What is the Penalty For Driving While License Suspended? If you have received a ticket for Driving While License Suspended in Michigan you are facing a criminal charge. Many people underestimate the seriousness of a DWLS charge, thinking that it is simply a traffic ticket.

A personal driving record can be obtained via the Michigan SOS. A potentially faster and more convenient option is to get a copy of your driver record from our approved partner.

Driver License Suspension in Michigan

If the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) suspended your driver’s license, you’ll need to satisfy your suspension requirements to have it reinstated.

Your driver’s license may be suspended, restricted, or revoked for reasons including:

• Operating while intoxicated (OWI) with drugs or alcohol/DWI/DUI.
• Refusing to submit to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test.
• Accumulating too many driving record points.
• Violating insurance laws.
• Using your vehicle to commit a felony.

On this page, you’ll find information about your suspension, how to request an administrative hearing, and how to reinstate your MI driver’s license.

About Your Suspended License in Michigan

The duration of your suspension/revocation will vary depending on your offense.

Your Michigan driver’s license will be suspended:

• Indefinitely for offenses such as:
  • Insurance law violations.
  • Failing to appear in court/failing to comply with a court judgment.
• For 6 months, for 1st offense OWI/DWI/DUI offenses.
• For 1 year, for OWI/DWI/DUI offenses with a BAC of 0.17% or more.
• For 1 year, for refusing to submit to a BAC test when arrested on suspicion for a DUI.

For more information about the duration and other reasons for suspensions, please contact the Michigan DMV:

• By phone: (888) 767-6424.
• Online using the MI SOS comment form.

NOTE: If you were convicted of a crime, you may face court requirements and fines in addition to your Michigan DMV suspension requirements.

Check Your Driver License Status

When you commit traffic violations, points will be added to your Michigan DMV driving record.

Points will stay on your driving record for 2 years. If you accumulate too many, within 2 years, the MI SOS will:

• Send you a warning letter: After 4 points.
• Send you a final warning letter: After 8 points.
• Require you to take a driver re-examination and possibly suspend your license: After 12 points.

MI Suspension Hearings and Appeals

You may be able to contest your driver’s license suspension by requesting a Michigan SOS administrative hearing.

NOTE: Administrative hearings have no effect on court decisions.

To request a hearing for your suspended license:

• Complete a Request for Hearing (Form SOS-257) and a Substance Use Evaluation (Form SOS-258) if applicable.
• Complete the Substance Use Evaluation section, if applicable.
• Submit your request:
  • Online: Petitioners or Attorneys.
  • By mail to:
    Michigan Department of State
    P.O. Box 30196
    Lansing, MI 48090
  • By fax to: (517) 335-2190 .

NOTE: Many administrative hearings must be requested within 14 days of your arrest/suspension.

If you've lost your driving privileges, make sure you have the support you need. Find a local attorney to help get you back on the roads.

Reinstate Your Suspended MI License

Your reinstatement requirements will vary depending on your offense and whether your license is suspended or revoked.

Suspended Driver’s License

To reinstate your suspended license, you may need:

• A completed Application for Driver’s License Reinstatement (Form BDVR-162).
• Supporting documents.
• Payment for the reinstatement fee. (See “Fees to Reinstate Your License in Michigan” below.)

You can submit your reinstatement form, documents, and fees:

• By mail to the address on the form.
  OR
  
• In person at your local Michigan DMV office. You’ll also need to provide:
  • Proof of your identity, with documents such as:
    • A photo ID.
    • A U.S. passport.
    • A U.S. military ID.
    • Your Social Security number (SSN).
  • A legal presence document, such as:
    • A birth certificate.
    • A U.S. passport.
    • A certificate of U.S. citizenship.
  • Proof of your Michigan address.

For a complete list of acceptable documents, please see the Michigan SOS website.

Revoked Driver’s License

If your MI driver’s license was revoked, you will need to petition your local Circuit Court or the Michigan SOS Driver Assessment and Appeal Division, depending on your driving record.

For more information, please contact the Michigan SOS at (888) 767-6424.

Obtain a Restricted MI Driver’s License

Depending on the reason for your suspension, you may be eligible for a restricted driver’s license, which allows you to drive to and from authorized locations.

To request a restricted license, you may need to:

• Serve a minimum duration of your suspension.
• Petition the court that served your suspension.
• Contact the Michigan SOS.

For more information, please contact the Michigan DMV:

• By phone: (888) 767-6424.
• Online using the MI SOS comment form.

Fees to Reinstate Your MI Suspended License

Driving While License Suspended 2nd Offense Michigan

Your driver’s license reinstatement fees will vary depending on the reason for your suspension. Included below are general MI SOS reinstatement fees that may apply to your situation.

• Standard driver’s license reinstatement fee: $125.
• Insurance law violation suspension reinstatements: Up to $50.
• Failure to appear/failure to comply suspension reinstatement fee: $45.

For more information on specific fees that relate to you, contact the Michigan DMV.

Driving While License Suspended Iowa

Acceptable Forms of Payment

The Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) accepts the following forms of payment:

• In person:
  • Cash.
  • Check. *
  • Money order. *
  • Discover, MasterCard, and VISA credit/debit cards.
• By mail:
• Check. *
• Money order. *
• Discover, MasterCard, and VISA credit/debit cards.

* Checks and money orders must be made payable to “State of Michigan.”

Forms

Driving While License Revoked

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

Driving While License Suspended Michigan Points

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