Points stay on your Michigan driving record for two years from the date of conviction, but the impact on your insurance and driving privileges depends on how many you accumulate

Michigan's point system tracks traffic violations on your driving record. When you are convicted of a moving violation — whether you plead guilty, are found guilty in court, or pay a ticket — the Secretary of State assigns points to your record. Those points remain visible for two years, but they do not straightforward disappear after that time. Instead, Michigan stops counting them toward your license suspension threshold once two years have passed since the conviction date.

The two-year window matters because Michigan suspends your license if you accumulate 12 or more points within any two-year period. Once you go two years without adding new points, the oldest violations drop off the counting system, and your point total resets. However, the violations themselves stay on your permanent driving history — they just stop affecting your current standing.

Key Takeaways

  • Points from a traffic conviction stop counting toward license suspension after two years from the conviction date, but the violation remains on your record permanently.
  • Accumulating 12 or more points within a two-year period triggers an automatic license suspension in Michigan.
  • Different violations carry different point values — a speeding ticket is typically 2 to 4 points, while reckless driving is 6 points.
  • You can request a hearing with the Secretary of State if you receive a suspension notice, and you may be able to reduce points through traffic safety school in some cases.

How Michigan's Point System Works

Every moving violation in Michigan carries a specific point value. Speeding 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit is 2 points; speeding 6 to 10 miles per hour over is 3 points; speeding 11 miles per hour or more over is 4 points. Reckless driving is 6 points. Improper lane change, failure to yield, and running a red light are each 3 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is 6 points. These points add up on your record regardless of whether you paid a fine or went to court.

The Secretary of State's office tracks these points automatically once a conviction is reported by the court or the police agency that issued the ticket. You do not have to do anything for points to be added — they appear on your record as soon as the conviction is processed. You can check your current point total by visiting the Secretary of State's website or calling their customer service line.

The two-year clock starts from the date you were convicted, not the date you received the ticket or the date you paid the fine. If you received a ticket on January 15 but were not convicted until March 20, the two years begins on March 20. This distinction matters if you are close to the two-year mark and worried about accumulating more points.

What Happens When You Reach 12 Points

If your point total reaches 12 or more within a two-year period, the Secretary of State will send you a notice of suspension. This suspension is mandatory — there is no discretion involved. The notice will tell you when your suspension begins and how long it lasts. A first suspension typically lasts 30 days. A second suspension within seven years lasts 60 days. A third or subsequent suspension lasts 90 days or longer.

During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving on a suspended license is itself a criminal offense in Michigan and carries separate penalties including fines, jail time, and additional points on your record. If you are stopped while suspended, you face charges even if you were driving safely and obeying all other traffic laws.

You have the right to request a hearing before the suspension takes effect. The notice will include instructions for requesting a hearing. At the hearing, you can present evidence or arguments, but the hearing officer can only consider whether the points were correctly recorded — they cannot waive the suspension based on hardship or other circumstances. If the points are confirmed as correct, the suspension will proceed as scheduled.

How Insurance Companies Use Your Driving Record

Insurance companies can see your entire driving history, not just the points that are currently counting toward suspension. Even after two years have passed and points stop affecting your license status, your insurance company may still see the violation and use it to set your rates. Insurance companies have their own rules about how long they look back — some consider violations from the past three to five years, while others look back longer.

A single minor violation like a speeding ticket may increase your premium by 10 to 30 percent, depending on your insurer and your driving history. Multiple violations or serious violations like reckless driving or at-fault accidents can increase your premium much more. When you shop for insurance or renew your policy, the company will ask about violations in the past three to five years, and they will verify your answers against your driving record.

The two-year point system and the insurance company's view of your record are separate. You might have zero points counting toward suspension, but your insurance company could still charge you a higher rate based on violations from three years ago. Conversely, a very recent violation might not yet have enough points to trigger suspension, but it will when ready affect your insurance rates.

Reducing Points Through Traffic Safety School

Michigan allows you to reduce points on your record by completing a traffic safety school course, but only under specific conditions. You must have been convicted of a moving violation (not a parking violation or equipment violation). You cannot have taken a traffic safety course in the past 12 months. The violation cannot be for speeding more than 10 miles per hour over the limit, reckless driving, or certain other serious offenses.

If you meet these conditions, you can enroll in an approved traffic safety school course, either in person or online. The course typically takes four to eight hours and costs between $20 and $50, depending on the provider. Once you complete the course, you submit proof of completion to the Secretary of State. The state will then reduce the points for that violation by two points — so a 3-point speeding ticket becomes a 1-point violation.

This reduction happens only once per violation and only if you complete the course before you are convicted of another moving violation. If you receive a second ticket before finishing the course, you lose the opportunity to reduce points for the first ticket. The course does not erase the violation from your record — it only reduces the points associated with that specific conviction.

Violations That Never Leave Your Record

Some violations are more serious and remain on your record permanently, even though they still follow the two-year point-counting rule. Driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving causing injury, and hit-and-run convictions stay on your Michigan driving record for life. These violations do not disappear after two years or any other time period.

Additionally, if you were convicted of a felony involving a vehicle — such as vehicular assault or causing death while driving under the influence — that conviction appears on both your driving record and your criminal record permanently. These convictions carry 6 points each and can result in license suspension, but the real consequence is the permanent criminal record, which affects employment, housing, and other areas of your life far beyond driving.

Checking Your Driving Record and Disputing Errors

You can request a copy of your Michigan driving record from the Secretary of State's office online, by mail, or in person at a branch office. The record will show all violations from the past several years, the points assigned to each, and your current total. You should check your record periodically to make sure it is accurate.

If you find an error — such as a violation you do not remember, points that seem incorrect, or a conviction that should have been dismissed — you can file a dispute with the Secretary of State. You will need to provide documentation supporting your claim, such as a court order dismissing the charge or a letter from the prosecutor. The Secretary of State will investigate and correct the record if the error is confirmed. This process can take several weeks.

Errors do happen. Sometimes a ticket is reported twice, or a conviction is recorded even though the charge was dismissed. If you believe your record contains an error, contact the Secretary of State's office as soon as possible, because an incorrect point total could trigger an unwarranted suspension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get points removed from my record before two years pass?

Points stop counting toward suspension after two years, but they do not disappear from your record. You can reduce points for a single violation by completing traffic safety school, which lowers that violation by two points. You cannot remove points entirely or accelerate the two-year timeline.

If I get a ticket in year one and another in year two, do both count toward the 12-point suspension?

Yes, if both convictions fall within the same two-year window. The two-year period is rolling, so it depends on the exact dates. If your first conviction was January 1 and your second was December 31 of the following year, both count together. If your second conviction is January 2 of the year after that, the first one has dropped off and only the second counts.

Does a suspension from points affect my ability to get a commercial driver's license?

Yes. A suspension on your regular license will prevent you from obtaining or renewing a commercial driver's license (CDL) while the suspension is active. You must have a valid, unsuspended regular license to hold a CDL. After your suspension ends, you can explore for a CDL if you meet all other requirements.

What happens to my points if I move out of Michigan?

Your Michigan driving record follows you. If you move to another state and get a Michigan license suspended, that suspension remains in effect. If you later return to Michigan or try to reinstate your license, the suspension will still be there. You cannot escape a Michigan suspension by moving.

How much does a license suspension cost to clear?

There is no fee to clear a suspension once the suspension period ends. However, you must pay any outstanding fines or court costs before you can reinstate your license. If you received a ticket and did not pay it, that debt must be settled before the Secretary of State will lift the suspension.