Graduated licensing — Michigan Permit Test

If you are under 18, you must go through Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), which ends when you turn 18.

New teen drivers crash far more than anyone else, so GDL adds privileges one step at a time as skill grows.

GDL ends when you turn age 18.

The GDL requirement is waived if you have held a valid license from another state for more than a year.

A teen who has already driven licensed for a year has done the early learning that GDL is built around.

(This requirement is waived if you have had a valid license from another state for more than a year.)

Under GDL you must complete two segments of driver education and meet the requirements of each of three licensing levels.

Lessons and supervised driving are split up so a teen learns the basics before taking on harder driving.

Under Graduated Driver Licensing, you must complete two segments of driver education instruction and meet the requirements for each of the three licensing levels.

You may start driver education Segment 1 at 14 years, 8 months, with your parent's or guardian's permission.

Segment 1 comes first so a teen learns the rules in a classroom before ever driving on a public road.

at least 14 years, 8 months and have your parent or guardian’s permission to start Segment 1.

Segment 1 requires at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, at least 6 hours behind the wheel, 4 hours of observation and at least 70 percent on the Segment 1 state exam.

Classroom hours teach the rules, and the hours behind the wheel with an instructor are a teen's first real driving.

Segment 1 requires at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction

Segment 1 requires a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.

A teen's first hours at the wheel are with a trained instructor, before driving with a parent.

a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction

To apply for a Level 1 Learner's License you must be at least 14 years, 9 months old and visit a Secretary of State office with your parent or legal guardian.

A parent has to come because the parent takes on the job of supervising the teen's driving.

GDL Level 1 Learner’s License: To apply, you must be at least 14 years, 9 months old, visit a Secretary of State office with your parent or legal guardian

To apply for a Level 1 Learner's License you must present your Segment 1 Certificate of Completion.

The learner's license lets a teen drive on real roads, so Segment 1 has to be finished first.

the following documents: Segment 1 Certificate of Completion

With a Level 1 Learner's License you may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older seated in the front seat next to you.

A beginner makes mistakes they cannot see coming. An adult beside them can spot the danger and speak up in time.

you may only drive with a licensed parent, guardian or designated, licensed adult age 21 or older seated in the front seat next to you.

A designated adult who supervises a Level 1 driver needs a signed letter of authorization from the parent or guardian.

The parent decides who may teach their teen to drive, and the letter shows that choice was made.

(The designated adult will need a signed letter of authorization from the parent or guardian.)

With a Level 1 license you must keep a driving log and complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before the driving skills test.

Night driving is harder and more dangerous, so some of the practice has to be done in the dark.

a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours at night) before taking the driving skills test.

To apply for Segment 2 you must present a log of at least 30 hours of supervised driving, including at least 2 hours at night.

Segment 2 builds on real driving experience, so a teen must have spent time on the road first.

you must present a driving log of at least 30 hours of supervised driving time (including a minimum of 2 hours at night) with your parent, guardian or designated adult.

To apply for Segment 2 you must have held your Level 1 Learner's License for at least three consecutive months.

Three months of driving gives a teen real experience to bring into the second round of lessons.

You must have held your Level 1 Learner’s License for at least three consecutive months.

Segment 2 is at least 6 hours of classroom instruction, and you must pass the Segment 2 state exam with at least 70 percent.

The second classroom segment covers harder topics a teen can only make sense of after some time on the road.

You must pass the Segment 2 state exam with a minimum of 70 percent.

To take the driving skills test as a teen you must be at least 15, have completed Segment 2 and 50 supervised hours with 10 at night, and have held a Level 1 license for at least six months.

The road test is the gate to driving without a parent beside you, so it waits until the teen has months of practice.

You must have held your GDL Level 1 Learner’s License for at least six months.

Driving skills tests are given by driver testing businesses approved by the Secretary of State.

The state approves the testers, so every road test is held to the same standard.

Driving skills tests are given by driver testing businesses approved by the Secretary of State.

To apply for a Level 2 Intermediate License you must be at least 16 and have held a Level 1 license for at least 6 months.

Level 2 lets a teen drive alone, so it waits for both age and half a year of supervised driving.

GDL Level 2 Intermediate License: To apply, you must be at least age 16 and have held your Level 1 Learner’s License for at least 6 months.

To get a Level 2 license you must have had no violations, at-fault crashes or suspensions on your record for the 90 days before you apply.

A clean record right before the step up shows the teen is ready to drive without supervision.

You must have no violations, at-fault crashes or suspensions on your driving record for the 90 days preceding your license application.

A Level 2 Intermediate License bars driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless you are with a parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older, or driving for work or an authorized activity.

Late-night hours are when tired and impaired drivers are out, and when teen crashes are deadliest.

Level 2 Intermediate License restrictions prohibit you from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

A Level 2 driver may drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. if driving for work, to or from work, or to or from an authorized activity.

The curfew is meant to cut risky late-night trips, not to stop a teen from getting to a job.

you are operating the vehicle in the course of your employment or while going to or from employment, or while going to or from an authorized activity.

A Level 2 driver may not have more than one passenger under 21 in the vehicle, unless a parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older is along, the passengers are immediate family, or the trip is for work or an authorized activity.

Each young passenger raises a teen driver's crash risk. Friends in the car mean talk, noise and showing off.

You may not have more than one passenger under the age of 21 in the vehicle with you at any time unless one of the following applies:

The Level 2 passenger limit does not apply when the passengers are members of your immediate family.

Driving brothers and sisters to school is ordinary family life, and the rule leaves room for it.

the passengers are members of your immediate family

A Level 3 Full License requires you to be at least 17, to have held Level 2 for at least six months, and to have driven 12 consecutive months without a moving violation, at-fault crash, suspension or GDL violation.

A full year of clean driving is the proof that the teen can be trusted with every privilege.

You must have driven 12 consecutive months without a moving violation, an at-fault crash, a license suspension or a violation of any of the GDL restrictions.

You must be at least 17 to be eligible for a Level 3 Full License.

The last step is for teens who are older and have already shown a clean year at Level 2.

GDL Level 3 Full License: To be eligible, you must be at least age 17 and have held the Level 2 Intermediate License for at least six months.

A Level 3 Full License is issued automatically at no fee when all requirements are met and parental authorization was granted, though a parent may ask to delay it.

A parent who thinks the teen is not ready can hold off the last step, even when the record allows it.

parents or guardians may request to delay advancing their teen to a Level 3 Full License if they feel the teen is not yet ready.

Under Kelsey's Law, a GDL driver may not use a phone while driving except for emergencies, and could face a civil infraction with fines or community service.

A phone call takes a new driver's mind off the road at the moment they have the least experience to spare.

Under Kelsey’s Law, you may not use a phone while driving, except for emergencies.

When does Michigan's Graduated Driver Licensing end?

When you turn 18. New teen drivers crash far more than anyone else, so GDL adds privileges one step at a time as skill grows. What Every Driver Must Know, p.4: “GDL ends when you turn age 18.”