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Michigan driver's license

Get your first license in Michigan after moving to the US.

The short answer

Getting a first Michigan driver's license means passing an examination that includes a driving skills test.1 You take the skills test if your license is from any country other than Canada, Germany or South Korea.2 A public or private driver testing business gives the skills test, not a Secretary of State office.3 If you have no Social Security number, you show a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration.4

How it goes

  1. 1
    You arriveYou have moved to Michigan and you want to drive here.
  2. 2
    Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
  3. 3
    The written testYou take the written test.
  4. 4
    Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
  5. 5
    Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.

If you just arrived in the US

Your immigration status

Residents with temporary legal presence in the U.S. are issued a limited-term driver's license, and it is valid only for as long as they are authorized to remain in the country.5

If your license from another state has expired

If you have been previously licensed in any state and your license has been expired for more than four years, you will need to get a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) and pass the required driving skills test. Secretary of State branch office staff may waive your 30-day minimum practice period.6

Documents you need

  • Documents that are still validAn out-of-state or Canadian driver's license is accepted as proof of identity if it has been expired for less than four years. A U.S. passport must be valid and unexpired, and an expired immigration document is accepted only when it comes with a Form I-797 showing an application for new documents.7

Your Social Security Number

Giving your number, and who may see it

Social Security numbers are not displayed or encoded on the driver's license, and access to this information is limited to select individuals in government agencies, as allowed by law, for child support enforcement.8

  • The Secretary of State collects your Social Security number to verify U.S. citizenship or legal presence and to assist in child support collection, and all Social Security information is verified.4

Tests you take

Eye test

You will take a vision test to determine if your vision meets minimum standards; if you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, your license will indicate you must wear them while driving. If you fail, an eye-care specialist must complete a vision statement confirming the standards are met, which may result in restrictions such as daylight driving only.9

Drive test

An original operator's or chauffeur's license cannot be issued without an examination that includes a driving skills test.1

  • As a new driver, you must pass the driving skills test before you are eligible to receive a Michigan driver's license from the Secretary of State office.10

  • A driving skills test is required if you are applying for a Level 2 Intermediate License, if you are 18 or older and have never been licensed, if your last license has been expired for more than four years, or if your license is from a country other than Canada, Germany, or South Korea.2

Practice questions for the written test

Review 'What Every Driver Must Know', especially chapters 4 through 7, and the 'Driving Skills Test Study Guide' (SOS-360), available on Michigan.gov/SOS, whether you take the test online at home or at a Secretary of State office.11

What to bring to the drive test

The car and its insurance

The examiner checks for a valid certificate of Michigan No-Fault insurance, vehicle registration, and a license plate with the correct year's tab. If the vehicle does not meet the required legal and safety standards, the test is cancelled.12

  • You must provide a vehicle in safe working order and show proof of valid insurance, current vehicle registration, and a valid license plate for the test vehicle. The test vehicle should be one you are familiar with and have used during your practice driving.13

  • A defect that puts the people in the car at risk is grounds to refuse the test. The inspection covers brakes, brake lights (including the center rear brake light on 1986 or newer models), doors, fuel level, headlights, heater and defroster, horn, lug nuts (only one is allowed to be missing per vehicle), muffler, rearview and outside left mirrors, safety belts and seats for everyone in the car, speedometer, suspension, taillights, tyres, front and rear turn signals, windshield, and wipers and washers.14

  • The driver and passenger doors must open from both the inside and the outside — a door that opens only one way fails the inspection. The examiner can also refuse the test if a crack in the windshield blocks the driver's view.15

  • A driver education car used for the test must have its training signs taken off — "Student Driver" signs are not allowed during the test.16

  • Driver-activated features and systems, such as self-parking, may not be used during the driving skills test, while systems that work on their own, like a backup camera or blind-spot lights, are allowed. If there is any question about a system, ask the examiner before the test begins whether it is permitted.17

  • Systems that switch on by themselves when the engine runs — a backup camera, blind-spot indicator lights, a lane-departure alarm — are allowed during the skills test. You do not have to turn off a modern car's built-in aids.18

Where to go

Who gives the tests

Not the state itself — the driving skills test is given only through a statewide network of public and private driver testing businesses authorized by the department. There is no Secretary of State office option for the skills test.3

Booking an appointment

You can schedule an office visit and pre-apply for a licence at dsvsesvc.sos.state.mi.us/TAP.19

Office locations

You schedule an office visit at dsvsesvc.sos.state.mi.us/TAP.20

Other states

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Sources

Every numbered fact above is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.

  1. 1

    “The secretary of state shall not issue an original operator's or chauffeur's license without a vehicle group designation or indorsement without an examination that includes a driving skills test”

    legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL

    Checked August 4, 2026

  2. 2

    “You will need to take a driving skills test if: • You are applying for a Level 2 Intermediate License under Graduated Driver Licensing. • You are age 18 or older, have never been licensed and are applying for an original license. • Your last driver’s license has been expired for more than four years. • You hold a driver’s license from a country other than Canada, Germany, or the Republic of Korea (South Korea).”

    michigan.gov/…/WEDMK.pdf

    Checked July 28, 2026

  3. 3

    “Driving skills testing services are provided only through a privatized, testing program. This program utilizes a statewide network of public and private driver testing business authorized by the department to conduct the driving skills tests.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  4. 4

    “State and federal laws require the Secretary of State to collect Social Security numbers to verify U.S. citizenship or legal presence and to assist in child support collection. A letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration must be presented if you do not have a Social Security number and wish to obtain a driver’s license or ID card. The letter can be no more than 60 days old. All Social Security information will be verified.”

    michigan.gov/…/WEDMK.pdf

    Checked August 1, 2026

  5. 5

    “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.”

    michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older

    Checked August 1, 2026

  6. 6

    “If you have been previously licensed in any state, and your license has been expired for more than four years, you will need to obtain a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) and pass the required driving skills test. Your 30-day minimum practice period may be waived by Secretary of State branch office staff.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked August 3, 2026

  7. 7

    “Out-of-state and Canadian applicants may use their out-of-state or Canadian driver’s license as proof of identity (licenses expired for less than four years will be accepted).”

    michigan.gov/…/WEDMK.pdf

    Checked July 28, 2026

  8. 8

    “It is important for the public to know that the Social Security numbers are not displayed or encoded on the driver's license. This information is limited to select individuals in government agencies as allowed by law, for the purpose of child support enforcement.”

    michigan.gov/…/license-and-id-document-requirements

    Checked August 4, 2026

  9. 9

    “You will be given a vision test to determine if your vision meets minimum standards. If corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, are needed to pass the test, your driver’s license will indicate you must wear them while driving.”

    michigan.gov/…/WEDMK.pdf

    Checked August 1, 2026

  10. 10

    “As a new driver, you must pass the driving skills test before you are eligible to receive a Michigan driver's license from the Secretary of State office.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  11. 11

    “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, whether they are taking the test online at home or at a Secretary of State office.”

    michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older

    Checked July 26, 2026

  12. 12

    “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.”

    michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older

    Checked July 31, 2026

  13. 13

    “Also, your parent or legal guardian must sign a certification statement on the score sheet attesting to the practice driving hours. If your parent or legal guardian can’t attend your driving skills test, use or copy the certification statement from this booklet, have it signed and present it to the examiner. • If you are from another country, you must present your home country driver license and Driving Skills Test Authorization Receipt (DSTAR) from the Secretary of State. 9 • You must provide a vehicle that is in safe working order. The test vehicle should be one you are familiar with and have used during your practice driving. • You must show proof of valid insurance, current vehicle registration and valid license plate for the test vehicle. • Only the applicant, examiner, and any required passenger and/or interpreter may be in the vehicle. If the applicant is a minor, the minor’s parent, legal guardian or authorized designated representative must be present throughout the test. Any designated representative must be authorized in writing by the parent or legal guardian. No other passengers are allowed to be present during the test. Skills Tests Terminated Due to Defective Equipment The following safety equipment guidelines will be used when administering the automobile driving skills test.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  14. 14

    “Certain defective vehicle equipment is reason for refusal of the driving skills test if it jeopardizes the safety of the vehicle's occupants.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  15. 15

    “* The driver and passenger doors must work from the inside and outside. Doors that cannot be opened are safety hazards. ** Examiners may refuse to administer a test if the vehicle's windshield is cracked so that it obstructs the driver's view.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  16. 16

    “When used for testing purposes, driver education vehicles must not display any warning signs used for training. This includes "Student Driver" identification signs.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  17. 17

    “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.”

    michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older

    Checked July 26, 2026

  18. 18

    “Passively active devices or systems are those that engage as soon as the engine is running and don't require any additional action on the part of the driver. Examples may include the backup camera, blind-spot indicator lights or a lane-departure alarm. Passively active devices and systems are allowed during the driving skills test.”

    web.archive.org/…/Driving-Skills-Test-Study-Guide.pdf

    Checked February 8, 2025

  19. 19

    “"Schedule an office visit and pre-apply for a driver's license" -> https://dsvsesvc.sos.state.mi.us/TAP/”

    michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older

    Checked July 26, 2026

  20. 20

    “"Schedule an office visit" -> https://dsvsesvc.sos.state.mi.us/TAP/”

    michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older

    Checked July 26, 2026

Applying for a driver's license in Michigan?

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