Reinstating a Driver's License in Michigan
How to check your Michigan license status, what gets a license suspended, reinstatement steps and fees, and hardship licenses.
Short answer: Suspension reasons include not taking care of a traffic ticket (most cases), reexamination after 12 or more points in two years, OWI and related convictions, test refusal, and drug convictions even if not driving (six months for a first drug conviction, with no restricted license for the… Secretary of State, What Every Driver Must Know (Oct. 2025), ch. 2; MCL 257.319
| License suspension | Suspension reasons include not taking care of a traffic ticket (most cases), reexamination after 12 or more points in two years, OWI and related convictions, test refusal, and drug convictions even if not driving (six months for a first drug conviction, with no restricted license for the first 30 days; one year with prior drug convictions in seven years). Tickets for moving violations received while suspended add more suspensions and a reinstatement fee. |
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| Hardship or restricted license | The Secretary of State may issue a restricted license during part of many suspensions, for example after the first 30 days of a first-offense OWI suspension, or after the first 45 days of a first high-BAC suspension (with an ignition interlock required). A restricted license is not issued during the first 30 days of a first drug-conviction suspension. |
Where to get help in Michigan
More Michigan traffic tickets & dui
- DUI Laws in Michigan
- How Driver Points Work in Michigan
- Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Michigan
- All Michigan traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
What gets your license suspended in Michigan?
Suspension reasons include not taking care of a traffic ticket (most cases), reexamination after 12 or more points in two years, OWI and related convictions, test refusal, and drug convictions even if not driving (six months for a first drug conviction, with no restricted license for the first 30 days; one year with prior drug convictions in seven years). Tickets for moving violations received while suspended add more suspensions and a reinstatement fee.
Can you get a hardship license in Michigan?
The Secretary of State may issue a restricted license during part of many suspensions, for example after the first 30 days of a first-offense OWI suspension, or after the first 45 days of a first high-BAC suspension (with an ignition interlock required). A restricted license is not issued during the first 30 days of a first drug-conviction suspension.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.