Pay Traffic Ticket in Michigan

Know Your Options

What it Means to Pay Your Michigan Traffic Ticket

Paying your Michigan traffic ticket is an admission of guilt. This means:

• You pay the ticket but request an explanation. If granted, you appear before a magistrate and explain why you committed the violation. The magistrate may then reduce charges, dismiss the ticket or rebuff your explanation by finding you guilty.
• The Secretary of State (SOS) will add points to your driving record.
• Points on your driving record could cause your MI driver's license to be suspended or revoked.
• The traffic violation will appear on your driving record which could cause a spike in your auto insurance rates or depending on your line of work, jeopardize your job.

Pleading Guilty as a MI CDL Driver

You must, by law, notify your employer within 30 days of any moving violation. This applies to all situations and all vehicles. Even if you're ticketed while driving your own car, you still must alert your employer. For more information on traffic violations and penalties, consult Michigan's Commercial Driver License manual.

Pleading Not Guilty

You also have the option to challenge your traffic ticket in court. Presenting a strong case could possibly influence the court to reduce charges or even dismiss your citation. Learn more on our Fighting Your Traffic Ticket page.

Respond to Your Ticket on Time

Regardless of how you plead, be sure to notify the court in a timely fashion. Depending on where you were ticketed, you'll be given a date (this will be indicated on your citation) for which you must reply by. For example, the 36th District (Detroit) gives you 21 days to respond, while the 15th District (Ann Arbor) only allows you a 15-day window. If you fail to respond, a default judgment will be issued. The SOS may then add points to your driving record and/or suspend your driver's license. In some instances a bench warrant may even be issued for your arrest.

Pay the District Court Listed on Your Citation

You will pay the district court listed on your MI traffic ticket. Read the ticket's payment instructions carefully. Every step will be covered including how to pay, where to pay and when to pay. If you have any questions, call the court listed on the citation.

If you cannot find your traffic ticket, read up on what to do in our Lost Traffic Ticket section.

Pay Online

Currently only 11 out of 100 district courts allow online traffic ticket payments via a centralized payment system. Your citation will clearly state if paying online is available.

Get Points Removed From Your Driving Record

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible to keep points off your driving record by completing a Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC). This is a one time opportunity. Before enrolling you will need approval from the SOS. For more on this, refer to our page covering Michigan point reduction.

Check Your Driving Record

After paying your ticket, check your driving record for accuracy. Verify there are no unaccounted violations and/or points. Because an accumulation of violations on your record could cause driver's license suspension or an increase in your car insurance rates, you want to be certain the state's record is accurate.

Shop for Better Auto Insurance Rates

Depending on the policies of your car insurance provider, any moving violation on your driving record could mandate increased premiums. If this happens, you may want to shop around for a new provider. You can conveniently research online by comparing car insurance rates to ensure you're getting the best deal.