driver, your driver record is a complete account of your driving history, accessible by your Michigan driver’s license. While Michigan does not share your driving record with other states, this doesn’t stop other states from sharing infractions or violations committed while traveling.

Traffic violations, such as reckless driving, drag racing, and driving under the influence (DUI) all rack up points against your Michigan driving record.
You can access your Michigan driving record online, by mail, or in-person through the Michigan Department of State.
While Michigan does not have a point reduction system, you can complete the Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) to avoid additional points being placed on your record.
Points on your Michigan driving record can lead to significantly higher
car insurance
premiums.

Michigan driving record

A Michigan driving record is provided to Michigan drivers upon request by the Michigan Secretary of State (or Michigan Department of State). It is a record of your driving history and includes information on:

Moving violations

License suspensions or revocations

License restorations and cancellations

Completed driver improvement courses

Driver improvement warning letters

Driver responsibility fees (paid and suspended)

Drug-related crimes and convictions

High-blood alcohol content suspension

Financial responsibilities

Failure to comply with judgment (FCJ) suspension and clearance

Out-of-state citations

Driver’s points

Points for traffic violations typically remain on your record for two to seven years, depending on the infraction. However,

alcohol and drug-related charges

will stay on a Michigan driving record permanently and may lead to the revocation of your license and driving privileges.

Types of Michigan driving records

Michigan offers three types of driving records. Each is available as a certified copy for $12 or a non-certified copy for $11.

Driving Record Type	Information Access
Certified Complete Driving Record	A complete driving history including information on all regular driving activities and not-at-fault accidents.
Certified Edited Driving Record	A limited driving record that excludes not-at-fault crashes, but includes all regular driving activities.
Certified CDL Driving Record	This record is typically requested by an employer and contains CDL-related information, along with medical certificates. It doesn’t include not-at-fault accidents.

Pro tip: If you are purchasing a driving record for legal matters, it’s recommended that you select a certified driving record.

How to get a copy of your Michigan driving record

There are three ways you can get a copy of your driving history in Michigan: online, by mail, or in person. Regardless of method, you will need the following to request your Michigan driving record::

Registered full name

Date of birth

Driver’s license number

Online requests

To get a copy of your driving record online:

Create an account with

MiLogin

Verify your personal and driver’s information

Pay the $12 applicable fee using a credit card or bank account number

Electronic copies of your driving record are only viewable for seven days. Be sure to save and/or print a copy for your records.

Pro Tip: If you cannot access your driving record during the 7 day period, you can fill out a
Refund Request Form
.

Requests by mail

If you’re out-of-state for an extended period of time, sometimes receiving a copy of your driving history by mail is your only option.

To get a copy of your driving record by mail:

Complete the

record request form

Enclose a check or money order for $11-$12 fee, payable to the Record Sales Unit:

Mail the record request form, check or money order, and any other applicable documents to the Michigan Department of State:

Michigan Department of State

Record Sales Unit

7064 Crowner Drive

Lansing, MI 48918-1502

In-person requests

Lastly, you can obtain a copy of your license status in person by

scheduling an appointment

with a branch office or Michigan DMV through the Michigan Department of State website.

Make sure to bring a copy of your license or ID, as well as a payment form for the $11-$12 fee. Payment options include cash, check, money order, credit, or debit cards. Additional service fees may apply for carded forms of payment.

Ways to improve your Michigan driving record

Currently, the state of Michigan doesn’t offer point reduction programs to clear your driving record. But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to help prevent potential point violations from impacting it.

The

Basic Driver Improvement Course

(BDIC) is a motor vehicle course designed by the State of Michigan mostly for first time violators. It supplies drivers with the opportunity to stop new infractions from impacting their record and ticket information from being sent to insurance and coverage providers.

If you’re eligible for the BDIC program, you will receive a mailed letter from the State of Michigan. Those eligible include:

Drivers with a valid Michigan, non-commercial license

Drivers with 2 or fewer points on record

Violations committed not in a commercial motor vehicle

Violations that aren’t criminal offenses

Tickets received amount to 3 or less points (not applicable if you received a ticket for careless or negligent driving)

The BDIC program can be completed both in person and online, and will include no less than four hours of instruction per course. Both the time for completion and cost vary depending on the BDIC sponsor running the program, but cannot exceed $100 as per Michigan law.

If you pass the BDIC, your course sponsor will notify the Michigan Department of State and in most cases, points for the associated offense will not be added to your record and will not show for insurance companies. But you are still responsible for any court fees or fines related to the ticket.

Driving records and insurance

Driving records are leveraged by insurance providers to determine a driver’s eligibility for car insurance.

Most insurance companies will only look at the past three to five years of your record when vetting you for insurance. However, it’s important to keep in mind they typically charge higher premiums for

high-risk drivers

. If you have a permanent violation, this may also be taken into consideration.

As a driver with violations or infractions on your driving record, it can seem difficult to find affordable car insurance. Luckily, in Michigan, there are several companies, such as Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and more who supply lower car insurance rates for high-risk drivers—or you can use the

Jerry

app to compare

car insurance quotes

in your area and ensure you always have the lowest rates possible.

FAQs

How many points until your license is suspended in Michigan?

If you accumulate 12 or more points on your Michigan driving record,

your license can be restricted, suspended, or revoked

. The length of suspension depends on the infractions committed. To have your license reinstated, you will need to pay a reinstatement fee of $125–$500 based on severity.

Does drunk driving stay on your record in Michigan?

Yes,

DUI charges remain on your driving record permanently

and may influence your insurance premiums. Initially, DUIs are charged as misdemeanors, but if you accumulate several, you can be deemed an “habitual violator” and subsequent DUIs will be charged as felonies.

What is the best driving record you can have?

In the state of Michigan, the best driving record is one that is clean of any violations, accidents, or infractions. To maintain a

clean driving record

, it’s best to follow the rules of the road and any state laws when it comes to driving.

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