Driving Records in Michigan

Driving Records in Michigan

A Michigan driving record is a list of violations or incidents related to your driving history in the state.

Viewing your driving record can help you check your driving status and ensure that it is accurate and up to date. It can also help you recognize or prevent identity theft.

About Your MI Driving Record

The Michigan Department of State (DOS) maintains all driving records and handles record requests. The DOS offers both certified and unofficial driving records:

• A certified driving record is an official document and may be requested by courts and employers.
• An unofficial driving record may be ordered when certification is not required and is typically sufficient for a driver's personal use.

Information on Your Driving Record

Your Michigan driving record shows any:

• Convictions for moving violations and points received.
• Accidents for which you received a violation conviction.
• Suspension or revocation of your driver's license.
• Drunk driving (DUI) violations.
• Tickets for civil violations.

Points, tickets, suspensions, and other violations stay on your Michigan driving record for a specific length of time, as specified below:

• Points for moving violations: 2 years from the conviction date.
• Tickets and other details of a conviction, including accidents: At least 7 years from the conviction date.
• Suspensions and revocations: At least 10 years.
• DUI convictions: Permanent.
• Conviction for a fatality: Permanent.

Your MI driving record will show all information that has not expired.

Employer, Insurance & Attorney Requests

Driving records are often requested by employers, insurance companies, and courts/attorneys.

• Employers – An employer might need to see your driving if you're applying for a job or if you're required to drive for work.
• Insurance companies – Insurance companies can use your driving record to determine your insurance rates.
• Attorneys – Your driving record may be requested by a court or an attorney, especially if you're involved in a traffic violation.

Ordering a MI Driving Record

You can order your driving records or someone else's from the Michigan DOS:

• In person.
• By mail.
• By phone.
• By fax.
  • Unofficial copies only; certified copies cannot be faxed.

In Person

You can order your own certified driving record in person at:

• Any DOS branch office.
  OR
  
• The Secondary Complex in Lansing.

To do so, provide:

• Your driver's license.
• The applicable fee. (See “Fees for MI Driving Records" below.)

By Mail

To request a driving record by mail:

• Complete a Michigan Department of State – Requesting Your Own Record (FormBDVR-153).
• Either provide your VISA, MasterCard, or Discover information on the request form.
  OR
  
• Include a check or money order made payable to “State of Michigan" for the applicable fee. (See “Fees for MI Driving Records" below.)

Send the request to:

Michigan Department of State
Record Lookup Unit
7064 Crowner Drive
Lansing, MI 48918-1502

Requests by mail may take up to 8 weeks to process.

By Phone

Driving record requests are availably by phone IF you are:

• Requesting your own record.
• Paying the applicable fee. (See “Fees for MI Driving Records" below.)
  AND
  
• Receiving your record at the address on file with the Michigan Department of State.

To order your driving record by phone, call the Michigan DOS Record Lookup Unit at (517) 322-1624.

NOTE: Records requested by phone MUST be sent to your current address on file.

By Fax

To request an unofficial driving record by fax:

• Complete a Michigan Department of State – Requesting Your Own Record Form (BDVR-153).
• Provide your VISA, MasterCard, or Discover information on the form to pay the fee. (See “Fees for MI Driving Records" below.)
• Fax the request to (517) 322-1181.

Requests by fax take up to 8 weeks to process.

Ordering Another Person's Record

To receive a full, uncensored record for another person, you must be legally allowed to see that information. The MI DOS provides a full list of acceptable reasons to view an uncensored driving record, which include:

• Government agencies looking for information.
• Courts of law requesting information on behalf of legal cases.
• Businesses verifying information you have provided, including current or potential employers.
• Insurance companies determining coverage.

You will need to be able to show that you have a legitimate purpose for ordering another person's driving record in order to see a full, complete report.

NOTE: If you request someone else's record without a pre-approved reason, you'll receive a record with the Social Security number and other personal information removed.

You can order someone else's record:

• In person.
• By mail.
• By fax (unofficial copy only).

You cannot order another person's record by phone.

In Person

You can get another person's Michigan driving record in person from the Secondary Complex in Lansing ONLY.

You will need:

• A completed Michigan Department of State – Record Lookup Request (Form BDVR-154).
• Payment for the applicable fee. (See “Fees for MI Driving Records" below.)

NOTE: Record requests for another person's record are NOT available while you wait. They can be picked up on the next business day.

By Mail

To request someone else's record by mail, you'll follow the same steps as ordering your own record by mail (see above); however, you'll instead submit the Michigan Department of State – Record Lookup Request Form (BDVR-154).

By Fax

To request someone else's record via fax, all steps will be the same as those listed above for ordering your own record, except you'll fill out the Michigan Department of State – Record Lookup Request (Form BDVR-154).

Fees for MI Driving Records

Fees for driving records in Michigan are:

• Unofficial driving record: $8.
• Certified driving record: $9.

Accepted Payment Methods

The methods of payment accepted will vary based on the method you use to order.

• In person:
  • Cash.
  • Check or money order made payable to “State of Michigan".
  • MasterCard or Discover.
    • There will be a 2% processing fee.
• By mail:
  • Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
  • Check or money order made payable to “State of Michigan."
• By phone:
  • VISA.
  • MasterCard.
  • Discover.
• By fax:
  • VISA.
  • MasterCard.
  • Discover.

Updating and Improving Your Driving Record

If you're not satisfied with your driving record, either because it has errors or it has violations you'd like to remove, you do have options.

Correcting Your MI Driving Record

If find an error on your driving record, you should report it immediately so that it can be corrected.

• For incorrect personal information, such as your address, go online to ExpressSOS or a Michigan DMV branch office to update your record.
• For a ticket or violation that is on your record but that you did not receive, call the DOS Information Center at (888) 767-6424 for help.
• For incorrect information related to a court hearing, send a copy of the court order:
  • By mail to:
    Michigan Department of State
    Abstract Processing Unit
    7064 Crowner Drive
    Lansing, Michigan 48918
    
  • By fax to: (517) 322-6570.

Since your car insurance company, employer, and other agencies can view your driving record, be sure that all of the information on it is correct.

Improving Your Driving Record

If you are convicted of a violation, the MI DMV may offer you the option to take a Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC) to prevent points from appearing on your driving record.

NOTE: The violation itself will still appear on your record, but the information will not be reported to your insurance company.

You can only use the BDIC option ONCE.

If you choose to take a BDIC to stop points from appearing on your record, you must:

• Pay course fees, which are determined by the course provider.
• Pay court fees and fines.
• Meet the deadline for course completion, set by the Michigan DOS.
• Use an approved BDIC provider.

Courses are offered:

• In a classroom.
• Online.
• In combined classroom and online settings.

Once you complete a BDIC, the provider will notify the Michigan DOS.