Michigan permit test cheat sheet

Michigan-specific rules from our question bank, condensed to one line each with the handbook page. Read it the night before; don’t use it instead of practicing.

Study sheet for before your test. Notes aren’t allowed in the DMV test room. See the study sheets to print.

Test format: Not published
Passing score: Not published
Permit and test fees: $25 total
Minimum age for a permit: 14 years, 9 months
Supervised driving: 50 hours (10 at night)
Hold your permit: 6 months minimum

Permits & licensing

Michigan teens may begin Segment 1 at 14 years, 8 months with a parent or guardian's permission. p. 18
A teen must be at least 14 years, 9 months old, have finished Segment 1 and visit a Secretary of State office with a parent or legal guardian. p. 18
On Level 1 you may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian, or a designated licensed adult age 21 or older seated in the front seat beside you. p. 19
Before the driving skills test, a Level 1 teen must log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. p. 19
Level 2 requires age 16, six months on Level 1, and no violations, at-fault crashes or suspensions in the 90 days before you apply. p. 19
Level 2 drivers may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are with a parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older, or driving for work or an authorized activity. p. 19
The Level 2 night restriction does not apply when you are driving in the course of your job or going to or from work, or to or from an authorized activity. p. 19
A Level 2 driver may carry no more than one passenger under 21, unless a parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older is in the car, the passengers are immediate family, or the trip is for work or an authorized activity. p. 19
You must be at least 17 and have held Level 2 for six months, with 12 consecutive months free of moving violations, at-fault crashes, suspensions and GDL violations. p. 19
Segment 1 requires at least 24 hours of classroom time, 6 hours behind the wheel, 4 hours of observation and at least 70 percent on the state exam. p. 18
A TIP is valid for 180 days and lets a new adult driver practise with a licensed adult before the road test. p. 21
Adults on a TIP must complete at least 30 days of practice driving with a licensed adult before the driving skills test. p. 21
All new drivers, including teens in GDL, are on probation for at least three years. p. 23
GDL ends at 18. source

Laws, points & insurance

Points are posted only after you are convicted of a moving violation, and they stay on your record for two years from the conviction date. p. 27
Collecting 12 or more points within two years, or six or more one-point violations, leads to a driver assessment reexamination. p. 27
Michigan assigns 3 points for driving 11 to 15 mph over the limit, the same as careless driving or running a stop sign. p. 28
Six points, the highest level, covers the most dangerous acts, including reckless driving, drunk driving, fleeing police, refusing a chemical test and leaving a crash without giving identification. p. 28
Most convictions stay on your record for at least seven years and some for at least 10. p. 27
Michigan may call you in for a reexamination after three or more crashes in two years, 12 or more points in two years, violating license restrictions, or a fatal crash where you were negligent or had been drinking. p. 30
Michigan law requires your license address to match where you live. p. 24
Michigan's default bodily injury liability limits are $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident. source