Tips/ Resources

To be eligible for a Level 1 Learner's License, applicants must:

• Meet minimum visual standards to drive. See Visual Standards for Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licenses
• Meet the Department of State Physical and Mental Standards for Drivers
• Successfully complete Segment 1 of an approved driver's education program and present a Segment 1 Certificate of Completion. Out-of-state driver's education certificates require an applicant to take the 40-question Michigan Original Operator License Test.
• Be at least 14 years, 9 months of age
• Have a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult sign the Level 1 application
• Present identification documents. For more detailed documentation requirements, see Applying for a License or ID? (SOS-428)

Before beginning Segment 1, a teen must be 14 years, 8 months of age and have parent/guardian permission.

Segment 2 driver's education is offered after the driver has held a valid Level 1 Learner's License for at least three continuous months and has acquired 30 hours of driving experience time, including a minimum of two hours of night driving. Segment 2 includes a minimum of six hours of classroom instruction.

The Driver Education Curriculum Guide was developed to provide driver education instructors and providers with a detailed framework of the concepts, objectives and standards students will need to master to successfully meet the goals of Segments 1 and 2. By ensuring that students are properly prepared to drive, we will reduce crash rates among teen drivers and make Michigan's road safer.

Before your teen driver can apply to take the driving skills test, he or she must have successfully completed Segment 2 of the driver education course, received the white Segment 2 Certificate of Completion, and logged a minimum of 50 hours supervised driving, which includes a minimum of 10 hours at night. Driving skills tests are provided by independent third-party testing organizations approved by the department. A link is provided below for a listing of these testing organizations. The driving skills test will consist of two parts - a basic control skills test and an on-road driving test.

It is highly recommended that parents review the Michigan Department of State's Driving Skills Test Study Guide (SOS-360) with their teens prior to scheduling a driving skills test with a third-party testing organization.

To find an approved third-party testing organization, click on the Michigan Department of State Driving Skills Testing Locator by County. A skills test fee will be required, which varies with each testing organization.

To be eligible to apply for a Level 2 Intermediate License, applicants must:

Have a Level 1 Learner's License for at least six months
Present a Level 1 Learner's License
Be at least 16 years of age
Meet minimum visual standards to drive. See Visual Standards for Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licenses
Meet the Department of State Physical and Mental Standards for Drivers
Must have successfully completed Segment 2 of an approved driver's education program and present a Segment 2 Certificate of Completion
Must present proof of legal presence. For more detailed documentation requirements, see Applying for a License or ID? (SOS-428).
Pass a Driving Skills Test and present a Driving Skills Test Certificate
Have no convictions or civil infractions, license suspensions, or at-fault crashes for the 90-day period immediately prior to applying for a Level 2 Intermediate License
Have a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult sign the application to certify the 50 hours behind-the-wheel driving experience including a minimum of 10 nighttime hours

To be eligible for a Level 3 Full License, applicants must:

• 17 years of age
• Have Level 2 License for at least six months
• Complete 12 consecutive months without a moving violation, a crash in which a moving violation resulted, a crash, a license suspension, or a violation of the graduated license restrictions (may be six months at Level 1 and six months at Level 2, if consecutive)

A new Level 3 license is created and mailed from Lansing using the electronic image on file (obtained at Level 2). This license is issued at no-fee to the applicant. A teen will automatically advance to a Level 3 License provided he or she is age 17, has met all driving requirements, and has parental authorization. This authorization is granted when the parent or legal guardian signs for the teen's Level 2 License.

GDL ends for all teens when they turn age 18.