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How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Michigan?

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Michigan Speeding Ticket Point Values

Michigan assigns 2 points for speeding 1-10 mph over the limit, 3 points for 11-15 mph over, and 4 points for 16+ mph over. The Secretary of State calculates points from your conviction date, not the ticket date or payment date.

Points accumulate on a 2-year rolling window. A ticket from January 2023 and a ticket from March 2024 both count toward your total until the January 2023 conviction drops off in January 2025. Michigan does not zero out your point balance annually — each conviction expires individually 2 years after its conviction date.

The 12-point suspension threshold applies to all points earned within any 2-year period. Two 4-point speeding tickets within 24 months put you at 8 points. Add a 3-point failure-to-yield citation and you hit 11 points. One more 2-point violation triggers the suspension, even if it is a minor infraction.

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How Points Affect Your Insurance Rates in Michigan

Carriers apply surcharges based on conviction severity, not the Secretary of State's point assignment. A 2-point speeding ticket typically increases premiums 15-25% at renewal. A 4-point ticket often triggers a 30-40% increase. These surcharges last 3 years on most carriers' rating schedules, one year longer than the points remain on your state driving record.

Carriers review your driving record at each renewal. If you earned 2 points in June 2023 and your policy renews in December 2023, the surcharge applies to your December 2023 renewal and continues through your December 2026 renewal. The conviction drops off your state record in June 2025, but the insurance surcharge persists until the carrier's 3-year lookback window expires.

Preferred carriers like Auto-Owners and Frankenmuth often decline to renew drivers who accumulate 4+ points within a single policy term. At that threshold, you move to standard carriers like Progressive or GEICO, which accept multi-point violations but charge higher base rates. Non-standard carriers like Dairyland and The General serve drivers with 6+ points or multiple at-fault accidents, typically at rates 50-80% higher than preferred-market quotes.

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When Points Fall Off Your Michigan Driving Record

Points expire exactly 2 years after the conviction date. A ticket convicted on March 15, 2023 drops from your Secretary of State record on March 15, 2025. Michigan does not require you to complete a course or pay a fee to remove points — the expiration happens automatically.

Insurance surcharges follow a separate timeline. Most carriers apply surcharges for 3 years from the conviction date, meaning the rate increase outlasts the points themselves by one year. Some non-standard carriers extend the surcharge window to 5 years for major violations like reckless driving.

You can request a driving record abstract from the Michigan Secretary of State to confirm which convictions remain active. Carriers pull records at renewal, but they do not automatically notify you when a surcharge drops off. If your policy renews 37 months after a conviction, the surcharge should disappear — but only if you request a re-rate or the carrier's underwriting system applies the update automatically.

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Does Michigan Require SR-22 for Speeding Tickets?

Michigan does not require SR-22 filing for standard point violations like speeding tickets, failure to yield, or improper lane changes. The state mandates SR-22 only when a suspension has occurred and you are seeking reinstatement after a lapse in coverage or a failure-to-maintain-insurance conviction.

If you accumulate 12 points in 2 years and your license is suspended, reinstatement requires SR-22 filing for 2 years after the suspension ends. The filing itself costs $25-$50, but the bigger cost is the carrier market shift — most preferred carriers will not write policies that require SR-22, leaving you in the non-standard market where rates run 60-100% higher than standard pricing.

SR-22 filing is not triggered by the points themselves, only by the suspension. If you stay below 12 points, you remain in the standard or preferred market and avoid the filing requirement entirely.

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Can You Remove Points Early in Michigan?

Michigan allows drivers with 3+ points to take a Basic Driver Improvement Course to reduce their point total by 2 points, once every 3 years. The course must be approved by the Secretary of State, typically runs 4-8 hours, and costs $30-$80 depending on the provider.

The 2-point reduction applies immediately upon course completion, but it does not remove the underlying conviction from your record. Insurance carriers still see the original violation and may still apply a surcharge, even after the points are reduced. The course helps you avoid a suspension if you are approaching the 12-point threshold, but it does not restore your insurance rate to pre-violation levels.

Some carriers offer premium discounts for completing defensive driving courses separately from the state's point reduction program. Check with your carrier before enrolling — the discount is not automatic and varies by insurer.

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What to Do After Getting a Speeding Ticket in Michigan

Request a copy of your driving record from the Michigan Secretary of State within 30 days of your conviction to confirm the point total. The record shows all active points, the conviction date for each violation, and the expiration date for each entry. This is the same record your insurance carrier reviews at renewal.

Contact your current carrier before your next renewal to request a quote that reflects the new violation. Do not wait for the renewal notice — carriers often prepare renewal quotes 45-60 days before the policy expires, and early communication gives you time to shop competitors if your carrier's surcharge is excessive.

Shop at least 3 carriers immediately after a conviction. Preferred carriers like Auto-Owners may decline to renew, but standard carriers like Progressive, GEICO, and Nationwide often compete aggressively for drivers with 2-4 points. Rate differences between carriers at this tier regularly exceed 30-40% for identical coverage. Non-standard carriers become relevant only when you hit 6+ points or multiple at-fault accidents within 3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do speeding ticket points stay on your record in Michigan?

Points from a speeding ticket stay on your Michigan driving record for exactly 2 years from the conviction date. Insurance surcharges typically last 3 years, one year longer than the state points themselves.

How many points before your license is suspended in Michigan?

Michigan suspends your license when you accumulate 12 points within any 2-year period. Points are calculated on a rolling window, so each conviction expires individually 2 years after its conviction date.

Does a speeding ticket in Michigan require SR-22 insurance?

No, Michigan does not require SR-22 filing for speeding tickets or standard point violations. SR-22 is required only if you accumulate 12 points and your license is suspended, and only during the reinstatement process after a lapse in coverage.

Can you take a class to remove points in Michigan?

Yes, Michigan allows drivers with 3+ points to complete a Basic Driver Improvement Course to reduce their point total by 2 points, once every 3 years. The course removes points from your state record but does not automatically reduce insurance surcharges.

How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in Michigan?

A 2-point speeding ticket typically increases premiums 15-25% at renewal in Michigan. A 4-point ticket often triggers a 30-40% increase. Preferred carriers may decline to renew drivers with 4+ points, forcing a move to standard or non-standard markets.