How Does An Out-Of-State Resident Remove A Michigan Driver’s License "Hold"?

You may decide to leave Michigan, especially if you’ve had your driver’s license revoked due to repeat OWI or other criminal convictions.  The thinking and logic work like this:  I can move away from my troubles, and get a license in another state like California, Ohio, or Colorado. Unfortunately, that logic and thinking doesn’t always work.  Most often, out-of-state residents can’t get licensed in a new state because of the “hold” placed on them by the Michigan Secretary of State.

Every day, people from all over the country call our firm and ask these questions:

 “What do I have to do to remove my Michigan driver’s license hold?”

“Do I have to come back to Michigan to handle this?”

“Do I need an attorney in Michigan for this, or in my new state?”

“Once Michigan removes my hold, will I be able to get a license in my new state?”

Residents from other states must apply to have the “hold”/revocation removed, and that application process goes through the Michigan Secretary of State Administrative Hearing Section (AHS), previously known as the Driver’s Assessment and Appeal Division (DAAD). You can choose to either proceed with an Administrative Hearing (where you won’t be required to come back to Michigan but instead submit paperwork to AHS), or via a Video/Live Hearing conducted in Michigan. Under either option, you’ll want to consult with a Michigan license appeals attorney, and not one from your new state. 

Daniel T. Geherin, of Geherin Law Group PLLC. (GLGMichigan.com) and MiLicenseLawyer.com, has been a license appeals specialist for over 20 years.  Dan has conducted over 1,000 license reinstatement hearings at DAAD/AHS, and has appeared before every Hearing Judge on multiple occasions.  Day in and day out, he helps out-of-state residents remove the “holds” from their license. He’s helped over 300 clients in the last decade with license reinstatement in Michigan!

Mr. Geherin and his team at Geherin Law Group will provide clients documents and referrals to begin the process of requesting a reinstatement hearing from out-of-state.  They’ll answer questions every step of the way; will carefully review the documents before submission; prepare you before appearing before the Hearing Judge at a reinstatement hearing; and will discuss procedures for Circuit Court appellate remedy where necessary.  

Once the Michigan license hold is removed, an out-of-state client only needs to pay a reinstatement fee at the Michigan Secretary of State, then you should be able to be licensed in the new home state. 

If you’re an out-of-state resident who has a “hold” on your Michigan driver’s license (i.e., your Michigan privileges have been revoked), please contact us today to help get your license reinstatement in Michigan at the Geherin Law Group (734) 263-2780.