A conviction for impaired driving stays on your record in Michigan for life. However, most car insurance companies don’t check your record any farther back than five years, so it won’t affect your rates after that time if you are convicted. You can also apply for an expungement after five years to try and get the conviction removed.
That said, an impaired driving conviction can cause major legal problems. If your blood alcohol content was above 0.15, you have to get a mandatory ignition interlock system. Add in court fees, lawyer costs, and potential fines and community service, and it’s always best to hire a lawyer to minimize the damage.