What Is an FTA Charge in Florida? (2026): Failure to Appear Meaning, Points & License Impact
Aug 25, 2026
TLDR FTA on a Florida traffic citation stands for Failure to Appear. Failing to pay your ticket or show up for court triggers a D-6 license suspension until the case is resolved, plus a $60 reinstatement fee. The FTA itself adds no points, but paying the underlying ticket does.
Verified against Florida DHSMV (FLHSMV) and Florida Statutes, updated August 2026.
What Does FTA Mean on a Florida Traffic Citation?
FTA is the abbreviation Florida courts and the FLHSMV use for a Failure to Appear. When you get a traffic citation in Florida you have three choices: pay the fine, elect traffic school, or appear in court by your deadline. If you were required to appear in court and you did not show up - even if you forgot or never received the notice - the judge enters an FTA on your record. The court then notifies the FLHSMV, which can issue an administrative D-6 license suspension. No hearing is required before the suspension takes effect and you may not receive advance notice.Does an FTA Add Points to Your Florida License?
No. The FTA itself is not a point-bearing violation. It is a court-compliance action that triggers the D-6 suspension. Points are a separate issue: when the underlying citation is resolved by payment or by losing the case, the points for that violation are added to your driving record. So an FTA does not add points, but the ticket that caused it still will once it is settled.| Item | What It Means | License Impact | Cost to Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTA (Failure to Appear) | Missed court date or payment deadline on a citation | D-6 license suspension, stays in effect until court resolves the case | Court fines + late fees + $60 FLHSMV reinstatement fee |
| Underlying ticket points | Points assessed when the citation is paid or decided against you | Points stay active 36 months and count toward suspension thresholds | A BDI traffic school election can keep points off an eligible ticket |
| D-6 suspension | Administrative suspension for failing to comply with a citation | Blocks driving until you satisfy the court and pay the fee | $60 to FLHSMV (some tax collector offices add a service fee) |
How Many Points Is a Florida Traffic Ticket Worth?
If the FTA's underlying ticket is a moving violation, resolving it adds points based on the offense. Points stay on your record for 3 years (36 months).| Florida Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1-15 mph over the limit | 3 points |
| Speeding 16+ mph over the limit | 4 points |
| Running a red light or stop sign | 4 points |
| Reckless driving | 4 points |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 4 points |
| Following too closely, improper lane change, failure to yield | 3 points |
| Leaving the scene of a crash | 6 points |
How to Clear an FTA and Reinstate Your License in Florida
You cannot pay the FLHSMV and skip the court. The court must resolve the FTA first, then you reinstate the license.- Contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the citation was issued (not the DMV) to find out exactly what you owe.
- Satisfy the court requirements - pay the original fine, late fees, and court costs, and complete any court-ordered traffic school.
- Get a D-6 clearance - the court sends the clearance to the FLHSMV electronically or gives you a paper form to submit.
- Pay the $60 reinstatement fee to the FLHSMV through the MyDMV portal, by phone at 850-617-3000, or at any Florida driver license office or tax collector.
- Verify your license status with the FLHSMV Online Driver License Check before you drive.
Can Traffic School Remove an FTA or Its Points?
A Florida Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) traffic school election can keep the points from an eligible citation off your record - but it does not erase an FTA. The FTA is a court-compliance matter and must be resolved through the Clerk of Court as shown above. BDI is limited to once every 12 months and up to 8 times in a lifetime, and it is not available for CDL holders or serious offenses.Frequently Asked Questions
What does FTA stand for on a Florida ticket?
FTA stands for Failure to Appear. It means you missed your court date or did not comply with your traffic citation by the deadline.Does an FTA add points to your license in Florida?
No - the FTA itself adds no points. It triggers a D-6 license suspension. Points are added separately when the underlying ticket is resolved by payment or loss.How much does it cost to reinstate a Florida license after an FTA?
The FLHSMV reinstatement fee for a D-6 (failure to comply) suspension is $60. Some tax collector and driver license offices charge an additional service fee on top of the state fee.Can you drive with a D-6 suspension?
No. A D-6 suspension means your driving privilege is suspended until the court clears the FTA and you pay the reinstatement fee. Driving while suspended can lead to a criminal Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) charge.How long does an FTA stay on your record in Florida?
The suspension stays active until the court resolves the case and you reinstate. The resolved citation can remain on your driving record for years, and the D-6 flag is lifted only after reinstatement.Start Your Course Now
If you are facing a Florida traffic ticket and want to keep points off your record, complete a state-approved Florida traffic school before your deadline. SafeDriver.com offers a court-accepted online Florida Traffic Ticket Dismissal Course you can finish the same day. Start your Florida ticket course at SafeDriver.com, or browse all SafeDriver.com courses for defensive driving, learners permit prep, and insurance discounts.Citations
- https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/driver-license-suspensions-revocations/traffic-citations-court-suspensions/
- https://www.flhsmv.gov/Fees/
- https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/0322.29
- https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/driver-license-suspensions-revocations/