Michigan Driving Records

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

A Michigan driving record summarizes a driver's license history, current point total, suspensions, restorations, accidents reported by police, and convictions reported by district courts. The record is held by Michigan SOS and can be pulled by the driver, by an employer with consent, or by court order.

Types of records

Standard record — a 7-year history of convictions, suspensions, and accidents. The most commonly requested record for personal use.
Certified record — same content as the standard record but certified by Michigan SOS for legal proceedings, insurance, or employment.
Complete history — the full driver record from license issuance, including all convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements. Used by drivers preparing for a DLAD hearing or by employers in safety-sensitive roles.
Point summary — current point balance.

Online requests via MICOR

Michigan SOS's MICOR online portal lets drivers pull their own standard record for $11. The driver authenticates with license number, date of birth, and the last 4 of Social Security, and the record is delivered as a PDF for immediate download or by mail in 3-5 business days. Online pulls are non-certified.

By-mail requests

Mail-in requests use form BDVR-154 (Driving Record Request). The completed form is mailed to Michigan SOS's Record Sales Section in Lansing with a check or money order for the $11 fee ($12 for certified). Michigan SOS mails the record within 7-10 business days. Notarization is required for certified records.

In-person requests

Michigan SOS branches issue records at the counter for $11 standard or $12 certified. Drivers should bring valid Michigan ID and the request form. In-person records are typically issued the same day, although larger branches print and mail rather than print on demand at the counter.

Employer requests

An employer cannot pull a Michigan driving record without the driver's written consent. With consent, the employer can request the record through:

The MICOR online portal (employer account).
Form BDVR-154 for individual record requests.
An authorized commercial vendor — the vendor pulls the record on the employer's behalf.
Direct SOS bulk services for licensed industries (insurance, transportation).

Michigan SOS charges $7-$11 per record for employer pulls, with reduced rates for bulk requests over 25 records.

What's on the record

License number, current status, restrictions, and class.
Issuance, renewal, and expiration dates.
Endorsements (motorcycle, hazmat, school bus).
All convictions reported by Michigan district courts (moving violations, equipment violations, OWI).
All accidents reported by police where the driver was involved.
All suspensions, revocations, and reinstatements.
Current point balance.
OWI conviction history (life-of-record retention).
Out-of-state convictions reported through the Driver License Compact.

OWI on the record

Michigan retains OWI convictions on the record for the life of the driver. Even when the formal license sanction has expired and the driver is restored, the OWI conviction continues to appear on every employer pull and every insurance background check. This is materially different from many states that drop major convictions after 5-10 years. See Michigan OWI laws.

Disputing a record

If an entry on the record is incorrect (wrong date, wrong court, conviction reversed on appeal, accident not the driver's fault), the driver can submit a written dispute to Michigan SOS with supporting court documents. Common disputes include:

Convictions later vacated or expunged.
Accidents misattributed to the driver.
Out-of-state convictions reported in error through the Compact.
Missing reinstatement entries.

Disputes are reviewed by Michigan SOS's record bureau and can take 30-60 days. The bureau corrects the entry once supporting documentation is verified.

Privacy and DPPA

The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) governs who can access Michigan driving records. Permitted uses include the driver's own request, court orders, employers with consent, insurers in policy underwriting, motor-vehicle research, and law-enforcement use. Bulk commercial sale of records to non-permitted entities is prohibited. Michigan SOS requires every requester to sign a DPPA-purpose declaration on the request form.

Practical advice

Michigan drivers monitoring point balance or sanction status should pull their record at least once a year — see the Michigan point system for thresholds and the suspended license page for restoration steps. Pulling the record is the only reliable way to verify a license is "Eligible to Drive" before resuming driving after a suspension.