Yahoo Autos 
9 things you may not know about driver's license points
MORE AT INSURANCE.COM
Scoring points is a good thing, unless it's on your driving record. Still, if you know how your state's point system works, you'll have a better game plan for keeping your license -- and your auto insurance rates low. Here are nine things every driver should know:
1. Auto insurance companies don't rely on state motor vehicle department point systems -- they use their own.
Both state motor vehicle departments and insurance companies use point systems to track driving performance, but they are separate assessments. DMV points are applied when you are convicted of certain traffic violations. If you accumulate too many points within a certain period of time, your license is typically suspended or revoked.
Insurers don't generally pay much attention to DMV points because they use their own point system when deciding how much to raise your rate. Based on the infraction, your rates rise by a predetermined amount at certain thresholds.
"For example, one Minnesota insurer assigns 4 points to a chargeable accident with a claim of $750 or more and 3 points to a speeding conviction for 10 mph over the limit. Its surcharge schedule shows the rate for a driver with 7 points would be multiplied by 1.27 -- that is, a 27 percent increase," says Penny Gusner, consumer analyst for CarInsurance.com.
