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State Cert Guide

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Can a defensive driving course keep a ticket's points off my Michigan record?

If the Secretary of State has notified you that you are eligible, passing a Basic Driver Improvement Course with an approved sponsor within 60 days of that notice keeps the ticket's points off your Michigan record and the ticket out of your insurer's view. You can avoid points this way only once. We haven't confirmed which Michigan courts run their own course that cancels a ticket.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
You get a letter by mail if you are eligibleCheck your mail after a qualifying ticket.
Verified. www.michigan.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Sponsor certifies completion within 60 days of the eligibility noticeNote the date of the notice the day it arrives.
Verified. www.legislature.mi.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Rule
No points added and no ticket information shown to insurersThe ticket itself still goes on your record, and a probationary driver can still face a re-examination and license sanctions.
Same source and date as above
Cost
A sponsor may charge no more than $100.00Ask the sponsor for its total price before you enroll.
Same source and date as above
Course hours
At least 4 hours of instruction, classroom or onlineBlock time well before the deadline.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. The Secretary of State mails a letter to drivers who are eligible. Note the date of that notice, because the 60 days count from it, and remember that you can avoid points under this program only once.

  2. Step 2. Choose a sponsor the Michigan Department of State has approved. Its course may be online or in a classroom and meets or exceeds the standards set by Michigan law.

  3. Step 3. Pass the course within the 60 days. The sponsor reports your result to the Secretary of State, so you do not need the certificate to show you passed.

Before you pay

Check that the ticket was issued in Michigan, because out-of-state tickets are not eligible.

Confirm that the sponsor is one the Department of State has approved, because only approved sponsors can provide results to the state.

Questions

Who cannot take the course?

Among others, a driver ticketed in a commercial motor vehicle or while licensed as a commercial driver, a driver whose violation is a criminal offense or one for which 4 or more points may be assessed, a driver who already has 3 or more points on their record, and a driver whose license is restricted, suspended or revoked.

What if a judge orders me to take it?

You take the course whether or not you are eligible, but the Secretary of State still enters the points for a court-ordered course when you are not otherwise eligible.

Can I get more time past 60 days?

No. If you miss the 60-day deadline, the points and the violation are added to your record and made available to your insurance company, and the Department of State cannot offer extensions.

Will a court cancel my ticket for a course?

The Department of State says some courts permit a safety course and cancel the ticket if you pass. That is a separate program from this course, and the court requires a certificate as evidence.

Do I still pay for the ticket?

Yes. You are still responsible for all court costs, fines and fees on the ticket. The course only affects whether insurers can see the ticket and whether points go on your record.

What to do next

Check your mail for the eligibility letter and note its date. Then read the Department of State's page on the Basic Driver Improvement Course before you enroll.

www.michigan.gov

Sources we read