How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Arizona?

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

The answer to how many points is a speeding ticket in Arizona is 3 points, according to the ADOT MVD Points Assessment page. MVD adds points when you are convicted of, or forfeit bail for, a moving violation. If one stop leads to more than one violation, MVD counts only the highest point value.

Key Facts

  • Speeding: 3 points on your Arizona record. See speeding points.
  • Highest values: DUI, extreme DUI, reckless and aggressive driving are 8 points each. See the table.
  • When points land: after a conviction or a bail forfeiture. See when points are added.
  • One stop: only the highest point value counts. See one stop, one value.
  • The 8-point line: 8 or more in 12 months can bring MVD action. See adding it up.

How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Arizona?

A speeding conviction carries 3 points. That value comes from ADOT’s Points Assessment page.

The page lists speeding as one line. It does not set a different value based on how fast you were going. It also does not list a separate value for criminal speeding.

Three points is less than half of the 8-point line. But points from different tickets add up, which is why one speeding ticket can matter more than it seems.

The Full Arizona Points Table

Here is every value on ADOT’s Points Assessment page, as we read it on October 25, 2026:

ViolationPoints
Driving under the influence (DUI)8
Extreme DUI8
Reckless driving8
Aggressive driving8
Leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run)6
Failure to stop for a signal or stop sign, or to yield, causing death6
Failure to stop for a signal or stop sign, or to yield, causing serious injury4
Speeding3
Driving over or parking in a gore area3
All other moving violations2

Driving over or parking in a gore area is worth the same 3 points as speeding. Leaving the scene of an accident is worth twice that.

The last row is the catch-all. Any moving violation that is not named above carries 2 points.

The values run from 2 to 8. Each 8-point violation reaches the line where MVD may act on its own. The 6-point and 4-point rows tie the value to the harm a crash caused, death or serious injury.

What Counts as Speeding

Arizona’s basic speed law is ARS 28-701. It says you must never drive faster than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions.

The same law sets speeds that count as evidence you were going too fast:

  • 15 mph when approaching a school crossing.
  • 25 mph in a business or residential district.
  • 65 mph in other places.

Posted signs can change those numbers. You must also slow down near curves, hilltops, intersections, people on foot and bad weather.

On some interstates outside urbanized areas, ARS 28-702.04 lets the ADOT director raise the limit to 75 mph. Whatever the limit, a speeding conviction carries the same 3 points.

When Points Are Added

Points do not land the moment an officer hands you a ticket. ADOT says points are assessed each time you are convicted of a moving violation or forfeit bail for one.

ADOT also says the points go on your permanent driving record. The state rule, R17-4-404, uses the words “conviction or judgment” for the same step.

That timing matters. Between the ticket and the court result, you may still have options, such as defensive driving for an eligible civil ticket.

One Stop, One Point Value

Some stops lead to more than one citation. ADOT has a rule for that.

If several violations come from the same stop or event, MVD assesses only the highest point value. The lower values are not added on top.

Here is the math. Say one stop leads to a speeding conviction (3 points) and a conviction for another moving violation (2 points). MVD assesses 3 points, not 5.

Four steps to count Arizona points on license, from finding each conviction to comparing the total with 8

How Arizona Points on License Add Up

Separate stops are a different story. Points from separate stops do add together.

ADOT says 8 or more points in any 12-month period may lead to Traffic Survival School or a suspension of up to 12 months. Here is how speeding points reach that line:

  • One speeding conviction: 3 points.
  • Two speeding convictions: 6 points.
  • Three speeding convictions: 9 points, which is past 8.
  • Two speeding convictions and one 2-point violation: 8 points, right at the line.

A single 8-point conviction, such as reckless driving, reaches the line alone.

A Date Example

ADOT counts points in any 12-month period, not a calendar year. So look at a rolling window.

Say you have a speeding conviction on March 1 and another on November 1 of the same year. Both fall inside one 12-month window, so that is 6 points.

A third speeding conviction before the following March 1 would make 9 points inside one window. A 2-point conviction in that window would make 8. Either total reaches the line where MVD may act.

What MVD does at each level is set by rule R17-4-404. Our guide to how many points to suspend license in AZ lays out each level.

Points for Teen and CDL Drivers

Two groups face extra rules on top of the point count.

Drivers under 18. ADOT’s Traffic Survival School page says they must attend TSS after a first moving violation. So for a teen, one 3-point speeding conviction can bring a TSS order, long before 8 points.

CDL holders. The court FAQ says a CDL holder who completes defensive driving gets no points, but the court still forwards the judgment record to MVD. Depending on the violation code, MVD may direct that driver to TSS.

Civil and Criminal Speeding

Not every speeding charge is the same kind of case. A standard speeding ticket is a civil traffic violation.

ARS 28-701.02 makes some speeding a crime. It covers going more than 20 mph over the posted limit. It also covers going over 35 mph approaching a school crossing, or over 45 mph in a business or residential district with no posted limit.

Criminal speeding is a class 3 misdemeanor. State law allows up to 30 days in jail under ARS 13-707. It also allows a fine of up to $500 under ARS 13-802, plus surcharges.

The points table does not split civil from criminal speeding. A criminal case also carries the court penalties above. Talk to the court or an attorney if you face this charge.

Waste of a Finite Resource

ARS 28-702.01 has a lighter category for some speeding. It applies where the posted limit is at least 30 mph outside an urbanized area or at least 40 mph inside one. If you were not more than 10 mph over, the ticket may be called waste of a finite resource.

The penalty is capped at $15 plus surcharges. The law says it cannot be used to suspend or revoke a license. Our guide on Arizona defensive driving points explains how that fits with the rest of the system.

The Cost Side of a Civil Ticket

Points are only one result of a conviction. A civil ticket also comes with a penalty.

ARS 28-1598 caps a civil traffic penalty at $250, except where another law says otherwise. Surcharges are added on top.

ARS 12-116.01 adds surcharges of 42%, 7% and 6%. ARS 12-116.02 adds 13% more. On a $100 penalty, those four surcharges add $78.

Keeping a Ticket From Adding Points

For an eligible civil ticket, the Arizona Supreme Court’s defensive driving program is the official way to avoid the points. The court FAQ says that once you finish the class, the citation is dismissed and no points are added.

The rules are strict:

  • Eligible list: your citation code must be on the List of Eligible Violations. Speeding under 28-701A is on it.
  • Twelve months: you cannot have attended for a ticket issued in the past 12 months, counted from violation date to violation date.
  • Deadline: you must finish at least 7 days before your court date.
  • Criminal codes: codes marked CM, such as criminal speeding, need the express permission of the presiding judge.

The class cannot remove points you already have. The ticket dismissal guide covers each step.

Checking Your Point Total

The way to see your points is to get your driving record from ADOT MVD. If you are eligible, you can print it at AZMVDNow.gov. You can also use the Motor Vehicle Record Request form by mail or in person.

Our Arizona driving record guide covers each route and fee. Once you have the record, find the convictions from the last 12 months. Keep only the highest value from each stop, and add them up.

If a ticket you took to defensive driving still shows on your record, the court FAQ says to call the court that handled it.

Summary card of Arizona speeding outcomes: civil speeding, criminal speeding, waste of a finite resource and a dismissed ticket

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These come from the ADOT and court rules above:

  • Adding up every citation from one stop. Only the highest value from that stop counts.
  • Thinking a bigger speed means more points. ADOT lists one value for speeding.
  • Waiting until after the conviction. Points land at conviction, so check your options first.
  • Counting the class date. The 12-month defensive driving rule runs from violation date to violation date.
  • Hoping to lower old points. The court FAQ says the class is not for point reduction.

How Requirements Can Vary

Arizona’s defensive driving rules are set by state law and the Arizona Supreme Court, but each court handles its own cases. The total cost includes a court diversion fee that each court sets, so the price depends on the court on your ticket.

Extension allowances also differ by court, from 14 to 60 days on the Supreme Court’s list. If a judge orders in-person attendance, you must take a classroom course.

Court fees can change in April and October each year. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current rules before you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points is a speeding ticket in Arizona?

Three points. ADOT’s Points Assessment page lists speeding at 3 points, and it does not change the value based on how fast you were going.

When do points go on my record?

ADOT says points are assessed when you are convicted of, or forfeit bail for, a moving violation. They go on your permanent driving record.

How many points is running a red light?

ADOT’s table names it only when it causes death (6 points) or serious injury (4 points). Otherwise it falls under all other moving violations, at 2 points. A red light conviction also requires Traffic Survival School, per ADOT.

Do two tickets from one stop both count?

No. ADOT says that when several violations come from the same stop, only the highest point value is assessed.

How many points before MVD takes action?

Eight or more in any 12-month period. ADOT says that may lead to Traffic Survival School or a suspension of up to 12 months.

Can defensive driving keep a speeding ticket off my points?

If you are eligible, yes. The court FAQ says the citation is dismissed and no points are added once you finish the class. It cannot remove points you already have.

Does going faster add more points?

Not on ADOT’s table. Speeding has one value, 3 points. Going more than 20 mph over the limit can make it criminal speeding, though, which brings court penalties.

Can one speeding ticket send a teen to Traffic Survival School?

Yes. ADOT says drivers under 18 must attend TSS after a first moving violation. That applies even though one speeding conviction is only 3 points.

Conclusion

A speeding ticket in Arizona is worth 3 points, and points from separate stops add up toward the 8-point line. Check your record and your options before a conviction lands.

Driving Logic’s Arizona Defensive Driving Course is coming soon. For now, find a certified school at azcourts.gov/drive.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Florida and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Arizona defensive driving eligibility, deadlines, and fees are set by Arizona law, the Arizona Supreme Court, and each court, and can change. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current requirements before you register for a course.