How to clear your driving record in Michigan

The Department of State, along with the Department of Attorney General, DTE Energy and other partners, is holding free clinics to assist individuals who are eligible in understanding how to have their license restored. Residents meet one-on-one with a member of the MDOS staff and/or a volunteer attorney to review your driving record and determine the steps necessary to regain your driver’s license. Pre-scheduling appointments is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

Road to Restoration clinics

The Department of State, along with the Department of Attorney General, DTE Energy and other partners, is holding free clinics to assist individuals who are eligible to have their license restored.

Road to Restoration location flyer

Residents

Access your online account & get your driving record

To obtain your driving record through your online Secretary of State account:

• Go to Online Services and locate the panel titled Driver's License and ID and select the More Driver Services link. Then, follow the prompts to create or log into your account through MILogin. 
• Once in your account, locate your profile and select "Request Driving Record" from the menu to the right side of the page. 
• Follow the prompts to purchase your record.
• After submitting your payment information, you will see a screen summarizing your transaction and providing the option to print your receipt and view transaction documents. Select the "View Transaction Documents" button to access your driving record (ignore the button labeled "Request Driving Record" - this will take you back to the beginning of the transaction).

Please note, once ordered, the link for your electronic driving record is only accessible for 7 days. 

During the seven-day period, you may view your driving record as many times as you need to. Log into your account and choose the option to "View Transaction History" to access it. We recommend you save your driving record to your device so that you may conveniently view it for more than seven days.

Go to Online Services

Attorneys

Pro bono attorneys are needed to provide limited-scope consultations at the clinic, which include the review of driving records, contacting the courts, and helping guide individuals through the steps they need to take to restore their licenses. Recorded training modules and in-person training the day of the clinic will be provided. Experts from the Detroit Justice Center, Michigan Department of State and Attorney General’s Office will be on site to answer questions as well.

Attorneys can volunteer below. It is very rewarding work! A few hours of your time can make all the difference in someone’s life.  

Volunteer Attorney Sign-up

Road to Restoration media coverage

• There are more than 100 violations that were impacted by these new laws and many of the sanctions being cleared from driving records will involve license suspensions for failing to comply with court judgement - such as failing to pay a ticket or court fee (FCJ), or for failing to appear in court (FAC). In addition, the law also clears holds on driver's license renewals for parking ticket (FCPV) and disability parking ticket (FCDV) violations.

  The process for determining which violations, convictions, and licensing actions will be cleared involved several factors, including the type of violation, the sanctions and suspensions that were levied, and how other sections of the law affect their implementation.

  Drivers will be informed by the department via letter if their driving records were impacted by the changes, and whether they may be eligible to regain their driving privileges. Because of the complexity of this new law, drivers are encouraged to contact an attorney or legal-aid service if they have any questions or concerns about their driving record or how to reinstate their driving privileges. Drivers are advised to purchase a copy of their driving record when seeking legal advice.

• Even though the qualifying violations, FCJ/FAC suspensions, and other sanctions will be marked as cleared and are no longer in effect, they will still appear as entries on your driving record.

• Individuals who have had their driver’s license revoked for multiple alcohol or controlled substance-related driving offenses or multiple felony driving offenses and want to request a hearing with the Department of State should download or print this online document and follow the instructions.

  The process for requesting a hearing is also explained at the department’s Road to Restoration clinics. 

• The Department of State will be hosting information sessions and virtual clinics in the coming weeks for drivers with questions. Please revisit this web page for updates and more information.

  Additional resources and help are available through the following local and state organizations:

  • Michigan Legal Help
  • Counsel and Advocacy Law Line at 888-783-8190
  • Legal Aid and Defender Association at 313-967-5800 or 877-964-4700 or https://ladadetroit.org/