Rules & Resources

Michigan Graduated Driver Licensing Eligibility Requirements

LEVEL 1 LEARNER'S LICENSE

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

Be at least 14 years and 9 months old. You can start the class at 14 years and 8 months old.
Meet Visual Standards for Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licenses
Meet the Department of State Physical and Mental Standards for Drivers
Complete Segment 1 of an approved driver education program and present a Segment 1 Certificate of Completion. Out-of-state driver education certificates require applicants to take the 40-question Michigan Original Operator License Test.
Have a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult sign the Level 1 application
Present the Required Legal Documentation

LEVEL 2 INTERMEDIATE LICENSE

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

Be at least 16 years old
Have a Level 1 Learner's License for at least six months
Present a Level 1 Learner's License
Meet Visual Standards for Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licenses
Meet the Department of State Physical and Mental Standards for Drivers
Complete Segment 2 at an approved driver education program and present a Segment 2 Certificate of Completion
Present Required Legal Documentation
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 days immediately before applying for a Level 2 Intermediate License
Have a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult sign the application to certify the 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, including a minimum of 10 nighttime hours

LEVEL 3 FULL LICENSE

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

Be at least 17 years old
Have a Level 2 License for at least six months
Complete 12 consecutive months without a moving violation, an accident in which a moving violation resulted, an accident, a license suspension, or a violation of the graduated license restrictions (maybe 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.

Students 18 years of age and older

To begin driving lessons, you must have a permit (Temporary Instruction Permit). If you do not have one, please visit the Secretary of State before enrolling.

State of Michigan New Drivers

Michigan's New Traffic Laws

Michigan's Updated Child Passenger Safety Laws take effect April 2, 2025, and provide improved precautions to help protect child passengers.

Under the updated laws, children must be secured in a car seat that is appropriate for their age, weight and height as indicated by the car seat's manufacturer. These updates state:

• Infant to two years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer or the child is 2 years old.
• Two to five years: The child can then move into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer or the child is 5 years old.
• Five to eight years: The child can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap-and-shoulder belt until they are 4 feet 9 inches or 8 years old.
• All children under 13 years: Must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle if the vehicle has one available.

Michigan's Child Passenger Safety Laws also require:
• Children younger than age 4 to ride in a car seat in the rear seat (if the vehicle has a rear seat). If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.
• Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first. For information on child passenger safety recommendations, including car seat check locations, visit OHSP's Child Passenger Safety web page at Michigan.gov/carseats

Michigan has enacted a new law to enhance road safety for everyone, including snow plow and salt truck drivers. Violating the 'Leaving space between snowplows' law results in a $100 fine. Below is the exact wording of this new state law from the Michigan Legislature website

Essentially, it's about keeping safe distances around snowplows to ensure both your safety and the safety of the plow operators.

You must keep at least 200 feet of distance behind a snowplow.
This rule doesn't apply if you're legally overtaking or passing the snowplow.
If a snowplow is stopped at or in an intersection, you must stop at least 20 feet behind it.
Breaking any of these rules results in a civil infraction.