Demerit points — Virginia Permit Test
Demerit points on the Virginia permit test — 5 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.
The rules
Convictions may be assigned three, four or six demerit points.
The number of points is set by how dangerous the offense was.
Convictions may be assigned three, four or six demerit points.
A driver aged 18 or older who reaches 18 demerit points within 12 months, or 24 points within 24 months, is suspended for 90 days and must complete a driver improvement clinic.
It is the total over time, so small offenses add up to the same result.
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.
A driver aged 18 or older who reaches 12 demerit points within 12 months, or 18 within 24 months, must complete a driver improvement clinic.
The clinic comes first, and the suspension only follows if it is skipped.
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.
A driver convicted of a demerit point violation committed while under 18 must complete a driver improvement clinic, and failing to do so within 90 days suspends the privilege until it is done and a fee is paid.
A young driver gets the clinic on the first offense, not the third.
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.
A third conviction for a demerit point violation committed under 18 revokes the driving privilege for one year, or until the driver turns 18, whichever is longer.
The count starts again at nothing once the privilege comes back.
Your third conviction will result in a revocation of your driving privilege for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer.
On the test
How many demerit points may a conviction carry?
Three, four or six. The number of points is set by how dangerous the offense was. Virginia Driver's Manual, p.29: “Convictions may be assigned three, four or six demerit points.”
How this works
Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.
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Where these come from
Every rule here is checked against Virginia Driver's Manual, published by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-06.