16 September, 2026
How to Get Your License Back After a DUI in Michigan?
Losing your license can make everyday life much harder. Getting to work, taking your kids across town, and making appointments all become challenges. Suddenly, every trip means asking for a ride, a favor, or extra time.
In Michigan, a DUI is usually called operating while intoxicated, or OWI. If you have more than one qualifying conviction, your license can be revoked. Getting your license back is a separate process from your criminal case.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get your license back after a DUI, start here: a Michigan revocation does not simply expire. After the required revocation period, you’ll need to ask the Secretary of State to restore driving privileges and prove you are ready to drive safely again.
Coontz Law’s five-step process explains what you need to do to get your license reinstated and how our Michigan drivers license restoration lawyer can help.
Contents hide
Step One: Read Your Driving Record Before You Spend Money
Don’t begin with support letters or an evaluation. First, order your current Michigan driving record.
Look for the exact sanction, any “Administrative Denied and Revoked” entry, your “eligible for review” date, and other holds or suspensions. Revocation means your license was terminated, not paused until a certain date.
We can go over your record with you, figure out what is really stopping you from getting your license back, and explain when an Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight (OHAO) hearing is the right step. This helps you avoid preparing the wrong paperwork for your situation.
Step Two: Build the Restoration Packet Before You Request the Hearing
Once eligible, build the evidence before you file. The OHAO license restoration process requires a hearing application and, if you have a history of alcohol or drug-related arrests, a substance use evaluation.
A typical restoration packet may include:
- Your current driving record;
- The SOS-257 hearing request;
- The SOS-258 substance use evaluation;
- A qualifying laboratory 12-panel urinalysis drug screen;
- Three to six notarized community support letters, unless witnesses will testify instead;
- Treatment or recovery-support documentation, when applicable; and
- Interlock or medical records when required.
The paperwork is evidence, not busywork. Each piece helps the hearing officer decide if your recovery story makes sense.
Our license restoration attorney can help you put together your packet from the start. We’ll identify the right people to write letters, review drafts for missing details, coordinate your evaluation and drug screen, and check everything before you submit it. We don’t create a perfect story, but we help you tell your real story clearly.
Step Three: Show Why Returning You to the Road Is a Low-Risk Decision
“I need my license for work” may be true. Legally, it is not enough.
Michigan’s license-restoration rules require you to prove certain things with clear and convincing evidence (meaning that the evidence is highly and substantially more likely to be true than untrue). For a DUI-related revocation, you need to show that any alcohol or substance use problem is under control and likely to stay that way, that you are unlikely to drive impaired again, and that you have the ability and motivation to drive safely.
The rules require at least six months in a row of complete abstinence, and sometimes at least 12 months if your record shows a need for a longer period.
We help clients find real evidence of change, like treatment, recovery routines, support systems, and daily habits. The hearing officer does not want a speech; they want proof.
Step Four: Find the Contradictions Before the Hearing Officer Does
A good case can become a problem when the dates do not match.
If your evaluation lists one last-use date, a support letter lists another, and your testimony gives a third, the hearing officer may question more than just the dates.
Before you file, we compare your evaluation, letters, driving record, treatment history, and other evidence. We also help you get ready to talk honestly about the hard parts of your history. Ignoring a tough fact does not make it go away.
Step Five: Prepare for the Hearing You Are Going to Have
OHAO now holds hearings on Microsoft Teams. Make sure to test your camera, microphone, internet connection, and hearing link before the hearing. Choose a quiet place and review the evidence you submitted.
Then answer the question asked.
Preparing should not make you sound robotic. It should help you answer questions honestly, without guessing, downplaying, or contradicting your record.
A Michigan driver’s license restoration lawyer can help you get ready for the hearing and represent you. Coontz Law can hold a preparation session, go over possible problem areas, organize your evidence, and be there with you. If any legal or evidentiary issues arise, we can handle them during the hearing.
A Restricted License May Be the First Step Back
For habitual offender revocations, a successful first hearing may result in a restricted license with a breath alcohol ignition interlock device instead of full privileges. Follow the order exactly. Missed tests, violations, unauthorized removal, or other compliance issues can risk your progress.
Keep your service records and make notes about anything unusual. If the device reports a problem, take care of it right away.
We can help you understand your restrictions, get ready for the later review for full privileges, and respond if an interlock issue puts your progress at risk.
Make the Record Match the Work You Have Done
Michigan will not restore a revoked license just because time has passed. You need to demonstrate why you should get it back.
Coontz Law can review your driving history, help you build and check your restoration packet, prepare you for your testimony, represent you at the OHAO hearing, and guide you through the next steps. Our focus is on giving you a second chance, because where you are headed matters more than your past mistakes.
If your review date is coming up or has already passed, contact Coontz Law to discuss your record needs and how to build the strongest possible restoration case.
FAQs
Can I Drive to Work While My Michigan License Is Revoked?
You cannot drive just because you need to get to work. A revocation ends your driving privilege unless you get lawful restricted or restored privileges through the proper process. Driving with a revoked license can lead to additional criminal charges and licensing problems.
What Happens if OHAO Denies My Restoration Case?
You may petition the appropriate Michigan circuit court for review. The usual deadline is 63 days after the determination, although a court may allow filing within 182 days for good cause.
What if I Live Outside Michigan Now?
If you used to live in Michigan, you may be able to request an out-of-state administrative review to clear your Michigan revocation. This can let you apply for a license in your current state. The requirements are different and include proof of out-of-state residency and community support letters. We’ll help determine which process applies before you file.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page:
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Michigan Secretary of State, Driving Record
- Michigan Secretary of State, Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight: License Restoration
- Michigan Secretary of State, OHAO Form Package, SOS-257 and SOS-258
- Michigan Administrative Code, R 257.313, Standards for Issuance of License
- Clear and Convincing Evidence, Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute
- Michigan Legislature, MCL 257.323, Judicial Review of Secretary of State License Determinations
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