Students

First-time license

Per state law, you can start driver’s education as early as age 14-and-8-months and can apply for your first graduated driver's license at age 14-and-9-months.

• Drivers under 18: To apply for your first license, you will need to complete and pass the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, which includes driver’s education (Segments 1 and 2), three licensing levels, and supervised practice driving with a licensed adult. For more information, visit the new drivers (under 18) page.
• Drivers age 18+: 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. For more information, visit the new driver's (18 and over) page.

Regardless of your age, in most cases, you will only need to visit a Secretary of State once to provide all required documents and take a photo for your driver's license.

Renewing your license or ID at 21

Driver’s licenses and IDs expire every 4 years. You’re required to visit a Secretary of State office to renew your license or ID in person to take a new photo when you turn 21.

• If you renew more than 54 days before your 21st birthday, your renewed license or ID will be vertically oriented.
• If you renew within 54 days of your 21st birthday, your renewed license or ID will be horizontally oriented and will be printed and mailed a few days before your birthday.

In most cases, you will only be required to renew your license or ID at a Secretary of State to take a new photo every 12 years after renewing in person at 21.

The next time you need to renew your license or ID, you may do so online, by mail, or at a self-service station.

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Renew license or ID

Changing your address

When you change your address on your driver's license or ID through your online Secretary of State account, you will be asked if you would also like to update your vehicle registration address. Otherwise, the address on your license or ID and vehicle registration must be updated separately.

As a policy, the Michigan Department of State will send mail or correspondence to the residential address on your license/ID or your Michigan vehicle registration.

If you’re moving, or need to use a different a mailing address, update the address on your license, ID, vehicle registration, and/or voter registration, or add a mailing address online or by mail.

If you are a registered Michigan voter, updating your address on your license or ID will automatically update the address on your voter registration, and vice versa.

 Visit our change of address web page for more information.

Visiting a Secretary of State office

Most Secretary of State services can be completed online or by mail, and many are available at self-service stations across the state. There are only a handful of transactions that require you to visit a Secretary of State office, including:

• Applying for your first license, ID, or permit
• Renewing your license or ID at 21, and (in most cases) every 12 years following, to take a new photo
• Converting a standard license or ID to REAL ID
• Applying for an enhanced license or ID
• Correcting your name or sex designation on your license or ID
• Transferring a vehicle title and registering a vehicle for the first time
• Transferring a vehicle license plate
• Completing a test (the written driver's license knowledge test is available in an online version for a $6.50 convenience fee)

Schedule an office visit