Your driving record, points and implied consent

Key points

1. Points stay on your driving record for 2 years from the date of conviction.

   Source: Handbook p. 13

   “Points placed on your driving record remain there for two years from the date of conviction.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 13

2. 12 or more points, or 6 or more one point violations, within 2 years requires a driver assessment reexamination.

   Source: Handbook p. 13

   “If you have six or more one-point violations, or 12 or more points on your driving record within a two-year”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 13

3. The most serious violations, such as manslaughter or another felony involving a vehicle, carry 6 points.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “Six Points: • Manslaughter, negligent homicide or other felony involving use of a motor vehicle.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 14

4. Driving 16 mph or more over the limit, or being under 21 with any bodily alcohol, is 4 points.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “Four Points: • Drag racing. • Impaired driving. • Younger than age 21 with any bodily alcohol content. • 16 mph or more over the legal speed limit.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 14

5. Careless driving, disobeying a signal or stop sign, improper passing, or 11 to 15 mph over the limit is 3 points.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “Three Points: • Careless driving. • Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign or improper passing. • 11 to 15 mph over the legal speed limit.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 14

6. Driving 6 to 10 mph over the limit or having an open alcohol container is 2 points.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “Two Points: • Six to 10 mph over the legal speed limit. • Open alcohol container in vehicle.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 14

7. Under the implied consent law, applying for or renewing a license means you consent to a chemical test.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “Under this law, all drivers are considered to have given consent to the test when they apply for and renew their driver’s license.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 15

8. Refusing a chemical test results in a license suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “Refusing to submit to a chemical test will result in a license suspension pursuant to Michigan’s implied consent law.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 15

9. A conviction for a fatality or for impaired driving stays on your record permanently.

   Source: Handbook p. 13

   “A conviction for a fatality or for impaired driving remains on your driving record permanently.”
   What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 13

10. Most convictions stay on your record at least 7 years.

    Source: Handbook p. 13

    “Most convictions stay on your driving record for at least seven years.”
    What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 13

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Michigan practice test

1. 1. How long do points remain on a Michigan driving record from the date of conviction?

   1. Six months
   2. Five years
   3. Two years
   4. Until the driver changes insurers
   Show answer

   Two years. Michigan keeps points on a driving record for two years from the date of conviction. Six months is shorter than the stated period, and five years extends it beyond the rule. Changing insurers has no effect on the Secretary of State driving record because insurance scoring is handled separately. For study questions about points, anchor the time period to the conviction date, not the date of the stop, ticket payment, or insurance renewal. That starting point is the cue that distinguishes the two-year record period from other timelines in the manual.

2. 2. Under Michigan's implied consent law, what may follow a driver's refusal to submit to a chemical test?

   1. Automatic dismissal of the traffic stop
   2. A mandatory vehicle inspection only
   3. A warning with no licensing consequence
   4. A license suspension
   Show answer

   A license suspension. Michigan treats a refusal to submit to a requested chemical test as a licensing matter. The stated consequence is suspension of the driver license, separate from other evidence an officer may gather about impairment. Automatic dismissal is wrong because refusal does not end the traffic stop, and a warning alone understates the listed penalty. A vehicle inspection is unrelated to chemical testing. Remember the pairing for study: refusal concerns the driving privilege, while the underlying impairment investigation can continue through observations and other lawful evidence.

3. 3. What happens when a Michigan driver refuses to submit to a chemical alcohol test?

   1. The driver receives only a warning
   2. The driver is required to take a road test
   3. The driver may drive until the next renewal
   4. The driver's license is suspended under implied consent law
   Show answer

   The driver's license is suspended under implied consent law. Michigan treats a refusal to submit to a chemical alcohol test as a license-suspension matter under its implied consent law. The law considers drivers to have given consent to testing when they apply for and renew a license, so refusing can trigger the stated consequence. A warning does not replace the suspension, and the driver cannot simply continue until renewal. The road-test choice confuses a testing procedure with the penalty described here. Remember the cue: the license application carries implied consent, and refusal has its own suspension consequence.

Source: the What Every Driver Must Know, Chapter 2: Your Driving Record. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.