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

In Michigan, the point system tracks traffic violations on your driving record. Each violation carries a point value. When your total reaches 12 points in any two-year rolling window, the Secretary of State automatically suspends your license. The suspension lasts a minimum of 30 days for a first offense, though longer suspensions are common depending on how many points you accumulated and your driving history.

The two-year window is a rolling calculation, not a calendar year. This means the state looks back 24 months from today. If you got 8 points in January 2023 and 4 points in March 2025, those points count together because they fall within a two-year span. Once a violation moves beyond 24 months old, it stops counting toward the 12-point threshold, though it remains on your record.

Key Takeaways

  • Michigan suspends your license when you reach 12 points within any two-year period, not per calendar year.
  • Common violations carry 2 to 6 points; speeding 1–10 mph over the limit is 2 points, while reckless driving is 6 points.
  • The Secretary of State sends a suspension notice by mail before your license is suspended, giving you time to request a hearing.
  • You can request a hearing to challenge the suspension, though the hearing officer will only overturn it if they find an error in the point calculation or record.
  • After suspension, you must wait the full suspension period and pay a reinstatement fee to restore your driving privileges.

How points are assigned for common violations

Michigan assigns points based on the severity and type of violation. Speeding carries 2 points if you exceed the limit by 1 to 10 mph, 3 points for 11 to 15 mph over, and 4 points for 16 mph or more. A careless driving conviction is 3 points. Reckless driving, which is more serious than careless driving, is 6 points. Improper lane change is 2 points. Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign is 3 points.

Some violations do not carry points at all. These include parking tickets, equipment violations (like a broken taillight), and certain minor infractions. However, even violations without points can still result in fines and court costs. If you receive a ticket, the citation itself will show whether points are attached.

Convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) or operating while intoxicated (OWI) do not add points to your license under Michigan's point system. Instead, they trigger a separate administrative suspension handled directly by the Secretary of State, independent of the 12-point threshold. An OWI conviction carries its own mandatory suspension period.

When the Secretary of State sends a suspension notice

You do not lose your license the moment you hit 12 points. The Secretary of State reviews your record periodically and sends you a written notice by mail when you reach the threshold. This notice tells you the suspension date, the reason (total points accumulated), and your right to request a hearing. The notice typically arrives several weeks before the suspension takes effect, though the exact timing depends on when the state processes your most recent conviction.

If you move and do not update your address with the Secretary of State, you may not receive the notice. The suspension still happens on the date stated in the notice, even if the letter never reaches you. For this reason, it is important to keep your address current with the state whenever you move.

Requesting a hearing to challenge the suspension

When you receive a suspension notice, you have the right to request a hearing before the Secretary of State. You must request the hearing within a specific timeframe stated in your notice—usually 10 to 14 days. Send your request in writing to the address listed on the notice. At the hearing, a hearing officer will review your driving record and the points on your license.

The hearing officer can only overturn the suspension if they find an error in the point calculation, an error in the conviction record, or a procedural mistake by the state. They cannot reduce the number of points or excuse the suspension based on hardship or personal circumstances. If you believe the conviction itself was wrong—for example, you were not actually guilty of the violation—you would need to challenge that conviction in traffic court, not at the Secretary of State hearing.

If you do not request a hearing, or if the hearing officer upholds the suspension, your license will be suspended on the date stated in the notice.

How long your license stays suspended

A first suspension for reaching 12 points lasts a minimum of 30 days. However, the actual suspension period often extends longer depending on how many points you had when suspended. If you accumulated 12 to 19 points, the suspension is typically 30 days. If you reached 20 to 29 points, the suspension is usually 60 days. At 30 points or more, the suspension can last 90 days or longer.

If you accumulate 12 points a second time within seven years of your first suspension, the second suspension lasts a minimum of one year. A third suspension within seven years lasts a minimum of 18 months. These escalating penalties explore even if points from the first suspension have aged off your record—what matters is whether you have been suspended before.

Reinstating your license after suspension

Once your suspension period ends, your license does not automatically come back. You must contact the Secretary of State and pay a reinstatement fee to restore your driving privileges. The reinstatement fee is $125 for a standard suspension. You will also need to provide proof that you have paid any outstanding fines or court costs related to your violations.

You can reinstate your license by visiting a Secretary of State office in person, by mail, or through the state's online system. Bring or send your driver's license, proof of payment of the reinstatement fee, and any court documents showing you have satisfied fines. If you cannot locate your license, you can request a replacement at the same time.

Do not drive during your suspension period. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, jail time, and additional license suspension. If you are stopped by police, you will face charges even if you were driving safely and following all traffic laws.

How to avoid reaching 12 points

Points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date, but they only count toward suspension if they fall within a two-year rolling window. If you received 6 points in January 2023, those points stop counting in January 2025. However, they remain visible on your driving record for insurance purposes and for future employers or courts to see.

The most direct way to avoid suspension is to avoid violations. If you do receive a ticket, you have options. In some cases, you can attend traffic school to have points reduced or removed. Michigan allows point reduction through defensive driving courses in certain situations—typically for minor violations and if you have not taken a defensive driving course in the past three years. Check with the court that issued your ticket to see whether this option is available for your violation.

You can also contest a ticket in traffic court if you believe you were not guilty. If the court finds you not guilty, no points are added to your license. If you plead guilty or are found guilty, the points are added regardless of whether you pay the fine or attend traffic school afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do points from different years add up, or does each year start fresh?

Points add up across a rolling two-year window, not per calendar year. If you got 7 points in March 2024 and 5 points in February 2025, those 12 points count together because they fall within 24 months of each other. Once a violation is more than two years old, it no longer counts toward the 12-point threshold.

What happens if I get points while my license is already suspended?

Points continue to accumulate on your record even during a suspension. If you are convicted of a violation while suspended, those points are added to your total. When your suspension ends and you reinstate your license, those new points count toward a potential second suspension.

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

Points cannot be removed early, but you may be able to reduce them. Some courts allow you to attend a defensive driving course to reduce points for certain violations. You must complete the course before the conviction is final. Contact the court that issued your ticket to ask whether this option applies to your violation.

Does a DUI or OWI count toward the 12-point suspension?

No. DUI and OWI convictions do not add points under Michigan's point system. Instead, they trigger a separate administrative suspension handled by the Secretary of State. The suspension length depends on whether it is a first, second, or third offense and other factors, but it is not based on the 12-point rule.

If I move out of Michigan, do I still have to serve the suspension?

If you move to another state, your Michigan suspension remains valid in Michigan. If you try to get a license in the new state, most states will see the Michigan suspension and refuse to issue you a license until it is lifted. You will need to complete the suspension period and pay reinstatement fees to Michigan before you can obtain a valid license anywhere.