Frequently Asked Questions for Michigan’s Driver Improvement Course
Course Information
- Is this course approved by the state of Michigan?
- I'm not sure if I'm eligible to take a Michigan driver improvement course. How do I find out?
- What would disqualify me from the BDIC program?
- What tickets are eligible for this program?
- What can I do if I never received a notice that I was eligible?
- I'm a Michigan resident, but I received a ticket in another state. Can I enroll in the BDIC program?
- I recently moved to Michigan and received a notice of eligibility for a ticket I had received in my previous state. Why did this happen?
- How many times can I take a BDIC course for point avoidance?
- Should I enroll in this course if my ticket doesn't carry any points?
- How long will this course take?
- What types of things will I study?
- Do I have to take a final exam?
- What happens if I pass the Michigan BDIC?
- Do I still have to pay for the ticket or court costs if I pass the BDIC?
- Is there any way I can fail the course?
- What if I don't pass the BDIC?
- Can I appeal if I don't pass the course?
- What is the testing and grading policy?
- Is there a time limit to complete this course?
Course Information
Yes! Your Michigan Basic Driver Improvement course (BDIC) is state-approved by the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) to meet all requirements for point dismissal.
The Michigan Secretary of State will send out a notice of eligibility if you qualify for point avoidance through traffic school. Generally, you qualify if you meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You hold a valid non-commercial Michigan drivers license
- You have 2 points or fewer on your driving record
- Your violation was not a criminal offense
- Your citation is eligible for dismissal (must be 3 points or fewer, not for careless or negligent driving, etc.)
- You have NOT completed a BDIC course before (you may only take this course once in your lifetime)
We have all of the eligibility requirements and steps to take for Michigan traffic school listed on our How It Works page. For a full list of eligible infractions, you may visit the Michigan SOS page.
If any of the following apply to you, you are disqualified from the BDIC program:
- You are within the 60-day BDIC eligibility period for a prior ticket
- You have already used this program to avoid points
- You were not granted a Michigan drivers license
- Your license is restricted/suspended/revoked
- You have at least 3 points on your driving record
- When you were cited, you were driving a commercial motor vehicle or held a commercial driver’s license
- The traffic citation you received is not eligible for the BDIC program
If you were ticketed on or after December 31, 2010 for a minor traffic violation, you are likely eligible for this program. However, you must not be disqualified for another reason if you wish to participate in this program.
If you were eligible, you would have received a notice in the mail at the address listed on your driving record. If you are eligible to participate in a BDIC program and are still within the 60-day eligibility period, you may still take a BDIC course. However, if the 60 days have passed, the traffic ticket and the points that come with it will show up on your driving record.
- I'm a Michigan resident, but I received a ticket in another state. Can I enroll in the BDIC program?
Yes, you can. Your ticket can be brought over from the state in which you received it, and you will receive a notice of eligibility from the Secretary of State informing you that you qualify for the program. Contact your local DMV or Secretary of State branch and ask them the details on bringing your ticket over to Michigan.
- I recently moved to Michigan and received a notice of eligibility for a ticket I had received in my previous state. Why did this happen?
Your driving record was carried over from your home state to your new state of residence. The state looked at your driving record and determined that you were eligible for the program. It is your choice whether or not to enroll.
Once. The state of Michigan only allows drivers to complete a driver improvement course once in their lifetime.
Even though a ticket may not carry any points, it could still cause your insurance rates to rise. Since you can only use the BDIC program once in your lifetime, you will have to make the call as to whether you want to avoid an insurance increase now, or save your BDIC enrollment for the future possibility that you get a ticket that carries points.
Your Michigan BDIC course is not timed, though generally students take between 4-6 hours to complete the course. Your course material is broken down into 8 single-subject units, which you can complete at your own pace. Therefore, how long the course takes is up to you!
Each of your 8 course chapters focuses on a single topic that pertains to Michigan driving and traffic laws. These topics include:
- Highway safety
- Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving
- State traffic laws
- Driving emergencies
- Vehicle maintenance
Yes, your final exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions. You need to score an 80% or higher to pass, and you have unlimited retakes, so you’re guaranteed to pass!
We will notify the Michigan Department of State of your completion electronically. After receiving this information, the Department of State will not put points from the citation on your driving record, and your ticket will not be shown to insurance companies. The traffic ticket information will appear on your record, but the points will not. Be aware that you must still pay any court fees/fines/other expenses related to your citation.
Yes, you must pay all costs associated with your citation.
Absolutely not! You have unlimited retakes on your chapter quizzes and final exam, so if you fail to achieve an 80% on your first try, you may simply retake them again until you pass.
If you don’t pass your course within 60 days of being given notice of eligibility, both the traffic offense and the points that go with it will appear on your driving record and will be available for insurance companies to view.
No, unfortunately you may not appeal to the Michigan Department of State if you do not pass.
Each of the 8 chapters contains a quiz that reviews important content from that chapter. There are 10 questions per quiz, and you need to obtain an 80% or higher to pass onto the next chapter. The quizzes will provide you with an excellent opportunity to master the course material and prepare for your final exam. You will be provided with feedback on any incorrect answers, and you may retake your quizzes an unlimited amount of times.
Once you get to your final exam, you will encounter 25 multiple-choice questions, requiring a passing score of 70% or higher. You may retake the exam again if you need another attempt to pass. You are allowed unlimited attempts.
Per Michigan SOS requirements, you MUST complete your BDIC course within 60 days of receiving your notice of eligibility. If you fail to complete your course within the 60-day eligibility window, you will not dismiss your points, and your violation will be reported to your insurance company. No refunds may be given after this point.
