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Licenses and ID

Licenses and ID

  • Electronic copies of a utility or credit card bill issued within the last 90 days or an account statement from a bank or other financial institution issued within the last 90 days are acceptable as proof of residency. All other documents must be original.

  • In most cases, Michigan residents must purchase their own records. The following exceptions are allowed by law:

    Commercial and governmental agency users
    The Michigan Department of State allows commercial and governmental users to obtain driver’s license, vehicle, mobile home, watercraft, and recreational vehicle records under certain specified conditions.

    Driving Record Subscription Service
    The Driving Record Subscription Service provides organizations with the driving records of their employees on an annual basis, or whenever there are violations, restrictions, suspensions, or revocations posted to the driving record.

  • Your driver’s license or ID must contain a street address. However, you may use a P.O. Box as a mailing address.

  • Michigan's driver education curriculum is required for all teen drivers under age 18.

    Michigan residents over age 18 will need to study Michigan's driving laws. To apply for your Michigan license, complete and pass the vision exam and driver knowledge exam at your office visit. You will be issued a paper temporary permit to practice driving with a licensed adult for at least 30 days. Once 30 days have passed, contact a driver testing business to complete the on-road driver skills test. Upon passing, your license will be mailed to you.

  • If you are purchasing your driving record for your own reference, you may not need a certified record.

    If you are purchasing a copy of your record for a court case, or for an employer, check with the person requesting the record to verify what type of record is needed and if it needs to be certified.

    NOTE: All driving records purchased in Secretary of State offices are certified records.

  • If you plan to drive, you will need to apply for a license, and your license will act as legal identification. ID isn't required by the state, but is generally required by employers, retailers, and to access certain services.

    Information about licenses and IDs

  • No. When you move out of state, your Michigan license will be canceled in our records when your new state of residence notifies us that another license was issued. If you move back to Michigan, you will need to reapply for a Michigan license, including providing new proofs of residency. 

  • Aging drivers, their families and friends, and healthcare providers may visit the Safe Drivers Smart Options: Keys for Lifelong Mobility website for information and resources for active older drivers and those who may be considering limiting their driving and using alternative transportation.

    Go to Michigan.gov/AgingDriver

  • While it’s required that your residential address be a verified U.S. Postal Service street address, you can add another address for mail delivery. Update your permanent or temporary mailing address online or by submitting a Change of Address form.

    When submitting this information, be sure to select the box designating that it is a new mailing address.

    Change of address

    Change of address form

  • Most driver’s licenses and IDs can be replaced online or at a self-service station. However, if you have changed your address or requested a replacement license or ID within the last 28 days, you will need to visit a Secretary of State office to provide proof of identity.

    Replace a license, ID, or permit

    Go to Online Services

    Find a self-service station

    Replacement license/ID form

    Schedule an office visit

  • If you are a registered Michigan voter, your voter registration information will be updated automatically when you change your address on your Michigan driver’s license or ID.

    If you are updating your address within two weeks of an election, you must visit your local clerk’s office in person if you would like to vote in the election using your new address.

    Review your voter registration

  • The link for your electronic driver record is only accessible for 7 days. During the seven-day period, you may view your electronic driver record as many times as you need to by logging in and choosing the option to View Transaction History. We recommend you save your documents to your computer or device so that you may conveniently view the record at any time. If you were unable to access your driving record in the time allotted, you may apply for a refund.

    Refund request form

  • $9 for standard.
    $24 for enhanced.

  • Standard license renewal - $18
    Standard license late renewal - $25
    Enhanced license renewal - $38
    Enhanced license late renewal - $45
    Standard ID renewal - $10
    Enhanced ID renewal - $30

    Fees vary for chauffeur, commercial, and other endorsements. Some residents are eligible for a no-fee ID.

  • A standard state ID is $10.

    A standard first-time license is $25.

    Additional fees apply for enhanced credentials, chauffeur, and commercial licenses, and other license endorsements. Some residents are eligible for a no-fee ID.

  • Online - in state or out of state

    You may request a replacement license through online services whether you are in state or out of state. A branch office visit will be required if you have changed your address within the last 10 days or renewed your license within the last four weeks. 

    At a Secretary of State office

    If you are in Michigan, take acceptable proof of identification and your Social Security number to a Secretary of State office. Acceptable identity documents for the standard and enhanced licenses vary, but some of the documents that accepted for either include a valid, unexpired passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal issued by a U.S. or U.S. territory government office, federal or Michigan government issued photo ID card or a valid U.S. military photo ID card. More than one document may be required - faxes and photocopies are not accepted. Please refer to the Applying for a License or ID form (standard license) or the Applying for an Enhanced License or ID form (enhanced license) for more information.

    Fees for a duplicate license differ, depending on license type. 

    Out of State - by mail

    If out of state, you must provide your complete name (first, middle and last), date of birth, driver's license number, Social Security number and out-of-state address. If you need to replace a standard driver's license and are ineligible for a Social Security number, you must provide a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration and proof of legal presence. You must have a valid Social Security number to obtain an enhanced license. All Social Security information will be verified.

    If you will be back in the state within 180 days, a temporary extension permit will be mailed. If you will not be back in Michigan within that time, a temporary extension permit will be mailed along with a duplicate driver's license application.

    For more information about a temporary extension permit or if you have questions about replacing a lost or destroyed license if out of state contact:

    Michigan Department of State
    The Special Services Section
    7064 Crowner Drive
    Lansing, MI 48918

    Phone: 517-636-5872
    Fax: 517-636-5865

  • You may continue to renew and use your driver's license as identification even though you are no longer driving. You may also cancel your driver's license at any time (no matter your age). To cancel your driver's license, you must visit a Secretary of State office to turn in your license and apply for an ID.

    Schedule an office visit

  • You may locate the number on your vehicle registration or your tax return, or you may obtain it by calling your insurance company. You may also renew/replace at a self-service station by providing your full name, date of birth and Social Security number.

  • Yes.

    You will need to send a letter before your license or ID expires with the following information:

    • Your first, middle and last name
    • Your license/ID number
    • Your permanent address and alternative mailing address, if applicable
    • Your phone number
    • A check or money order payable to the State of Michigan.

    Mail your information and payment to:
    Michigan Department of State
    Internal Services Section
    7064 Crowner Drive

    Lansing, MI 48918
    • If you would like to reinstate your driver’s license after it was canceled, the knowledge test and skills test are waived if the canceled license expiration date is still current or expired up to four years. If the canceled license is expired more than four years, you will have to pass the vision and written knowledge tests, obtain a temporary instruction permit, and pass a driving skills test through a driver testing business. The 30-day practice period is waived.
    • If your license was canceled because of a medical condition, or the license was revoked by Driver Assessment because of a medical condition, you will need to complete a DA-4P Physician’s Statement and submit it for review before the license would be issued. 

  • It's likely because we need to verify your personal information or take a new photo of you at a Secretary of State office.

    Reasons that your driver's license cannot be renewed online may include:

    1. You renewed through alternative methods, such as by mail, online, or at a self-service station the last two renewals.
    2. Your Social Security number cannot be verified by the Department of State.
    3. You are not a U.S. citizen -- a non-citizen's legal presence must be verified at the time of renewal.
    4. Your license has been canceled or voluntarily surrendered.
    5. Your photograph is not on file or is more than 12 years old.
    6. You are listed on the sex offender registry.
    7. You have submitted a change of address online within the last 10 days.
    8. Your license has been expired for more than four years.
    9. Your license is suspended, revoked, or denied.
    10. You are turning 21 years old.
    11. You have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with a hazmat endorsement.
    12. You have dual products on system, such as a driver's license and a state ID.
    • Enhanced ID cards are offered for a reduced fee to residents age 65 and older, and to those who are legally blind.

    • Acceptable proof of legal blindness can be one of the following:

      • A doctor’s statement. The doctor can complete form DI-4V - Vision Specialist's Statement of Examination or can write a letter documenting the applicant’s vision.

      • Documentation from one of Michigan’s state libraries for the blind

      • Certificate of Completion on letterhead from the Leader Dog School

      • Documentation from the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) – contact Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) at 800-292-4200

  • There is no cost to change your address.

  • Be sure you have all of the required documents listed previously. In most cases, we cannot accept photocopies. Documents that aren't in English won't be accepted.

    • If you are a citizen and eligible, you will be automatically registered to vote, unless you choose to opt out.
    • You can sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.
    • Your photo will be taken and a temporary credential will be issued until your documents arrive in the mail.
    • If you need to take a test, you may ask for headphones to listen to audio versions of the test questions.

  • To track processing of your driver’s license or ID, visit Online Services and follow the prompts to create or log into your account. Select "More" from the list of menu options. Follow the link on the next page "View Credential Mail Status" to track when your credential is processed, mailed, and whether it was returned by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable.

    MiLogin customer account

  • When you’re ready to visit a Secretary of State office, provide all required documents (proof of legal presence, proof of your Social Security number, proof of identity, and two documents proving Michigan residency).

    Under 18
    To obtain a Michigan license, you must complete driver’s education through the Graduated Driver Licensing program, which includes passing Segment 1, Segment 2 and the on-road driver skills test.

    Once you pass Segment 1 and complete the required supervised practice hours, visit a Secretary of State office to apply for your Level 1 learner's license (graduated driver's license). This hard card will be mailed to you.

    After holding your Level 1 learner's license for at least six months, passing Segment 2 and completing all required supervised practice hours, you can take the on-road driver skills test. To progress to the Level 2 intermediate license, you must be at least 16 years old, have passed the on-road test and your driving record must be crash- and violation-free 90 days prior to issuance.

    If you complete these steps, your graduated driver's license will update automatically in our system as a Level 2 license and you won't need to go back to an office unless other circumstances require it.

    18 years or older
    To apply for your Michigan license, complete and pass the vision exam and driver knowledge exam at your office visit. You will be issued a paper temporary permit to practice driving with a licensed adult for at least 30 days. A photo will be taken of you but you won't receive a photo license until you pass a driver skills test.

    Once 30 days have passed, contact a driver testing business to complete the on-road driver skills test. Upon passing, your license will be mailed to you.

    Converting an out-of-state license
    If you have a valid, unexpired driver's license from another U.S. state or territory or Canada, you can convert it to a Michigan license at a Secretary of State office. You must provide your current out-of-state license and all required documents.

    New Michigan residents

  • You will need to bring documented proof of your legal name change, such as a court order, marriage license, certified divorce decree, etc.

    You may also provide other evidence that you have been using the name for at least six months.

    Multiple documents may be needed if your name has changed more than once. Name-change documents must show both the changed name and the previous name.

    Divorce decrees may be used if they are certified (copies aren’t accepted) and if they show the changed name and the previous name.

  • If your driving record doesn’t indicate you are a U.S. citizen, you will need proof of U.S. citizenship (certified birth certificate, U.S. passport, etc.) or proof of your immigration status. Immigration documents must be verified through the federal government’s SAVE application. Verification may take more than one day.

  • Acceptable identity documents for the standard and enhanced licenses vary, but some acceptable documents include a valid, unexpired passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal issued by a U.S. or U.S. territory government office, federal or Michigan government-issued photo ID or a valid U.S. military photo ID. More than one document may be required. Faxes and photocopies are not accepted.

    Acceptable documents

  • If you don’t inform the Social Security Administration of your name change, the Secretary of State’s office can’t process your name change. The department verifies all names and Social Security Numbers before issuing a license or ID. If your name and date of birth don’t match with what is on file at the Social Security Administration, your application will be denied.

    To process a name change with the Social Security Administration, you must provide proof of your identity, legal presence and name change. Additional proof may be requested. 

  • Driver’s license – $9 

    ID – $10 

  • Beginning May 7, 2025, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant document to board a domestic flight, enter a military base, and visit some federal buildings.

    • REAL ID–compliant license or ID: You can convert your standard license or ID to become REAL ID-compliant. A white star in a gold circle will display in the upper right corner.

    • Enhanced license or ID: An enhanced license or ID - regardless of whether it includes the REAL ID emblem - is automatically REAL ID-compliant. It can also be used to in place of a U.S. passport to re-enter the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean.

    • Standard license or ID: A standard license or ID that isn’t REAL ID-complaint (doesn’t have a white star in a gold circle) can’t be accepted for REAL ID requirements.

    More Information about REAL ID

  • Our staff will take a photo and you will be issued a temporary paper credential while at the office to use until your permanent document arrives. Licenses and IDs are printed at a secure off-site facility and will be mailed to you.

  • The expiration date of your driver's license is extended to include the next business day if your driver's license expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

  • The International Driving Permit is a translation of the driver's license. This permit/translation is carried in addition to the driver's license issued by the driver's home country.

    Michigan residents may wish to obtain an International Driving Permit if they intend to drive while in a foreign country. If you are interested in obtaining an International Driving Permit you should contact a full-service Automobile Club of Michigan (AAA) office or American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) before traveling out of the U.S. Information is also available at the following websites:

    https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

    http://aataidp.com/

    Residents of a foreign country who are temporarily in the United States may drive in Michigan with their home country license and, if the license is not in English, an English translation of the license or an International Driving Permit. 

  • Take your current out-of-state driver's license, proof of a valid Social Security number, U.S. citizenship or legal presence if not a U.S. citizen, identity and at least two documents establishing Michigan residency to a Secretary of State office. You will be given a vision test and your out-of-state driver's license will be converted to a Michigan driver's license.

    All documentation is subject to Department of State approval. In some cases, document approval may not occur in the same day and may require an additional visit.  

  • According to section 28.291(2) of the State Personal Identification Card Act, the Secretary of State shall not issue an official state identification card to a person who holds an operator's or chauffeur's license, unless the license has been suspended, revoked or restricted. 

  • The Level 1 Learner's License may or may not be recognized in another state.  You will need to contact the licensing agency in the other state to find out if that state will recognize Michigan's Level 1 Learner's License.

    A driver with a Level 1 Learner's License may only drive with a licensed parent, legal guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older. The parent, legal guardian, or designated adult must sit in the front seat. If driving with a designated adult, the driver should carry a signed letter of authorization from the parent or legal guardian.

  • You must successfully complete a Motorcycle Safety Course offered through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). You may obtain course information via the MSF Web site www.msf-usa.org. Once you finish the course and get the MSF completion card, you may contact the Michigan Department of State, Special Services Branch at 517-636-5872 for information on handling the transaction through the mail or email your approved motorcycle training completion card to MDOS-SpecialServices@Michigan.gov for further instructions. Most military commands also require completing the Advanced Rider Course (ARC) within a year of adding your motorcycle endorsement. 

    Reciprocity for Out-of-State Motorcycle Rider Training Courses - for riders applying for their Michigan motorcycle endorsement (CY) that have completed their training course outside the State of Michigan.

  • License types

    Michigan issues two types of driver's licenses: operator and chauffeur.

    1. An operator's license is what most residents mean when they use the term "driver's license." An operator's license allows you to drive passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating capacity of less than 26,000 pounds.
    2. A chauffeur license is required if you have been hired to:
    • Transport passengers or property, merchandise or goods for display, sale or delivery; or
    • Operate a motor vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more; or
    • Operate a bus or school bus; or
    • Operate a taxi or limousine.

    You will need a chauffeur license with the appropriate commercial driver's license (CDL) endorsement to drive larger commercial trucks, such as semi-tractors or buses, or to transport hazardous materials. Certain jobs and professions don't require a chauffeur license, such as farmers, firefighters or emergency medical services personnel. The Michigan Vehicle Code contains a complete definition of a chauffeur license.

    To operate a motorcycle, you must have a motorcycle endorsement on either an operator or a chauffeur license. The motorcycle endorsement, CY, is added after you have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course or passed the skills and written knowledge tests.

    A limited-term driver's license is issued to residents in the U.S. who have temporary legal presence. The limited-term license is valid for only as long as the person is authorized to be in the country.

    License styles

    Michigan's operator and chauffeur licenses are available in two styles -- standard and enhanced. The enhanced operator and chauffeur licenses are attractive options for travelers and commercial drivers. Enhanced licenses are federally accepted documents that allow you to enter the U.S. at a land or sea border crossing when returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. If you have a standard operator or chauffeur license, you'll also need to present a passport or other federally accepted identity document to cross at the border.
     
    Both standard and enhanced licenses are accepted as identification for domestic air travel. A passport or other federally accepted identity document will be required when flying internationally.
     
    For more information about license types, requirements, endorsements and fees, select "Driver's License/State ID" on the Department of State home page.
     

  • You may drive in Michigan with an out-of-state driver's license as long as the license is valid, and you are not a Michigan resident. 

  • If your state ID card, driver's license or permit has been stolen, you should report it to your local law enforcement agency. To obtain a new card, please schedule a visit at a Secretary of State office and apply for a duplicate card. Proof of your identity will be required. You may also wish to place a driver's license alert on your driving record.

    Driver Record Alert Request form

  • Online - out of state

    State laws requires that a driver's license be renewed at a Secretary of State office every 12 years in order to update the photograph and other information. If you are out of state and need to renew your driver's license, you may do so online provided you are not required to renew at a Secretary of State office.  

    Go to online services

     

    Out of state - by mail

    If you will be returning to Michigan soon, a driver's license extension that is valid for 180 days after the date your license expires can be mailed. All that is needed is your complete name, date of birth, driver's license number, Social Security number, and out-of-state address. If you are renewing a standard license, and are ineligible for a Social Security number, you must provide a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration and proof of legal presence. You must have a valid Social Security number to renew an enhanced license. All Social Security information will be verified.

    If you are not going to be back in Michigan within 180 days of the driver's license expiration, information to renew your driver's license by mail, if eligible, will be sent to you. For a temporary extension permit or renewal application, log into online services or contact:

    Michigan Department of State
    Special Services Section
    7064 Crowner Drive
    Lansing, Michigan 48918
    517-636-5872

  • A recreational double endorsement ® is needed when driving a pickup truck, equipped with a fifth-wheel assembly with an attached fifth-wheel trailer designed for recreational living purposes and towing an additional trailer or semi trailer. The total length of all three vehicles cannot exceed 75 feet. The gross weight of the additional trailer cannot exceed the empty weight of the pickup or the semi trailer. The minimum age to get a recreational doubles endorsement is 18. The cost of the endorsement is $10. You must pass a 15-question Recreational Doubles written test. No road test is required.

    Additional Recreational Double Endorsement Information 

  • Online - in state or out of state

    A standard state ID card may be replaced or renewed at Online Services. If you have changed your address within the last 10 days or have requested a duplicate ID within the last four weeks, you must visit a Secretary of State office to renew. Enhanced state IDs cannot be renewed online.

    At a Secretary of State office

    If you are in Michigan, you need to take acceptable documentation to a local Secretary of State office. More than one document may be required - faxes and photocopies are not accepted. And, if you have not provided the department with your Social Security number, you will need to present proof of a valid Social Security number or a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration and proof of legal presence. All Social Security information is verified.

    The fee for a duplicate ID card is $10.

    Out of state - by mail

    If you are out of state, contact the Special Services Branch and provide your first, middle and last name, date of birth, state identification number and out-of-state address:

    Michigan Department of State
    The Special Services Section
    7064 Crowner Drive
    Lansing, Michigan 48918
    517-636-5872 

  • You are eligible to apply for a state ID card if:

    1. Your Michigan driver license has been suspended, revoked or restricted.
    2. You are a Michigan resident and your driving privileges are terminated due to a mental or physical disability
    3. You have driving privileges but your driver license does not contain a photo for identification purposes, you are eligible if you have been:
    • Issued a Michigan Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP)
    • Arrested for drunken driving and your driver's license was confiscated and destroyed by the police officer making the arrest and a temporary permit has been issued

  • If your state identification card, driver's license or permit has been stolen, you should report it to your local law enforcement agency. Then you should go to your local Secretary of State office to apply for a duplicate, you must present proof of your identity. You may wish to place a driver's license alert on your record.

    Driver Record Alert Request form

  • It is likely that it will eventually appear on your Michigan driving record. If the violation substantially corresponds to a violation of a Michigan law, then the conviction will be posted to your driving record and points will be assessed as required by the Michigan Vehicle Code. If the ticket is for an offense for which a suspension would have been given if the ticket had been received in Michigan, then a suspension will be imposed after the posting of the ticket, allowing time for due process and the sending of a notification letter. Most states are reciprocal and provide ticket information to the driver's home state. Michigan law requires that the same action be taken for tickets received out-of-state as those received in Michigan, therefore, points and suspensions may be imposed. 

  • Driving record information

  • The Michigan Department of State assigns points for convictions as instructed by the Michigan Vehicle Code. Insurance laws dictate the point system used by the insurance companies. 

  • The commercial driver’s license (CDL) knowledge skills test and on-road driving skills test requirements are waived for military service members who are trained and have been employed in the past year to operate the military equivalent to a commercial vehicle. Eligible veterans and service members may apply to convert their Michigan license to a CDL Class A or B at any Secretary of State office by completing the Application for Military Waiver Even Exchange.

  • Michigan law authorizes the Department of State to reexamine a driver when there is reason to believe the driver may be unable to operate a motor vehicle safely. The Department relies on information from law enforcement, medical personnel, Secretary of State branch staff, and concerned citizens, including family members, to identify unsafe drivers.

    The Department of State provides a form, called a Request for Driver Evaluation (DA-88), that can be completed and submitted to the Traffic Safety Division to request a review of an individual's driving skills. 

  • If your address is incorrect, go to Online Services or a Secretary of State office for a change of address. If you never received the action that is listed on your record and you feel it was entered incorrectly, please contact our Information Center at 1-888-SOS-MICH (1-888-767-6424)  for further assistance.

    If a citation or court action is incorrect as provided by the court, a copy of the order from the court placing the information on your record is needed. You must contact the court for a corrected abstract. The address to mail or FAX it is:

    Michigan Department of State
    Driver Record Activity Unit
    formerly the Abstract Processing Unit
    7064 Crowner Drive
    Lansing, Michigan 48918
    FAX: 517-636-7525