The state of Michigan maintains a driving record for every driver. The driving record contains information the Secretary of State (SOS) is required to maintain, such as moving violations, traffic crashes, and alcohol-related convictions.

The Department of State has access to accident information reported by law enforcement as well as for moving violations and certain drug crimes from the courts. Your driving record will include information about civil or criminal moving violations and at-fault crashes.

The Department of State is also notified of any traffic crashes, convictions, and findings of responsibility in other states. Convictions from other states will appear on your Michigan driving record along with any points assessed according to Michigan’s point system.

According to the MI driver's handbook most convictions and accidents stay on your MI driving record for at least seven years. Certain convictions and licensing actions stay on your driving record for at least 10 years. A conviction for a fatality remains on your driving record permanently.

Points are different than violations and once placed on your driving record they remain there for two years from the date of conviction. The system used to post points to your driving record is separate from the points assigned by an insurance company to determine your rate.

Michigan law allows for a driver reexamination based one of several reasons including if you have been involved in three or more traffic accidents resulting in personal injury or property damage within the past two years.

To find out more about how long accident and other violations will stay on a Michigan driver's record contact the Michigan Secretary of State directly. If you want to see if an accident you had is still listed on your motor vehicle record (MVR) than request a copy of your MI driving record from the Michigan Department of State Record Lookup Unit.