Getting a Michigan learner’s license
The steps in plain English. Each one links to the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) page it came from. Last checked Nov 15, 2026.
Teens: enroll in a state-certified Segment 1 driver education course once you are at least 14 years and 8 months old.
Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026Pass the Segment 1 state exam with a score of at least 70%.
Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026At 14 years 9 months or older, pre-apply, then visit a Secretary of State office with a parent: pass the vision test, show your documents and pay $25 for the GDL Level 1 Learner's License.
Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026Adults 18+ not licensed in the last four years: study What Every Driver Must Know for the written knowledge test (free at an office, or $6.50 online).
Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026At the office, pass the vision and knowledge tests, show your documents and pay $25 for a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP), valid 180 days.
Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026Drive only with a licensed adult in the car; a TIP is not a license.
Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
Check before you go: requirements and fees change, and some depend on your age or situation. The official page is the final word.
Related facts
- Minimum age for a learner's license
- Teens: 14 years 8 months to start Segment 1 driver education; 14 years 9 months for the GDL Level 1 Learner's License. Adults 18 and older get a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) instead.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Level 1 Learner's License fee
- $25, paid at the Secretary of State office.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Parent or guardian at the office
- A parent or guardian must go with the teen to the Secretary of State office to apply for the Level 1 license.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Level 1 driving rules
- Level 1 drivers may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian, or a designated adult 21 or older. Kelsey's Law bans cell phone use except in emergencies.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- How long to hold Level 1
- At least 6 consecutive months before the driving skills test (and at least 3 months before starting Segment 2).Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- TIP validity (18+)
- A Temporary Instruction Permit is valid 180 days; if you don't pass the skills test in time, you must reapply. (A Level 1 license expires at 18.)Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Written knowledge test (18+)
- Multiple choice, with two parts that must both be passed: an Operator section (about 45 minutes) and a road Signs section (about 15 minutes). Teens instead pass the Segment 1 state exam (70% needed).Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Failing the knowledge test
- Failing ends the test session; you must reschedule and retake it on a different day. A passed test stays valid for one year.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Test languages
- English and several other languages, in both audio and written formats (the handbook says over 15 languages).Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Documents for a first license
- Proof of legal presence, Social Security number, identity, two proofs of Michigan residency, and a name-change document if your name changed. Originals only, in English or translated.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Office visit and pre-application
- A first-time license can only be done at a Secretary of State office (not online or by mail). You pre-apply online when you schedule the visit.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
- Failing the driving skills test
- Skills tests are given by independent driver testing businesses. If you fail, book a new appointment and start over; only one test is allowed per 24 hours.Source: michigan.gov · checked Nov 15, 2026
More in the Michigan guide
Official Michigan links
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