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Clarifying How Long an OWI Stays on Your Driving Record in Michigan
In Michigan, offenses for impaired driving are legally categorized as OWI, which stands for Operating While Intoxicated. While some states refer to these charges as “DUI,” Michigan uses OWI across legal, administrative, and driver record systems. One of the most common questions from Michigan drivers is whether an OWI goes on their driving record, and if so, for how long.
This post clarifies how Michigan handles OWI charges in relation to your driving record, how long the offense remains visible, what effect it has on insurance and license status, and why Michigan law treats OWIs differently from other traffic violations. This information is educational and designed to provide neutral, factual insight into a commonly misunderstood issue—without legal advice, sales content, or speculation.
If you’re trying to understand how Michigan tracks OWIs and what that means for you in the future, the sections below will walk you through the details of driving record retention, licensing points, expungement limitations, and more.
What Information Goes on a Michigan Driving Record?
Your Michigan driving record is a log of your history as a licensed driver in the state. It’s maintained by the Michigan Department of State and contains:
- All traffic violations and citations
- License suspensions, revocations, and reinstatements
- Alcohol or drug-related offenses such as OWI
- Points assigned for each offense
- Crash involvement history
- Driver’s license status updates
The primary purpose of the driving record is to provide a summary of your conduct as a motorist. This record is used by law enforcement, insurance companies, the court system, and occasionally employers. OWI convictions appear on both public and certified versions of your record and can be accessed for years—or, as is often the case with OWIs, for life.
Importantly, your driving record is separate from your criminal record, which tracks criminal court cases. OWIs appear on both, and are handled distinctly in each system.
An OWI Conviction Remains on Your Michigan Driving Record for Life
Unlike minor traffic infractions or civil violations, an OWI conviction is treated differently under Michigan law. Once an OWI is added to your driving record, it never automatically expires or drops off. It is permanently retained by the Michigan Department of State and will continue to appear in any future review of your driving history.
This rule applies to:
- First-time OWI convictions
- Repeat OWI offenses
- Any impaired driving offense involving drugs or alcohol
The reason for this lifetime visibility is rooted in Michigan’s approach to road safety and driver accountability. Impaired driving is considered a serious offense, and the state maintains a permanent record to track recidivism, enforce escalating penalties, and protect public safety.
Even if you have no further violations for decades, the original OWI will still appear on your driving record unless otherwise allowed to be removed through legislative changes—which currently do not exist for driving records.
License Points from an OWI Do Expire After Two Years
Although the OWI conviction itself stays on your driving record for life, the driver’s license points assigned to the offense expire after two years. A standard OWI conviction in Michigan adds six points to your license.
Points are part of a separate system designed to track recent behavior and apply administrative penalties such as:
- License review or suspension for high point totals
- Risk assessment for insurance purposes
- Probationary actions for newly licensed drivers
After two years, these six points no longer count toward your active license status. However, the original OWI conviction remains visible to anyone checking your record and can still be used in court or administrative settings to determine repeat-offense status.
This separation between conviction permanence and point expiration often causes confusion, but the key takeaway is that the OWI stays, even when the points disappear.
Expunging an OWI Doesn’t Remove It from Your Driving Record
Michigan now allows expungement of certain first-time OWI convictions from your criminal record, but this legal process does not apply to your driving record. The Michigan Department of State does not have a mechanism to remove or seal OWI convictions from a driver’s file.
So even if you:
- Apply for and receive OWI expungement through the court
- Satisfy all probation, fines, and wait periods
- Are granted a clean criminal record in public databases
…your driving record will still show the OWI conviction. This means insurance companies and licensing officials will continue to see the offense, and it will still be used in determining penalties for any future violations.
Driving records and criminal records are managed by separate systems, and expungement from one does not impact the other in Michigan.
Insurance Impact of an OWI on Your Driving Record
One of the most immediate and lasting effects of having an OWI on your driving record in Michigan is the impact on car insurance. Insurance providers have access to your full driving history and use that data to:
- Set insurance premiums
- Determine eligibility for coverage
- Decide whether to cancel or renew a policy
Because an OWI signals high risk, you may be required to carry SR-22 insurance, which is a certification proving financial responsibility. This coverage is more expensive and typically mandated by the state after serious violations like OWI.
Insurers differ in how far back they look at driving history, but many review at least 3 to 5 years, and some consider lifetime serious offenses like OWI. That means you may experience higher premiums for several years after the conviction, and in some cases, indefinitely.
Even after your points expire, the OWI remains visible to insurers and can continue to affect your cost of coverage.
Why Michigan Keeps OWIs on Driving Records Permanently
Michigan law requires lifetime retention of OWI records on a person’s driving file for multiple reasons:
- Repeat Offense Enforcement: Prior convictions are used to enhance penalties for second or third OWI offenses.
- Public Safety: Keeping a full record helps courts and licensing agencies assess risk.
- Insurance Regulation: Accurate risk evaluation by insurers depends on full driving histories.
- Court Adjudication: Judges and prosecutors reference full driving records when considering sentencing or plea deals.
Michigan is among the strictest states when it comes to retaining OWI data. While some states purge or archive older violations, Michigan maintains all OWI convictions as a matter of legal record.
Even if you move out of state, the OWI on your Michigan record may still appear if other state DMVs or insurers request a copy of your full driving history.
Frequently Asked Questions About OWIs and Michigan Driving Records
Can I get an OWI removed from my Michigan driving record?
No. Michigan does not allow OWIs to be removed from your driving record, even if the offense is expunged from your criminal record.
How long does an OWI stay on my license?
The conviction is permanent. The license points (typically six) associated with the OWI will expire after two years, but the offense itself never goes away.
Will an employer see an OWI on my driving record?
It depends. Some employers, especially those hiring for driving-related positions, may request your driving record. If so, the OWI will be visible, even years after the offense.
If I expunge my criminal OWI record, does it help with insurance?
Not directly. Expungement applies only to the criminal record. Insurers base their rates on your driving record, which will still show the OWI.
Do insurance companies see OWIs from decades ago?
Some do. While most focus on the past 3–5 years, serious offenses like OWI are often considered in long-term risk modeling and pricing strategies.
Conclusion
In Michigan, an OWI conviction stays on your driving record permanently. Although the license points tied to the offense expire after two years, the conviction itself does not go away—regardless of whether it’s a first-time or repeat offense. Expungement from your criminal record offers limited relief, as it does not remove the conviction from your driver history. This ongoing visibility affects car insurance costs, future license eligibility, and legal considerations for years to come.
To better understand the broader implications of OWI convictions, explore our complete guide on DUI Records And Long Term Impact.
For more specific insight into how long these offenses last, visit our detailed article: How Long a DUI Stays on Your Record.