Learning to drive in Michigan if you are 18 or older
If you are 18 or older, want to become a licensed Michigan driver, and have not been licensed in Michigan or any other state in the previous four years, you must pass a written driver knowledge test and apply for a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) at a Secretary of State office. A TIP allows you to practice driving under the supervision of a licensed adult driver for at least 30 days before taking the driving skills test.
Once you have passed the driving skills test and received the results, you may log into e-Services to obtain a Temporary Operator License to drive on until your license has been processed and mailed.
Learning to drive: A step-by-step process
Driver Education
Driver education classes are not required for Michigan residents ages 18 and older who wish to learn to drive and apply for a standard or enhanced driver's license.
Applying for a driver's license
To apply for a driver's license, residents age 18 and older will need to:
- Complete and pass the written driver knowledge exam and a vision exam at a Secretary of State office.
- Present all required documents and have a driver's license photo taken.
- Practice driving with a licensed adult for at least 30 days, using the Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) issued at the Secretary of State's office.
- Schedule and pass an on-road driving skills test with an authorized driver testing business. Independent driver testing businesses provide testing services. These driver testing businesses employ examiners authorized by the Michigan Department of State to conduct driving skills tests. The department does not regulate fees charged by testing businesses.
Once the driving skills test is successfully passed, the driver's license will be processed and mailed to the applicant.
The written knowledge test
The written knowledge test (which includes a road sign test) must be passed before a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) can be issued. The test is given at a computer testing station in a Secretary of State office and can be scheduled up to one hour before closing.
The test is available in both audio and written formats in English and several foreign languages.
The test is multiple-choice and designed to test the applicant's knowledge of basic traffic laws and safe vehicle operation. Failure to get a passing score terminates the testing process, and the applicant must reschedule to take the test again on a different day.
Once a knowledge test is passed, the results are valid for one year. However, if an applicant applies for a new TIP because their previous one has expired, they will need to take the knowledge test again.
Studying for the written knowledge test
Applicants are encouraged to review What Every Driver Must Know (especially chapters 4-7) and the Driving Skills Test Study Guide when preparing to take the written knowledge test. Although the Driving Skills Test Study Guide will be most helpful in preparing for the on-road driving skills test, the latter half of the booklet provides some good information about the correct driving procedures for a number of different traffic situations. It considers situations such as highway driving, approaching intersections, or driving in urban settings, which may prove useful when taking the written knowledge test.
Driving Skills Test Study Guide
Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP)
Residents age 18 and older wishing to become licensed drivers must first apply for a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) at a Secretary of State office.
A TIP allows unlicensed adults to practice driving on public roads under the supervision of a validly licensed adult driver. The TIP is not a license, and it is illegal for applicants with a TIP to drive without supervision. The applicant must complete at least 30 days of supervised driving before they can take the driving skills test.
To obtain a TIP, visit a Secretary of State office and:
- Pass a vision test
- Pass the written knowledge test
- Present proof of (select the "Required documents" button for more information):
- A valid Social Security number (or a letter of ineligibility)
- Legal presence
- Identity
- Michigan residency
- Pay the $25 TIP fee
Supervised Driving
Once a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) has been issued, an applicant may begin practice driving under the supervision of a validly licensed adult, such as a family member, friend, or co-worker, or they may obtain training through a driver education provider. When learning any new skill, start slowly and with the basics. Practice simple maneuvers first, such as starting, stopping, braking, and turning, in a safe area (for example, a large empty parking lot) until you are confident enough to start driving on side streets and in other quiet areas.
The driving skills test is administered by independent testing organizations authorized by the Michigan Department of State. To prepare for the test, applicants should review the Driving Skills Test Study Guide. The test will take about 45 minutes to an hour and a half to complete.
What the driving skills test covers:
- An inspection of the vehicle that the applicant will be driving.
- Basic control skills test.
- On-the-road driving test.
Before applicants can take a driving skills test, they must have practiced driving for at least 30 days with a TIP issued by the Secretary of State's office.
What must be presented to the driving skills examiner:
- The applicant's TIP.
- A vehicle that is in safe, working order. Vehicles that are unsafe or have defective or missing parts, such as a broken signal light or side view mirror, cannot be used for the driving skills test.
- Proof of Michigan No-fault insurance.
- The vehicle's valid registration has a valid license plate and tab.
Drivers who pass the driving skills test will be issued a signed Driving Skills test receipt from the examiner. The receipt is not a license.
A failure in any one of the three testing components (vehicle inspection, basic controls test, or on-the-road driving test) will automatically terminate the driving skills test. Applicants who fail the test will have to schedule a new appointment and start over. Only one driving skills test may be taken in a 24-hour period.
Learning to drive: A step-by-step process
In Michigan, all newly licensed drivers must complete a three-year probationary licensing period during which the Michigan Department of State will monitor their driving record.
