Michigan learner’s permit requirements
Everything here comes from Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Michigan doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.
Last checked September 22, 2026.
At a glance
- Minimum age
- 14 years, 9 months
- Fees
- $25 total
- Supervised driving
- 50 hours (10 at night)
- Where you take the test
- Online or in person
The knowledge test and your permit
- Time limit
- None published
- Permit and test fees
- $25 totalTeens pay a $25 licensing fee for the Level 1 learner's license (driver-ed fees are separate); adults take the knowledge test free at an SOS office and pay $25 for the Temporary Instruction Permit.Sources 123
- Minimum age for a permit
- 14 years, 9 monthsGDL Level 1 Learner's License at 14 years 9 months after completing driver education Segment 1 (enrollment at 14 years 8 months). Adults 18+ who have never been licensed get a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) valid 180 days.Sources 321
- Test languages
- 32 languagesEnglish, Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Bengali, Burmese, Chaldean, Karen, Kibembe, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Lao, Malay, Punjabi, Urdu, Romanian, SwahiliSources 123
From permit to full license
- Segment 1 driver ed (24 h classroom, 6 h behind-the-wheel, 4 h observation, 70% state exam) -> Level 1 Learner's License at 14 y 9 m (drive only with parent/guardian or designated licensed adult 21+; no cell phone under Kelsey's Law).
- After 3 months and 30 logged hours (2 at night), Segment 2 (6 h classroom, 70% exam).
- Driving skills test (by a driver testing business) after holding Level 1 for 6 months and logging 50 hours (10 at night).
- Level 2 Intermediate License at 16 with 90 days violation-free: no driving 10 p.m.-5 a.m. and no more than one passenger under 21 (exceptions for family, work, authorized activities, or when accompanied by a licensed adult 21+). Level 3 Full License at 17 after 6 months on Level 2 and 12 consecutive violation-free months.
- Adults 18+: TIP, at least 30 days of supervised practice, then skills test; all new drivers are on probation for 3 years.
Before you go
Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) website: michigan.gov.