Under 18:
All first time drivers under 18 must take a SOS-approved drivers education course in order to be eligible for the Michigan learners license and ultimately the drivers license.

• A teen must be 14 years, 8 months old to enroll in a Segment One drivers education course.
• Segment One must include:
• 24 hours of in-class instruction.
• 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.

• Once a teen successfully completes Segment One and the Segment One Knowledge Test developed by the Department of State, a green Michigan Department of Education Segment One Certificate of Completion is issued by the drivers education instructor. The certificate of completion is not a permit to drive and may not be used as a drivers license.

18 and Older:
If you are 18 or older, drivers education is not mandatory in Michigan. However, it’s always a good idea for new drivers to take drivers ed. With quality drivers education, you can:

• Learn the rules of the road and essential safe driving skills
• Have a better chance of passing your learners permit test
• Qualify for an auto insurance discount (where applicable)

Take the DriversEd.com Michigan drivers education course online at your own pace and on your own schedule.

Under 18:
After the drivers education instructor issues the green Segment One certificate, the teen and parent should go to a Secretary of State Branch office immediately to apply for a Level 1 Learners License.

• A teen must be at least 14 years, 9 months old to apply.
• A parent or legal guardian must accompany the teen to sign the application. The parent or legal guardian must sign the application or the teen driver will not be issued a Level 1 License. Signing indicates parental/legal guardian approval for licensing of a minor.
• To obtain a Level 1 License, the teen must present:

• A certified birth certificate (a current state identification card or moped license will be accepted if the certified birth certificate cannot be located)
• Social Security Number
• Green Michigan Department of Education Segment One Certificate of Completion.
  
  
• The teen must pass the vision and health standards prescribed by the Secretary of State.
• The Level 1 License is a paper license. No photograph will be taken until the Level 2 License is issued.
• With a Level 1 License, the teen driver may only drive while accompanied by a licensed parent, legal guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older. Among other requirements, a teen must hold a Level 1 Learners License for at least 180 days to be eligible for a Level 2 License.

18 and Older:
Apply for your temporary instruction permit at a SOS branch office near you.
A Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) allows you to practice driving with a licensed adult for up to 180 days. A TIP is issued if you are age 18 or older and:

You must provide your Social Security number and documents which establish your identity and Michigan residency. View a list of acceptable documents.

You will also have to pass a vision test and written knowledge tests. In certain cases, a road sign test may also be required.

After practicing your driving with a licensed adult for at least 30 days, you are eligible to apply for a Michigan drivers license.

Under 18:
Segment Two of drivers education consists of 6 hours of classroom instruction. Drivers education instructors may also provide some on-the-road driving instruction, although it is not required. To enroll in a Segment Two drivers education course, the teen must have:

• Obtained a Level 1 License.
• Have held a valid Level 1 License for not less than three continuous months
• Completed at least 30 of the mandatory 50 hours of parent-teen driving, including 2 of the 10 hours of night-time driving.

When the teen completes Segment Two, a white Michigan Department of Education Segment Two Certificate of Completion will be issued by the drivers education instructor. Your teen cannot drive to or from the Segment 2 course without a licensed parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older in the front seat.

DriversEd.com can help make this supervised driving period less stressful. Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide teaches important concepts and guides parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive. It also comes with a FREE Passenger Side Rear-View Mirror which allows you to see exactly what your teen sees when behind the wheel.

18 or Older:
Practice driving under the supervision of another licensed adult for at least 30 days before you apply for the Michigan drivers license.

Under 18:
Level 2 Intermediate License
In order to be eligible for your Level 2 License, you must satisfy the following requirements:

• Pass a road skills test given by a third party tester.
• Must complete both Segment One and Segment Two of the drivers education course to qualify for a Level 2 License.
• Teens cannot have a moving violation resulting in a conviction or civil infraction determination, or been involved in an at-fault crash during the 90-day period immediately preceding application.
• The Level 2 License requires the teen to be photographed.
• To obtain a Level 2 License, teens and their parent or legal guardian must go to a Secretary of State Branch office and present:
• Proof the teen is at least 16 years old. (The Level 1 License is acceptable proof.)
• The skills test certificate, verifying the teen has passed a road skills test given by a third-party tester approved by the Secretary of State.
• Proof that they have had a Level 1 License for a minimum of 180 days.
• The white Michigan Department of Education Segment Two Certificate of Completion.
• A log book or other records documenting the teen’s 50 hours of supervised driving with a licensed parent, legal guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older. Graduated Drivers Licensing requires 10 of the 50 hours of supervised driving to be completed at night.
• A Level 2 License allows teens to drive unsupervised except between midnight and 5 a.m., when a licensed parent, legal guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older must accompany them. Teens who must drive between midnight and 5 a.m. because of work are not required to have an adult with them. They should be able to provide proof they are traveling directly to or from work.

A teen will automatically advance to a Level 3 Full License provided he or she is age 17, has met all driving requirements, and has parental authorization.

• If the parent does not authorize automatic advancement to a Level 3 License, the teen will remain at Level 2 until the parent accompanies the teen to a Secretary of State Branch office and grants authorization, or until the teen turns 18.
• If the parent has authorized the teen to automatically advance to a Level 3 License and the teen has successfully met all licensing requirements, the Level 3 License will be mailed to the teen. There is no need to go to a branch office.
• To obtain a Level 3 License, the teen must:
• Be at least 17 years old.
• Have driven at Level 2 for a minimum of six months.
• Have completed 12 consecutive months of driving without a moving violation, an at-fault crash that resulted in a moving violation, a license suspension or a violation of a Graduated Driver License (GDL) restriction.

A Level 3 License grants full driving privileges. GDL ends for all teens when they are 18.

18 and Older:
Schedule a road skills test given by a third party tester.
After passing your skills test, return to a Secretary of State branch office. Bring your skills test certificate, TIP and identification documents with you. If this is your very first license, you will be on probation for three years. Some medical conditions could mean restrictions on your license.

If you are applying for a special license, such as a chauffeur’s license, commercial drivers license or a motorcycle endorsement, you must pass the required written and skills tests before a Michigan license can be issued.