Filing for office, including petition signature requirements and political party status.
Elections administration, including the Election Inspector's Guide; absentee voting; and the Michigan Qualified Voter File.
Find information about the Board of State Canvassers and its meeting notices.
Title and registration requirements; special titles; name changes; address changes; license plate fees; insurance requirements; new Michigan residents; lost titles; lost license plates; and deceased vehicle owners.
Disability parking and placard information, disability parking, disability plate, disabled parking permit, and wheelchair.
Recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, watercraft, ORVs, and trailers.
The International Registration Plan (IRP) - a program for registering and licensing of commercial vehicles in interstate operations among member jurisdictions (states or provinces).
The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) online service for customers filing financial statements and liens through the Secretary of State.
Operating requirements for agricultural vehicles on public roads - lighting, slow-moving vehicle emblems, and more.
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Find and complete an approved training course.
If you don’t enroll in a MI-REP course, you can visit a Secretary of State office to apply for a temporary instruction permit (TIP). To be issued a TIP, you will need to complete the following:
After passing both, you will be issued a TIP to practice riding with an endorsed motorcyclist, and under certain restrictions, for up to 180 days.
Schedule an office visit
Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual
Then, schedule a Rider Skills Test (RST) with a driver testing business. Upon passing the RST, the driver testing business will submit your result to the Michigan Department of State.
You will receive a driving skills test receipt with instructions how to add your CY to your license online through your online Secretary of State account or by visiting a Secretary of State office.
You must bring the following items to participate in a course:
The Basic Rider Course (BRC) includes a training motorcycle (under 500cc) that is provided by the course sponsor. The other courses offered require you to provide your own road-worthy motorcycle properly registered and insured.
Check with the course sponsor for more information.
MI-REP course fees depend on whether the course is provided by a public or private sponsor.
Use the MI-REP training locator to find public and private course sponsors in your area and enroll.
Michigan Rider Education Program (MI-REP) State Coordinator
Michigan Department of State
430 West Allegan Street
Lansing, Michigan 48918
Email: Motorcycling@Michigan.gov
For beginners to learn to ride and earn their motorcycle endorsement on a furnished motorcycle. The course will address:
The Basic Rider Course is a 15-hour program, which provides classroom and actual motorcycle operator training in a controlled, off-street environment.
No experience is necessary, and motorcycles are provided; a good sense of balance is required (you must be able to ride a bicycle).
The minimum age permitted to take this course is 15.
Locate a MI-REP sponsor
BRC Rider Handbook (Motorcycle Safety Foundation)
One day course for experienced riders who want to brush up on their skills at higher speeds on their own motorcycle and earn the motorcycle endorsement.
This is a one-day program combining elements of the Basic Rider Course (BRC) that includes a knowledge test and skill tests. It is designed for riders who possess the skills to ride a motorcycle. The training includes an informal classroom component for discussing safety concepts based on past riding experiences and current knowledge.
Successful completion of this course allows you to visit a Secretary of State office to obtain motorcycle endorsement in lieu of taking a Rider Skills Test.
This is a one-day (approximately 8-hour) program combining elements of the Basic Rider Course (BRC) that includes a knowledge test and skill tests. It is designed for riders who possess basic skills, but who may have not been riding for several years.
Successful completion of this course allows you to go to a Secretary of State office to obtain motorcycle endorsement in lieu of taking a Rider Skills Test.
The Returning Rider Course offers practice for motorcyclists with some riding experience who want to brush up on their skills or who want to obtain the motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license.
Students must provide their own motorcycle and proof of insurance. The motorcycle must be properly titled and registered, display a valid license plate and pass a safety inspection. Automatic shift motorcycles will be allowed in this class.
For beginners who want to learn to ride three-wheel motorcycles instead of two-wheel motorcycles and earn a special (3-wheel only) motorcycle endorsement.
The course includes:
Successful completion will allow you to waive the written knowledge test at a Secretary of State office. You may also be eligible for an insurance discount. Some locations provide three-wheel motorcycles and others require students to provide their own three-wheel motorcycle and proof of insurance. The motorcycle must be properly titled and registered, display a valid license plate and pass a safety inspection.
Locate a MI-REP sponsor
The Advanced Rider Course is for riders who already have their endorsement and who want to sharpen their riding skills. The course is beneficial for riders on any type of street motorcycle. The one-day course complements a rider's basic skills and helps with personal risk assessment, through:
Students must provide their own motorcycle and proof of insurance. The motorcycle must be properly titled and registered, display a valid license plate and pass a safety inspection.
Yes, a motorcycle endorsement (CY) is required to operate a motorcycle or three-wheeled motorcycle (trike) on public roads in Michigan. Operating without a motorcycle endorsement (CY) may result in a fine and/or imprisonment.
In addition to the legal requirements, completing motorcycle rider education courses help prepare motorcyclists for safe riding experiences. Unendorsed motorcyclists continue to be over-represented in motorcycle crashes and fatalities.
Locate a MI-REP sponsor
The unendorsed motorcyclist continues to be over-represented in motorcycle crashes and fatalities. In the fall of 2016, legislation was passed and signed by the Governor that increased the penalties for operating a motorcycle in Michigan without the proper endorsement.
A rider’s first violation is punishable by a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail, or both. A second offense is punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 1 year in jail, or both.
Motorcyclist safety (Office of Highway Safety Planning)
First-time CY or permit: $16 (plus any fees for other license transactions)
Renewal: $7 + license renewal fee
Correction/replacement: $9
Information about licenses and IDs
It is not necessary to have any motorcycle riding experience but you do need the ability to balance and stabilize a two-wheeled vehicle. If you have not ridden a bicycle in a long time, you should get some practice before attempting to ride a motorized vehicle.
If you are under the age of 18 years in Michigan, you must successfully complete the motorcycle safety course to get the endorsement. If you are 18 years or older and have failed the motorcycle rider skills test twice, you must successfully complete a motorcycle safety training course to obtain your endorsement.
A waiver is granted to students who complete and pass one of the following courses:
In Michigan, a student who completes and passes the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), Basic Rider Course (BRC), or the Returning Rider Course (RRC) is granted a “waiver” to taking the Rider Skills Test (RST) and the Secretary of State (SOS) Branch Office knowledge test when applying for their motorcycle endorsement (CY) on their driver’s license.
The following training curriculums and courses are approved as waiver substitutes for motorcycle rider training courses offered in Michigan when seeking an endorsement. Refer to the Reciprocity for Out-of-State Motorcycle Rider Training Courses flier for more information.
Idaho Star – Basic I (BIC)
Team Oregon – Basic rider training (BRT)
Lee Parks Total Control – Intermediate riding clinic (IRC)
California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) – Motorcyclist training course (MTC)
Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy - New rider course (NRC)
Motorcycle Ohio Program – Basic rider skills (BRS)
Individuals who have successfully completed one of the courses listed and wish to obtain their cycle endorsement on their Michigan driver’s license MUST provide a valid certificate of completion from the provider of the course. The certificate of completion must include a certifying/authorized signature and the date of the course completion (which must be one year or less from the date of the endorsement application).
Out-of-state motorcycle rider safety completion cards may be accepted as proof of completing a motorcycle rider safety course from most other states. Out-of-state motorcycle rider safety completion cards are valid for one year from the date of completion. Refer to the Reciprocity for Out-of-State Motorcycle Rider Training Courses flier for more information.
If you are an experienced rider with good riding and communication skills, you may qualify to become a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) certified RiderCoach. Becoming a MSF RiderCoach is a great way to improve your own abilities while helping others to learn or enhance their riding skills.
To become a MSF certified RiderCoach you must, at a minimum:
The following programs offer RiderCoach training:
Only if the moped or scooter meets the legal definition of a motorcycle.
Otherwise, to operate a moped on public roads, you must have either a moped license or a standard, enhanced or chauffeur’s license, a GDL Level 1 license with a moped privilege added, or a GDL Level 2 or Level 3 license.
