Michigan Probationary License: Points and Tickets for New Drivers
Is every new Michigan driver on probation?
Yes. Every Michigan driver who was not licensed before is on probation for at least 3 years, at any age. To finish probation, the last 10 months must have no traffic conviction, at-fault crash or suspension. If one happens, probation is extended until you have 10 months in a row without one. Points from tickets are not automatically erased when probation ends.
Where these rules come from
This post uses the Michigan Department of State new drivers FAQ, its pages for new drivers under 18, the driver handbook What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025 edition) and the Michigan Vehicle Code: MCL 257.310d for probation, MCL 257.310e for GDL and MCL 257.320a for points. The facts are correct as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Michigan Department of State (michigan.gov/sos) before you drive.
Who is on a Michigan probationary license?
Probation covers every first-time driver in Michigan: a teen who moves up through Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and an adult who gets a first license. Probation is a separate program from GDL, but both aim to help new drivers lower their crash risk and drive safely.
Under Michigan law (MCL 257.310d), a license issued to a person never licensed in Michigan or in another state is probationary for 3 years after the date it is issued.
How does Michigan probation end?
The last 10 months of probation must pass without an unsafe driving event: a traffic conviction, an at-fault crash, a crash after you had been drinking, or a license suspension.
Michigan law (MCL 257.310d) gives the exact list for those 10 months: a moving violation that ends in a conviction or a civil infraction determination, a crash where the police report shows a moving violation by you, a crash where the report shows you had been drinking, and a suspension that is not for a mental or physical disability.
Worked example: a ticket in the last month
What happens after a ticket on probation?
Police and courts report each traffic conviction and crash to the Department of State, which adds it to your driving record. For each violation during probation, you may get a letter of contact. Contacts range from a warning letter to a driver assessment reexamination, and they become more severe with more violations. A probationary or GDL driver may have to attend a reexamination after only one or two violations.
At a reexamination, your driving privileges may be restricted or suspended. Depending on the number and severity of violations or crashes, a new driver can also face revocation of driving privileges.
What Michigan law says about tickets during and after probation
| When | What Michigan law (MCL 257.310d) says |
|---|---|
| First 12 months | Your license may be suspended, or probationary terms may be set, after a moving violation or a failure to appear before a magistrate. The Secretary of State sets the period, for not more than 12 months. |
| After the first 12 months | The Secretary of State may require a reexamination if your record has an item such as a moving violation worth 4 or more points, three moving violations, or a total of 6 or more points. |
| Last 10 months | A moving violation, a crash or a suspension of the kinds listed above extends probation beyond 3 years. |
| 24 months after probation ends | The Secretary of State may require a reexamination if your record has 9 or more points in 2 years plus an item such as a conviction for driving while intoxicated or a crash where the police report shows a moving violation by you. |
What a ticket does during GDL
- A ticket or conviction at Level 1 or Level 2 can delay your move to the next level and may extend the minimum time at each level.
- Michigan law (MCL 257.310e) extends Level 1 after a moving violation until you complete 90 days in a row without one, or until age 18, whichever comes first.
- For the Level 2 driving skills test (the road test), you need no convictions, civil infractions, license suspensions or at-fault crashes in the 90 days before the test. See the Michigan driving skills test for the full steps.
- For the Level 3 Full License, you need 12 months in a row without violations or at-fault crashes. Tickets, crashes, suspensions and ignoring license restrictions extend this time.
- A violation of a Level 2 restriction puts 2 points on the teen's license, adds 12 months at Level 2 and brings a driver reexamination, with a possible suspension or more restrictions. The Level 2 license rules list those restrictions.
How does the Michigan point system work?
Each traffic violation has a point value set by law in the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.320a). Points go on your driving record only after you are convicted of a moving violation. If one incident brings several convictions, only the violation with the most points counts. Most points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date. The state point system is separate from the points that an insurance company uses to set your rate.
Michigan points for common violations
| Points | Examples |
|---|---|
| 6 points | Reckless driving; manslaughter, negligent homicide or another felony involving use of a motor vehicle |
| 4 points | 16 mph or more over the legal speed limit; a moving violation that causes an at-fault crash |
| 3 points | Careless driving; disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign, or improper passing; 11 to 15 mph over the legal speed limit |
| 2 points | 6 to 10 mph over the legal speed limit; all other moving violations of traffic laws |
| 1 point | More than 1 mph and up to 5 mph over the legal speed limit |
How many points trigger a reexamination?
For all drivers, the handbook names six or more one-point violations, or 12 or more points within two years, as a reason for a driver assessment reexamination. A probationary driver can be called much sooner, as the law table above shows.
Michigan law (MCL 257.320a) also lets the Secretary of State call any driver with 9 points in for an interview about driving ability and record. A driver who does not come to the interview gets 3 more points.
Under 21: alcohol points in Michigan
A driver younger than 21 with any bodily alcohol content gets 4 points, the same as driving 16 mph or more over the limit. A driver under 21 who refuses a preliminary breath test gets 2 points. Try the free question page on the under-21 alcohol rule.
Key Takeaways
- Every new Michigan driver is on probation for at least 3 years, and the last 10 months must have no conviction, at-fault crash or suspension.
- After a ticket on probation you may get a letter of contact, from a warning letter to a driver assessment reexamination, where privileges may be restricted or suspended.
- During GDL, a ticket can delay the next level, and the Level 2 driving skills test needs 90 days with a clean record.
- Points are posted after a conviction, are not automatically erased when probation ends, and most stay for two years.
- Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Michigan operator practice test. It is in English only.
Michigan probation and points: common questions
Do points go away when probation ends?
No. Ending probation does not clear your record. Points posted during probation or after it are not automatically erased when probation ends, and most points stay on your Michigan driving record for two years from the conviction date.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Michigan?
It depends on how far over the limit you were. Michigan law gives 1 point for more than 1 and up to 5 mph over, 2 points for 6 to 10 mph over, 3 points for 11 to 15 mph over and 4 points for 16 mph or more over. In a work zone, more than 15 mph over is 5 points.
Can one ticket suspend a probationary license?
Yes, it can. In the first 12 months of probation, Michigan law lets the Secretary of State suspend the license, or set probationary terms, after one moving violation, for up to 12 months. A probationary driver may also be called to a reexamination after only one or two violations, where privileges may be restricted or suspended.
Will I get a notice before a probation suspension starts?
Yes. Under Michigan law, the notice of a suspension, of probationary terms or of a reexamination goes by first-class mail to your last known address. A suspension or probationary terms take effect 14 days from the date of the notice, unless you request a reexamination.
What happens if I miss a scheduled reexamination?
Michigan law says your license may be suspended at once and stay suspended until you appear for the reexamination. The Secretary of State may also restrict, suspend or revoke a probationary license based only on the driving record, so answer each letter from the Department of State.
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