To check how many points are on your Ohio license, request your driver record from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You can do it online in a few minutes, by mail with a paper form, or in person at any Deputy Registrar office. The fee is $5.00 either way, and the record lists every conviction along with the points assessed.
Check Your Points Online
The fastest option is the BMV’s certified record request portal at bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov. You’ll need your Ohio driver’s license number and date of birth. Your Social Security number isn’t required, though supplying the last four digits helps the system match your record.1Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Ohio BMV Record Request Form (BMV 1173)
The fee is $5.00 per record. Payment is credit or debit card only, and a processing service fee of 1.95% (with a $1.75 minimum) is added on top.2Ohio BMV Online Services. Certified Record Request Once you pay, the record is available to download or receive electronically right away.
Request Your Record by Mail
If you’d rather have a paper copy, download BMV Form 1173 from the Ohio BMV website. Fill in your full name, mailing address, and driver’s license number, then include a $5.00 check or money order made payable to “Ohio Treasurer of State.” Mail it to:1Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Ohio BMV Record Request Form (BMV 1173)
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Attn: BMV Records
P.O. Box 16520
Columbus, Ohio 43216-6520
The mail route takes several weeks between sending the request and getting the record back, so it isn’t the choice if you need an answer soon.
Check In Person at a Deputy Registrar
Any Deputy Registrar office can print a certified copy of your driver record on the spot. Bring your Ohio driver’s license or other valid ID and $5.00.3Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Types of BMV Records This is the option to pick when you need same-day answers and want a staff member available to walk you through what’s on the page.
Reading Your Record
The record shows a chronological list of traffic convictions and accidents. Each entry lists the date of the offense, the type of violation, the court that handled the conviction, and the number of points assessed. Points are added at conviction, not when you get a ticket, so a charge you beat in court won’t appear.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 4510 – Section 4510.036
The record distinguishes between your full driving history and the points that fall inside the current two-year window. That distinction matters, because only the active-window total counts toward suspension. Points remain on your record permanently as history, but older ones stop counting against you after 24 months.
If something on the record looks wrong, contact the BMV directly. Errors usually trace back to a court reporting the wrong violation code or a conviction being attached to the wrong driver, and the BMV can correct the record once the court provides updated paperwork.
What the Number on Your Record Means
Ohio assigns 2, 4, or 6 points per conviction depending on severity. Routine moving violations like speeding, running a red light, and following too closely are 2 points each. Reckless driving and underage OVI are 4. The most serious offenses, including OVI, vehicular homicide, leaving the scene, and fleeing an officer, are 6.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 4510 – Section 4510.036
Two thresholds are worth knowing when you look at your total:
- 6 points in two years. The BMV mails you a warning letter listing every violation that contributed to the total and the points each one added.5Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Other Suspensions
- 12 points in two years. Your license is suspended for six months. The window is rolling: Ohio looks back 24 months from your most recent conviction.5Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Other Suspensions
So a total of 6 or higher on your active-window count is the signal that you’re halfway to a suspension and should be paying attention to what you drive into next.
Bringing Your Total Down
If your record shows at least 2 but fewer than 12 active points, you can earn a two-point credit by voluntarily completing a remedial driving course at a school approved by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The credit doesn’t erase the violations from your record; it acts as a buffer that lowers your effective total by two.6Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Limited Driving Privileges
One limit: the credit is only available if you enroll on your own. It doesn’t apply when a judge orders the course as part of a sentence. Taking the course soon after the six-point warning letter arrives gives you the most margin before another conviction lands.