Michigan suspends your license when you accumulate 12 points within a two-year period

Michigan uses a point system to track traffic violations. Each violation you receive adds a certain number of points to your driving record. When those points reach 12 or more within any two-year window, the Secretary of State automatically suspends your license. The suspension is not optional — it happens by law once you hit that threshold.

The two-year period is a rolling window, meaning it moves forward as time passes. If you received 8 points in January 2023 and 4 more points in March 2024, those 12 points fall within a two-year span, and your license will be suspended. But if you received 8 points in January 2023 and 4 more points in January 2025, those points are more than two years apart, so the older points no longer count toward the total.

Understanding which violations carry how many points helps you see how quickly suspension can happen. A single serious violation can put you partway there; multiple smaller ones can add up faster than you might expect.

Key Takeaways

  • Michigan suspends your license automatically when you reach 12 points within any two-year period; there is no hearing or appeal before the suspension takes effect.
  • Points stay on your record for two years from the date of the violation, then drop off; older violations do not count toward the 12-point threshold once they pass the two-year mark.
  • A single violation can range from 2 points (minor infractions like speeding 1–5 mph over the limit) to 6 points (reckless driving or fleeing police), so one serious ticket can put you halfway to suspension.
  • You can request a hearing with the Secretary of State within 7 days of receiving your suspension notice, but the hearing cannot overturn the suspension — it can only address whether the points were recorded correctly.

How points are assigned to different violations

Michigan assigns points based on how serious the violation is. Minor speeding — 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit — costs 2 points. Speeding 6 to 10 miles per hour over the limit costs 3 points. Speeding 11 to 15 miles per hour over the limit costs 4 points. The faster you were going, the more points you receive.

More serious violations carry higher point values. Reckless driving, fleeing a police officer, or causing an accident while violating a traffic law each carry 6 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license carries 6 points. Careless driving carries 3 points. Improper lane use, failure to yield, and running a red light each carry 3 points.

Some violations carry no points at all — parking tickets, for example, do not add to your driving record. Equipment violations like a broken taillight also typically carry no points, though you still must fix the problem to avoid being stopped again.

When the Secretary of State sends a suspension notice

Once the Secretary of State's office processes your violation and your point total reaches 12 within a two-year span, they mail you a Notice of Suspension. This notice tells you the date your suspension begins, how long it will last, and what you must do to get your license back. The suspension typically begins 30 days after the notice is mailed, giving you time to arrange alternative transportation.

The length of your first suspension depends on how many points put you over 12. If you have 12 to 19 points, your license is suspended for 30 days. If you have 20 to 29 points, the suspension lasts 60 days. If you have 30 or more points, the suspension lasts 90 days or longer. Each suspension period is set by law based on your point total at the time the suspension takes effect.

You have 7 days from the date you receive the notice to request a hearing. This hearing is your chance to verify that the points on your record are correct — for example, if a violation was dismissed in court but the Secretary of State's records were not updated. The hearing cannot prevent the suspension, but it can correct errors in your record.

How points drop off your record over time

Points do not stay on your record forever. Each violation point expires two years after the date of the violation. Once a point reaches its two-year anniversary, it is removed from your record and no longer counts toward the 12-point threshold.

This means that if you received a violation on March 15, 2023, those points drop off on March 15, 2025. If you then receive a new violation on March 20, 2025, the old points are already gone and do not combine with the new ones. However, if you receive a violation on March 10, 2025 — five days before the old points expire — those violations do fall within the two-year window and will count together.

Keeping track of when your violations occurred helps you understand how close you are to suspension. You can request a copy of your driving record from the Secretary of State to see exactly which violations are currently counting toward your point total and when each one will expire.

What happens during a license suspension

During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is itself a violation that carries 6 points and can result in criminal charges. If you are stopped while your license is suspended, you face fines, possible jail time, and additional points on your record — which can lead to a longer or second suspension.

To end the suspension, you must wait out the suspension period and then pay a reinstatement fee to the Secretary of State. The fee varies but is typically $125 to $200. You must also provide proof of financial responsibility (car insurance) before your license is reinstated. If you do not have insurance, you cannot legally drive even after the suspension ends.

Some people are required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle before reinstatement, depending on the reason for the suspension and their driving history. This device prevents the car from starting if it detects alcohol on your breath. The Secretary of State will tell you in your suspension notice whether this applies to you.

Reducing points through traffic school

Michigan allows you to reduce points on your record by completing an approved traffic safety course. If you complete the course within a certain timeframe after your violation, you can have up to 4 points removed from your record. This can be a way to slow your progress toward the 12-point threshold, though it does not erase points that have already led to suspension.

Not every violation qualifies for point reduction through traffic school. Serious violations like reckless driving, fleeing police, or driving with a suspended license cannot be reduced. You also cannot use traffic school more than once every 12 months, so it is not a tool you can use repeatedly to avoid accumulating points.

The course is typically offered online or in person and takes a few hours to complete. You pay a fee — usually $50 to $100 — and must finish within the important date set by the court or Secretary of State. Once you complete it, you submit proof to the Secretary of State, and the points are removed from your record.

What to do if you receive a violation

When you receive a traffic ticket, check how many points it carries. If you are close to 12 points already, that ticket may trigger a suspension. You have options: you can pay the fine and accept the points, you can contest the ticket in court, or you can ask the court about traffic school if you are may be able to access.

If you contest the ticket and the officer does not appear in court, the ticket is dismissed and no points are added. If you go to trial and the judge finds you not guilty, the points do not explore. If you are found guilty or plead guilty, the points are added to your record when ready, even if you have not yet paid the fine.

Contesting a ticket does not may provide you will win, but it gives you a chance to avoid points if the evidence is weak or the officer cannot testify. Many people find it worth the effort, especially if they are already close to suspension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive during the 30 days between when I get the notice and when the suspension starts?

Yes. The suspension does not begin until 30 days after the notice is mailed. You can drive legally during that time. However, if you receive another violation during those 30 days, those points are added to your record and may extend your suspension period or trigger an additional suspension later.

What if I was found not guilty in court but the Secretary of State still shows points on my record?

Court dismissals and acquittals sometimes take weeks to reach the Secretary of State's office. Request a copy of your driving record to confirm the violation is still listed. If it is, contact the court that dismissed the case and ask them to send updated paperwork to the Secretary of State. You can also request a hearing with the Secretary of State to correct the error.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Michigan suspension?

Yes. Michigan counts violations from other states under a reciprocal agreement. If you received a speeding ticket in Ohio or Indiana, those points are added to your Michigan record and count toward the 12-point threshold. The point value may differ from what Michigan would assign, but the violation still applies.

Can I get my license back early if I complete traffic school?

No. Traffic school reduces points on your record, but it does not shorten a suspension that has already begun. You must wait out the full suspension period. However, completing traffic school before you are suspended can prevent suspension by keeping your point total below 12.

What happens if I get suspended a second time?

A second suspension within seven years is longer than the first. If you have 12 to 19 points on your second suspension, you are suspended for 60 days instead of 30. If you have 20 to 29 points, the suspension is 90 days instead of 60. Repeat suspensions carry steeper penalties and higher reinstatement fees.