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.
Operating requirements for agricultural vehicles on public roads - lighting, slow-moving vehicle emblems, and more.
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.
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For information about learning to drive if you are under 18, visit our new drivers (under 18) page.
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 the results have been received, you may log into e-Services to obtain a Temporary Operator License to drive on until your license has been processed and mailed.
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.
Driver education opportunities for adults
The opportunities for adults who wish to take a driver education course that includes both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training are limited. But there are a few driver education providers who offer this option. When searching for a driver education provider on the internet, locate providers in your area and carefully read about the services being offered. Contact the provider and ask questions about their program, including the costs and refund policies. The Michigan Department of State provides a list of certified driver education providers who offer courses for adults. To access the list, select the "Locate a driver education provider" button. Once the web page has loaded, select "List all driver education providers" and "Search" for a complete list of driver education providers.
To apply for a driver’s license, residents age 18 and older will need to:
Once the driving skills test is successfully passed, the driver's license will be processed and mailed to the applicant.
Pre-applying for a driver's license
Applicants will pre-apply for a driver's license as part of the process of scheduling their Secretary of State office visit to obtain their TIP. Pre-applying streamlines the license application and shortens the amount of time spent at a Secretary of State office. Pre-applying also provides information about the required identity and residency documents that must be submitted before the license application can move forward.
Schedule an office visit and pre-apply for a driver's license
Driver's license choices
When applying for their first driver's license, applicants have two choices:
Applicants between the ages of 18 and 21
Applicants under the age of 21 will be issued a vertical driver's license with the "Under 21" designation printed on it. When they near their 21st birthday, they must apply for a new license. If they apply more than 54 days before their 21st birthday, the license will be issued in a vertical format with the "Under 21" designation printed on it. The license will be printed and mailed within 10-14 days of the application date.
If they apply within 54 days of their 21st birthday, they will receive a driver's license in the horizontal format without the "Under 21" designation. The license will be printed and mailed a few days before the applicant's birthday.
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 until one hour before closing time.
The test is available in English and a number of foreign languages, in both an audio and a written format.
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.
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.
TIPs are valid for 180 days from the date they were issued. If an applicant does not pass their driving skills test within 180 days, the whole process starts all over again, and the applicant must complete and submit a new application for a new TIP at a Secretary of State office.
To obtain a TIP, visit a Secretary of State office and:
Secretary of State offices accept:
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. As 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 confident enough to start driving on side streets and in other quiet areas.
The Driving Skills Test Study Guide provides an excellent overview of the requirements for passing the on-road driving skills test, and What Every Driver Must Know offers thorough explanations of traffic laws, signs, pavement markings and signals, how to share the road safely, and what to do in emergencies.
The Supervised Driving Guide, specifically written for teen drivers, offers detailed information that can be used in coaching new drivers. It provides both step-by-step instructions and lesson plans for the licensed adult to assist a new driver in operating a vehicle safely.
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.
Fees charged by driver testing businesses are not regulated by the Michigan Department of State. Before scheduling an appointment, applicants should inquire about all third-party testing fees, including initial and retest fees, refund policies, charges for improper documents, defective equipment, and failure to keep a test appointment.
Before any testing takes place, the driving skills test examiner will inspect the vehicle that the applicant will drive. If the vehicle does not meet the required legal or safety standards (for example, a missing side view mirror or a broken taillight), the test will be cancelled. The examiner will also check for a valid certificate of Michigan No-Fault insurance, vehicle registration, and a license plate with the correct year's tab.
During the test, the applicant is not allowed to use any study aids or notes, a cell phone, or any other electronic devices. If required, a sign language interpreter or a foreign language interpreter may be present in the vehicle during the exam to translate the examiner's instructions. More information is available in the Driving Skills Test Study Guide booklet.
To find a driver testing business, select the "Locate a driver testing business" button. Once the web page has loaded, select the county. The "Search" button will return a list of driver testing businesses.
Locate a driver testing business
Driver-activated features and systems
Driver-activated features include systems that are not operated by default but require an action by the driver to start them. Examples may include a parking-assist system that automatically parks the vehicle, a four-way camera, or an automated self-driving feature in which the vehicle steers itself. Driver-activated features and systems are not allowed during the driving skills test. If there is any question about whether a system or device is permitted, check with the driving skills test examiner before the test begins.
What the driving skills test covers:
Before an applicant can take a driving skills test, they must:
What must be presented to the driving skills examiner:
Passing or failing the driving skills test
Drivers who pass the driving skills test will be issued a signed Driving Skills Test receipt from the examiner. The Driving Skills Test Receipt is not a license.
A failure in any one of the three testing components (vehicle inspection, basic controls test, or the on-the-road driving test) will automatically terminate the driving skills test. Applicants who fail the driving skills test will have to schedule a new appointment and start over. Only one driving skills test may be taken in a 24-hour period.
Once the driving skills test has been passed, the driver testing business will report the results electronically to the Michigan Department of State. After the results have been received, the applicant may log into e-Services to obtain a Temporary Operator License to drive on until the license has been processed and mailed. If their account shows that their driving skills test results have not been received within 24 hours of taking the exam, the applicant should visit a Secretary of State office and bring the driving skills test certificate, TIP, and appropriate identification documents, such as a certified birth certificate, to complete the transaction.
In Michigan, all newly licensed drivers must complete a probationary licensing period of three years, during which their driving record will be monitored by the Michigan Department of State. New drivers with multiple tickets or crashes on their record during that three years will have their probationary period extended and may face further sanctions and even a loss of their driving privileges.
Residents with temporary legal presence in the U.S. will be issued a limited-term driver's license. The limited-term license is valid for only as long as they are authorized to remain in the country.
In Michigan, all new drivers, no matter their age, will be placed on probation for a minimum of three years once they receive their operator's license. During the three years, their driving performance will be monitored by the Michigan Department of State to ensure that their driving skills continue to improve and they do not represent a safety threat to themselves and others on the road.
Unsafe drivers are identified by the number of traffic violations and crashes posted on their driving records. Any time a driver is convicted of a traffic violation or has a crash, the Michigan Department of State is notified by law enforcement or the courts and adds it to their driving record. A driving record that shows unsafe driving behavior will definitely be cause for a personal review, which is called a Driver Assessment Reexamination. Examples of unsafe driving include speeding convictions, stop sign violations, and crashes. Depending on the number and severity of the violations or crashes, a new driver can face serious legal consequences, including restriction, suspension, or revocation of their driving privileges.
Driver Assessment Reexamination
New drivers are on probation for at least three years - and it may last longer if they drive unsafely. To successfully complete the probationary period, the last 10 months of their probationary period must be completed without having an “at fault” or “had-been-drinking” crash, a driver’s license suspension, or a traffic conviction. If they do, their probation will be extended.
Example:
A new driver drives for two years and 10 months without a single ticket or at-fault crash. In the final month before their 3-year probationary period would end, they receive a speeding ticket. This violation resets the "probationary license clock," and they now have to drive an additional 10 months without receiving a ticket for a moving violation or being involved in an at-fault crash in order to end their probationary license status.
