Any moving violation, including distracted driving, can result in points on your driving record and cause your auto insurance rates to increase significantly. In Michigan, distracted driving carries serious consequences beyond just fines and court costs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives in 2023, highlighting the deadly nature of this preventable behavior.
With Michigan’s expanded hands-free driving law that took effect on June 30, 2023, enforcement has intensified, and the consequences for violations have become more severe. If you’ve been pulled over for texting while driving or another distracted driving violation in Michigan, you may be facing not only legal penalties but also substantial increases to your car insurance premiums.
If you accept responsibility by paying the ticket or are convicted at a court hearing of a distracted driving traffic violation, your car insurance rates will almost certainly be negatively affected. The extent of the impact depends on several variables, including your auto insurance carrier, your driving history, the number of points assigned to the violation, and Michigan’s specific enforcement policies.
Understanding how distracted driving tickets affect your insurance rates is crucial for Michigan drivers. Continue reading to learn more about the 2025 Michigan distracted driving laws, how insurance companies respond to violations, and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
DO MOVING VIOLATION TICKETS FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING AFFECT CAR INSURANCE RATES IN MICHIGAN?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, several factors determine the cost of car insurance, including your driving record, annual mileage, location, age, gender, credit score, vehicle type, and most importantly, your specific auto insurance company’s rating policies.
Michigan law assigns points and penalties for different types of traffic violations. The number of points assigned for each violation varies based on the severity of the offense. When you accept responsibility or are convicted of a traffic violation while driving, points are added to your driving record, which typically results in your insurance premium increasing.
Under Michigan’s current distracted driving law, a first violation doesn’t result in points, but a second violation adds one point to your license, and a third or subsequent violation adds two points. Additionally, drivers with three or more violations within a three-year period must complete a “basic driver improvement course.”
HOW MUCH WILL MY INSURANCE GO UP FROM A DISTRACTED DRIVING TICKET IN 2025?
The average rate increase for a texting and driving ticket is 28%, though this can vary significantly based on your insurance carrier and location. Recent studies show that insurance rate increases for distracted driving violations range from as low as 9% to as high as 51% depending on the state and insurer.
From 2023 to 2024, the percent increase on insurance premiums for a cellphone violation stayed about the same at close to 22%. However, these penalties have increased notably in recent years as insurers have gathered more data about the costs associated with distracted driving crashes.
For Michigan drivers, the insurance impact is compounded by the state’s unique insurance landscape. While Michigan saw a 4% increase in full-coverage premiums between June 2023 and June 2024, distracted driving violations can trigger additional premium increases on top of these baseline rate changes.
HOW LONG DOES A DISTRACTED DRIVING TICKET STAY ON MY RECORD IN MICHIGAN?
Michigan maintains a driver point system that tracks violations and adds points to your driving record after each moving traffic violation conviction.
For violations of Michigan’s hands-free driving law, penalties include:
- First offense: $100 fine or 16 hours of community service (or both) – no points
- Second offense: $250 fine or 24 hours of community service (or both) – 1 point added
- Third or subsequent offense: Additional fines, 2 points added, and mandatory completion of a basic driver improvement course
- If a crash occurs: All fines are doubled
For commercial drivers and school bus operators, the penalties are even more severe:
- First violation: $200 fine or 32 hours of community service
- Second or subsequent violation: $500 fine or 48 hours of community service
Points remain on your driving record forever but only affect your driving privileges for two years. According to the Michigan Secretary of State, if you accumulate 12 points on your license within a two-year period, your driver’s license may be suspended.
MICHIGAN’S EXPANDED DISTRACTED DRIVING LAWS IN 2025
Michigan’s comprehensive hands-free driving law, which took effect on June 30, 2023, made Michigan the 26th state to require hands-free device use while driving. The law significantly expanded the scope of prohibited activities beyond just texting.
According to Michigan Compiled Laws section 257.602b, drivers are now prohibited from using a hand-held cell phone or mobile electronic device to:
- Send or receive phone calls
- Send, receive, or read text messages
- View, record, or transmit videos
- Access, read, or post to social networking sites
What the Hands-Free Exception Means
Michigan law does allow drivers to use cell phones and mobile devices in “hands-free” or “voice-operated” mode, or when placed in a mount. This means you can:
- Use voice commands to make calls or send texts
- Use GPS navigation when the device is properly mounted
- Use dashboard-integrated systems
- Contact emergency services during an emergency
However, the device cannot be held with “any part of the hands, arms, or shoulders” while the vehicle is in operation.
Level 1 and Level 2 License Restrictions
Under Kelsey’s Law, drivers with Level 1 or Level 2 graduated licenses (typically drivers under age 17) face even stricter restrictions. They are prohibited from using cell phones while driving altogether—even in hands-free mode—with limited exceptions for emergencies.
Early Impact of Michigan’s Hands-Free Law
In the first nine months after the law was enacted, it prevented an estimated 2,485 crashes, 11 fatalities, 1,400 injuries, and $98 million in economic damages across Michigan. The law has led to a 9.5% reduction in the occurrence of distracted driving in Michigan.
WHAT POINTS DOES MICHIGAN LAW ASSIGN TO DIFFERENT DRIVING VIOLATIONS?
The following are points assigned for various types of traffic convictions in Michigan:
Six Points:
- Manslaughter, negligent homicide, or other felony involving use of a motor vehicle
- Operating under the influence of liquor or drugs (OUI/DUI)
- Failing to stop and provide identification at the scene of a crash
- Reckless driving
- Unlawful bodily alcohol content of 0.08 or more
- Refusal to take a chemical test
- Fleeing or eluding a police officer
Four Points:
- Drag racing
- Operating while visibly impaired (OWVI)
- Under age 21 with any bodily alcohol content
- Driving 16 mph or more over the legal speed limit
- Failure to yield or show due caution for emergency vehicles
- Texting or using handheld device while driving that causes an at-fault collision
Three Points:
- Careless driving
- Disobeying a traffic signal, stop sign, or improper passing
- Driving 11 through 15 mph over the legal speed limit
- Failure to stop at railroad crossing
- Failure to stop for school bus or disobeying school crossing guard
Two Points:
- Open alcohol container in vehicle
- Distracted driving (third or subsequent offense within three years)
- All other moving violations of traffic laws
- Refusal of Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) by a driver under age 21
One Point:
- Distracted driving (second offense)
SHOULD YOU FIGHT A DISTRACTED DRIVING TICKET IN MICHIGAN?
If you believe you received a traffic ticket in error or there were extenuating circumstances for your driving behavior, you should request a hearing and appear in court. Once you are convicted or accept responsibility by paying the fine, the ticket will automatically appear on your driving record and likely trigger an insurance rate increase.
In many cases, if your driving record is clean or you have a compelling reason for the violation, the prosecutor may be willing to negotiate a plea deal for a non-moving, point-free violation. This can help you avoid:
- Points on your driving record
- Insurance rate increases
- Long-term impacts on your driving privileges
An experienced traffic attorney can help you navigate the court system, negotiate with prosecutors, and potentially reduce or dismiss the charges against you.
THE BROADER IMPACT OF DISTRACTED DRIVING IN 2025
The dangers of distracted driving extend far beyond insurance rate increases. In 2023, distracted driving crashes resulted in 3,275 deaths nationwide, making it one of the leading causes of preventable traffic fatalities.
Research consistently shows the extreme dangers of phone use while driving:
- Texting while driving makes a crash 23.2 times more likely
- Dialing a handheld phone makes a crash 12 times more likely
- Even hands-free phone conversations reduce reaction time and situational awareness
In Michigan specifically, distracted driving continues to be a major contributor to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The state’s enhanced enforcement of hands-free driving laws reflects the urgency of addressing this public safety crisis.
PROTECTING YOUR INSURANCE RATES AND YOUR SAFETY
The best way to avoid insurance rate increases from distracted driving tickets is simple: don’t drive distracted. Consider these practical steps:
- Put your phone away before you start driving
- Use voice-activated features if you must use your phone
- Pull over safely if you need to make a call or send a text
- Set up navigation before you begin your journey
- Enable “Do Not Disturb” mode to avoid temptation
- Be a role model for young drivers in your life
CONTACT A MICHIGAN DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY
At The Joseph Dedvukaj Firm, we understand the devastating consequences of distracted driving accidents. If a distracted driver has injured you or a loved one, we are here to help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our experienced auto accident lawyers have recovered over $300 million for Michigan residents injured in car crashes. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to holding distracted drivers accountable and fighting for maximum compensation on your behalf, including:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- No-fault insurance benefits (PIP)
Don’t wait to protect your rights. Michigan law imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, call 1-866-447-3563 or complete our online contact form below.
We serve clients throughout Michigan, including Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, Warren, and surrounding communities. Let us put our decades of experience and proven track record to work for you.