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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration

Driver Improvement Program

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The Driver Improvement Program (DIP) is a 4-8 hour instructional program that is intended to provide driver rehabilitation. You may have been assigned to the driver improvement program for one of the following reasons:

  • You were referred by a District Court Judge
  • You were referred by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
  • You accumulated 5, 6, or 7 points on your driving record
  • You were convicted or granted probation before judgment for a moving violation while holding a provisional driver’s license

If a judge decides that you must attend a driver improvement program, you will receive a letter from the MVA approximately 4-6 weeks after your hearing date.

Completing the Driver Improvement Program (DIP)

The MVA referral letter will provide you with the requirements of the driver improvement program and a list of Driver Improvement Program (DIP) Providers. After receiving the letter, you must do the following:

  1. Contact a DIP provider directly for information on DIP location(s), available dates and times, and the fee for taking the program.
    1. The cost of the driver improvement program is set individually by each Driver Improvement Program provider. All payments should be made directly to the provider.
  2. Attend your selected class. The DIP class will last from 4 to 8 hours.
    1. Bring your MVA referral letter with you to the class.
    2. If you misplace your referral letter and need a duplicate referral letter to take to class, please contact u​s​.
  3. Complete the ​DIP by the due date printed at the top right corner of the Driver Improvement Program referral letter.

Upon program completion, you will receive a certificate of completion from the provider. The certificate is for your records. The driver improvement program provider will separately notify the MVA of your successful completion.

If you are unable to attend a DIP class

If you do not attend a DIP class by the date specified on your referral letter, the MVA will suspend your driving privilege. You will be notified of the suspension by letter, in which you will also be instructed to surrender your driver’s license to any full-service MVA branch office. When you complete the DIP, you may then apply for a new license.

Extenuating circumstances

If you cannot attend your scheduled class due to extenuating circumstances, you must provide the MVA with a reasonable explanation and supporting documentation. If your explanation is acceptable, you will be rescheduled and will receive a new DIP referral letter.

Temporarily living out of state or have moved out of state

If you are temporarily living out of state or have moved out of state, you must contact the National Safety Council (NSC) to see if the NSC offers a program in your area. Check the NSC website or call to learn more about their 6-8-hour defensive driving program. If you complete the program out-of-state, you must fax or mail your completion form to the DIP unit.

If you moved and did not receive your driver improvement program referral letter because the MVA was not aware of your move, you must first request a change of address before the MVA will consider your request to reschedule the DIP. You may change your address onli​ne​.