Michigan Driver Point System

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Michigan SOS tracks moving-violation convictions on a point-based system. Each conviction adds points to the driver record. Reaching 12 points within 2 years triggers a mandatory re-examination at SOS and possible license sanction. Unlike some states, Michigan does not have a fixed surcharge schedule — point consequences come through insurance carriers and through the re-examination process.

How points are added

Points are added when a district court conviction is reported to Michigan SOS. Common moving violations and Michigan point values:

Reckless driving: 6 points.
OWI / OWI Super Drunk: 6 points.
OWVI (Operating While Visibly Impaired): 4 points.
Refusal of chemical test (implied consent): 6 points.
Underage zero-tolerance (under 21, BAC 0.02%+): 4 points.
Speeding 16 mph or more over the limit: 4 points.
Speeding 11-15 mph over: 3 points.
Speeding 6-10 mph over: 2 points.
Speeding 1-5 mph over (in a marked construction zone): 2 points.
Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light: 3 points.
Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle: 2 points.
Improper passing: 4 points (in a school zone), 3 points elsewhere.
Disobeying a school crossing guard: 4 points.
Following too closely: 2 points.
Improper turn: 2 points.
Failure to wear a seat belt: 0 points (civil infraction with fine only).
Texting / hand-held phone use: 1 point first offense, 2 points repeat.

The 12-point threshold

Michigan SOS does not use a fixed point-based suspension formula like many states. Instead, accumulating 12 points in 2 years triggers a mandatory re-examination with a SOS Driver Improvement analyst:

The driver is summoned to a SOS branch for an interview.
The analyst reviews the driving record, the underlying violations, and the driver's current circumstances.
Possible outcomes include warning, restricted license, license suspension, license revocation, or driver-improvement course requirement.

Re-examinations are not automatic suspensions — many drivers exit with a warning or a probation period rather than a formal sanction. But reaching 12 points puts the license at SOS's discretionary mercy, which is a strong incentive to keep the count below the threshold.

Other discretionary sanctions

Michigan SOS can take action without waiting for a 12-point trigger when the record shows:

Three or more accidents in 3 years.
Multiple moving-violation convictions for the same offense.
An accident pattern suggesting impaired driving or medical issues.
Failure to comply with prior driver-improvement orders.

How points come off the record

Points count against the active 2-year window for re-examination purposes from the violation date. Active points are reduced when:

The 2-year window passes from the original violation date — the points are no longer active for re-examination calculation but remain on the record permanently.
The driver completes a Michigan-approved Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) after a qualifying conviction (eligible only once every 5 years; eligibility requires the driver to be 18 or older with no prior BDIC dismissals on the record).

Convictions remain on the record permanently regardless of the active-point status. This is different from some states that fully expunge points after a fixed window.

Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC)

The BDIC is a 4-hour online or classroom course offered by approved providers (typically $30-$50). Eligible drivers can take the BDIC after a qualifying first moving-violation conviction (2 or 3 points) to keep the violation off the record entirely:

The conviction does not appear on insurance reports.
No points are added to the driving record.
The provider files completion with the court within 60 days.

The BDIC can be used only once. Many Michigan drivers reserve it for the most expensive ticket they receive over their driving career.

Out-of-state violations

Michigan is a member of the Driver License Compact. Violations committed in another Compact state are reported back to Michigan SOS and may be added to the Michigan record at the equivalent Michigan point value. Some states report only major violations; Michigan generally accepts the Compact report as if the violation had occurred in Michigan. See Michigan driving records.

OWI points and consequences

OWI convictions add 6 points to the record but the more material consequence is the license sanction itself: 6-month or 1-year suspension on first offense, longer for repeat. See Michigan OWI laws. The OWI conviction also remains on the record permanently, regardless of the 2-year active-point window.

Practical advice

Drivers approaching 8-10 points in a 2-year window should consider:

Taking the BDIC after the next eligible conviction (if not previously used).
Plea-bargaining the next ticket to a non-point offense at the district-court level.
Pulling a current driving record to confirm the active count.
Avoiding any new violations until the existing points roll out of the 2-year window.

Michigan's point system is less punitive than some states' on a per-point basis but more discretionary at the threshold — the 12-point re-examination is harder to predict than a fixed suspension. Insurance carriers also access the record independently for premium pricing, often using their own internal point scales.