How Many Points Is a DUI in Maryland?

Maryland suspends a driver's license for DUI under a conviction-based rule, not a point-threshold rule. A first-offense DUI triggers a minimum 45-day suspension. A second offense within five years triggers a 90-day suspension. A third offense results in revocation, which requires a full reapplication process rather than simple reinstatement. The 8-point threshold that suspends licenses for accumulating speeding tickets or other moving violations does not apply to DUI. You face suspension regardless of whether you have zero prior points or seven. The DUI conviction itself is the trigger. This matters for reinstatement planning. You cannot treat a DUI suspension like a points suspension where defensive driving courses might reduce your total. Maryland does not offer point reduction for DUI convictions, and the suspension period runs on a fixed timeline set by statute, not by your driving record cleanup efforts.

Maryland requires SR-22 filing for three years after a DUI conviction before the MVA will reinstate your license. The SR-22 is a continuous proof-of-insurance certificate filed by your carrier directly with the state. It costs approximately $25 to $50 to file, but the real expense is the underlying insurance policy. Most preferred carriers decline to write policies for drivers with DUI convictions during the active SR-22 filing period. You will shop in the non-standard market where policies typically cost $150 to $300 per month for state minimum liability coverage, compared to $85 to $140 per month for a clean-record driver. The three-year SR-22 filing period starts from your reinstatement date, not your conviction date. If your license is suspended for 90 days and you delay reinstatement by six months, the SR-22 clock does not start until you actually file and reinstate. Any lapse in coverage during the three-year period resets the requirement and triggers a new suspension.

Maryland removes DUI points from your MVA record two years after the conviction date. Carriers maintain the DUI conviction in underwriting systems for three to five years, meaning your rates stay elevated long after the state clears the points. A first-offense DUI increases premiums by 80% to 140% on average in Maryland during the first three years post-conviction. Progressive, GEIC, and other non-standard writers price DUI risk aggressively because preferred carriers exit the account entirely. You pay the non-standard rate structure until the conviction ages past the carrier's lookback window. Rate recovery begins at the three-year mark for most carriers, when the DUI conviction moves outside the active underwriting window. Some carriers extend the lookback to five years for major violations. You will not return to clean-record pricing until the conviction is fully outside the carrier's review period and you have maintained continuous coverage without additional violations.

Accumulating additional points during your SR-22 filing period compounds both your license status and your insurance cost. Maryland's 8-point threshold applies to new violations even while you are reinstated post-DUI. A speeding ticket worth 3 points and a failure-to-yield worth 3 points puts you at 6 points, leaving only a 2-point margin before a second suspension. Carriers reprice policies at each renewal when new violations appear. A DUI conviction already places you in non-standard pricing. Adding a speeding ticket during the SR-22 period can push monthly premiums above $350 because the combination signals ongoing risk, not a one-time lapse. The SR-22 filing itself does not increase in cost with additional points, but your ability to maintain affordable coverage deteriorates. Some non-standard carriers set internal underwriting limits and non-renew policies when point totals exceed thresholds even if the MVA has not suspended the license a second time.

Reinstating your Maryland license after DUI suspension requires paying a $50 reinstatement fee to the MVA, filing SR-22 proof of insurance, and in some cases completing an alcohol education program or ignition interlock device installation depending on your BAC level and prior offense count. The MVA does not automatically reinstate your license when the suspension period ends. You must initiate the process by submitting the reinstatement application, proof of completed requirements, and the SR-22 certificate from your carrier. Processing takes approximately 7 to 10 business days once all documents are received. Delaying reinstatement extends the period before your SR-22 clock starts, which delays rate recovery. If your suspension ends in January but you do not reinstate until June, the three-year SR-22 filing period runs until June three years later, not January. Every month of delay adds a month to the back end of your high-cost insurance period.

Preferred carriers like State Farm, Allstate, and USAA typically decline new business and non-renew existing policies when a DUI conviction appears. Non-standard carriers specializing in high-risk drivers become your primary market during the SR-22 filing period. Progressive writes DUI policies in Maryland through its non-standard division with monthly premiums ranging from $180 to $320 depending on age, vehicle, and coverage limits. GEICO maintains a high-risk tier but quotes selectively based on time since conviction. The General and Direct Auto specialize in SR-22 filings and offer state minimum policies starting near $150 per month. Shopping matters more for DUI drivers than clean-record drivers because non-standard pricing varies by 40% to 60% between carriers for identical coverage. Request quotes from at least three non-standard writers and compare not only the monthly premium but also the filing fee, payment plan options, and reinstatement support services some carriers offer to maintain continuous SR-22 compliance.