful legal mechanisms to hide or mitigate the damage before it becomes a permanent financial burden.
Understanding the Life Cycle of a Ticket
In the eyes of the DMV and your insurance company, a traffic ticket has two distinct parts: the conviction (the record of the event) and the points (the penalty assigned to that event).
California: A standard speeding ticket typically stays on your public driving record for 39 months (3.25 years). During this time, insurance companies can see the violation and adjust your rates accordingly.
Florida: Florida keeps traffic violations on your record for at least 5 years. However, the points associated with those tickets may stop impacting your license status sooner, usually after 3 years.
Once a ticket is on your record, you generally cannot have it "expunged" or removed. The strategy for drivers is not removal after the fact, but prevention and masking during the legal process.
The California "Masking" Strategy: Traffic School
California does not "remove" points in the traditional sense. Instead, they offer a process called masking. If you are eligible and complete a DMV-approved traffic school, the conviction remains on your record for law enforcement and courts to see, but it is hidden from the public and, most importantly, from insurance companies.
California Eligibility Rules:
You must have a valid driver's license.
The violation must be a 1-point infraction (minor speeding, running a stop sign, etc.).
You cannot have attended traffic school for another ticket within the last 18 months.
The speed must not have exceeded 25 mph over the limit.
By masking the point, you prevent the "Good Driver Discount" (usually a 20% savings) from being stripped away. In a state like California, where a single ticket can raise premiums by $1,200 per year, traffic school is the most profitable 4-hour investment a driver can make.
The Florida "Withholding" Method: Basic Driver Improvement (BDI)
Florida’s system is slightly different. When you receive a ticket, you can "elect" to attend a Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course. If you do this within 30 days of the citation, the court withholds adjudication.
Why "Withholding Adjudication" Matters:
No Points: Even though the ticket is documented, zero points are added to your license.
Statutory Protection: Per Florida Statute 318.14, insurance companies are generally prohibited from increasing your rates or refusing to renew your policy solely because of a non-criminal traffic infraction where points were not assessed (unless an accident was involved).
Fine Discount: In many Florida counties, electing traffic school also entitles you to a 9% to 18% discount on the civil penalty (the fine).
Florida drivers can use this election once every 12 months, but only five times in their entire lifetime.
Points vs. Premiums: The Financial Reality
It is a mistake to think that points are the only thing that matters. Insurance companies use their own proprietary algorithms, and they often care more about the conviction than the points.
| Scenario | Impact in California | Impact in Florida |
| Do Nothing (Pay Fine) | Point added; Insurance spikes 30-40% | 3-4 Points added; Insurance spikes 10-25% |
| Traffic School/BDI | Point masked; Rates stay stable | No points; Rates protected by statute |
| Contest in Court | Potential dismissal (0 cost) | Potential dismissal (0 cost) |
In both states, the "premium penalty" almost always outweighs the "point penalty." For example, 3 points in Florida won't suspend your license (you need 12 in a year), but those 3 points will cost you roughly $900 in extra insurance premiums over three years.
Can You Remove Old Points?
If you already have points on your record from a year or two ago, you generally cannot remove them by taking a class now. The "Traffic School" option is a one-time offer that expires shortly after you receive the ticket.
In California: You must wait the full 36–39 months for the points to fall off automatically.
In Florida: Points remain active against your license for 3 years, though the violation stays visible for 5 years.
The only way to "remove" a conviction that has already been finalized is through a legal motion to vacate the judgment, which usually requires an attorney and a significant legal reason (such as lack of due process), and is rarely successful for simple speeding tickets.
Summary: Your Action Plan
If you want to keep your record clean and your premiums low, follow these steps:
Check the 30-Day Window: In both states, you usually have 30 days to decide if you want to elect traffic school. Once you pay the fine without electing school, the points are permanent.
Prioritize the Insurance Mask: Don't focus on the fine; focus on the "masking" or "withholding." Even if the class costs $50 and the court fee is $200, it saves you thousands in insurance hikes.
Verify Your Record: After completing your course, wait 4–6 weeks and pull your Driving Record (MVR) from the DMV website to ensure the point was properly masked or withheld.