Level 3 Full Michigan Driver's License Once you turn 17 years old and have held your Level 2 provisional license for at least 6 months, all GDL restrictions will be lifted and you will earn your Level 3 full Michigan driver's license, provided that you have not had any violations or accidents within the last 12 months. The Level 3 License is issued automatically to teen drivers who are at least 17 years old (with parental authorization.), held a Level 2 License for at least six months, and been crash- and violation-free during the prior 12 months. Tickets, crashes, suspensions and ignoring license restrictions will extend the time required to obtain a Level 3. Level 3 License - a full-privilege driver license issued to teen drivers at least 17 years old after they have successfully completed all the previous instructional and driving requirements. If you did not find the information you need, enter a descriptive word or phrase in the Search field located in the upper right corner.
Graduated Driver Licensing Eligibility and Documentation Requirements
New! As of March 16, 2021, student drivers will be issued a photo license hard card for a GDL Level 1 license, instead of a paper license. Those drivers won't need to return to the branch office for their Level 2 or Level 3 licenses and their operator's license will be mailed to them upon turning 18.
Level 1 Learner's License
Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 14 years 9 months old.
- Successfully complete Segment 1 of an approved driver education program.
- Meet minimum visual standards to drive. See Visual Standards for Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licenses
- Meet the Department of State Physical and Mental Standards for Drivers
- Out-of-state driver education certificates require an applicant to take the 40-question Michigan Original Operator License Test.
Documentation Requirements at Secretary of State Branch Office
- Driver Education Certificate of Completion Segment 1
- A valid Social Security number or proof of ineligibility
- Proof of legal presence in the U.S.
- Proof of identity
- Proof of Michigan residency (two documents)
- Have a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult sign the Level 1 application.
For acceptable documentation requirements, see Applying for a license or ID card? (SOS-428)
Level 2 Intermediate License
Eligibility Requirements
- Held a Level 1 Learner's License for at least six months
- Be at least 16 years old
- Successfully complete Segment 2 of an approved driver education program
- Pass a Driving Skills Test
- Have no convictions or civil infractions, license suspensions, or at-fault crashes for the 90-day period immediately prior to applying for a Level 2 Intermediate License.
- Meet minimum visual standards to drive. See Visual Standards for Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licenses
- Meet the Department of State Physical and Mental Standards for Drivers
Documentation Requirements at Secretary of State Branch Office*
- Segment 2 Certificate of Completion
- Driving Skills Test Certificate
- A valid Social Security number or proof of ineligibility
- Proof of legal presence in the U.S.
- Proof of identity
- Proof of Michigan residency (two documents)
For acceptable documentation requirements, see Applying for a license or ID card? (SOS-428)
*If your original Level 1 License was issued on or after March 16, 2021, you may not need to visit a branch office.
Level 3 Full License
Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 17 years old
- Held Level 2 License for at least six months
- Complete 12 consecutive months without a moving violation, a crash in which a moving violation resulted, a crash, a license suspension, or a violation of the graduated license restrictions (may be six months at Level 1 and six months at Level 2, if consecutive)
This license is automatically issued at no fee, provided all requirements are met and parental authorization was granted.
GDL ends for all teens when they turn age 18.
Enhanced Graduated Driver’s License
For an additional fee, you may apply for anEnhanced Driver’s License with parental approval if you are a U.S. citizen and a Michigan resident, and you have no violations, suspensions, revocations or denials on your driving record that would prevent you from legally operating a motor vehicle.
Michigan uses a multi-stage licensing process for teens. This system allows teens to gradually gain exposure to complex driving situations, easing them into driving over an extended period of time.
Level 1 LICENSE
After turning 14 years 9 months, teens may apply for a Level 1 license once you have signed a Level 1 application. Your teen must successfully complete a Segment 1 driver education course that includes a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and four hours of observation as a passenger. Upon submitting a Segment 1 Certificate of Completion and passing a vision test, your teen will be issued a Level 1 license.
With a Level 1 license, teens must practice driving under the supervision of a licensed parent or designated adult age 21 or older for a minimum of 30 hours including two hours at night. After 3 continuous months he or she may then enroll in a Segment 2 driver education course that includes six hours of classroom instruction. They will be required to successfully complete Segment 2 and at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving, including at least 10 hours at night, before taking the driving skills test and moving on to the intermediate licensing phase. Drivers with a level 1 or level 2 license are prohibited by law from using a cellular phone while operating a motor vehicle.
Level 2 LICENSE
When your teen turns age 16, has driven on a Level 1 license for at least six months, has driven violation and suspension free and had no at-fault crashes for at least 90 days, he or she can apply for a Level 2 license. You must certify that your teen has completed the minimum requirements for practice driving, plus submit a Segment 2 Certificate of Completion and a Driving Skills Test Certificate.
A teen with a Level 2 license is allowed to drive alone, but must be accompanied by a designated licensed adult over age 21 when driving between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. except: – driving to or from place of employment, – driving to or from an authorized activity*, or – accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or a licensed driver 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or legal guardian. A teen with a Level 2 license is not allowed to have more than one non-family passenger in the vehicle under the age of 21 unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or designated adult over the age of 21 except: – when the additional passengers are immediate family members, – when driving to or from place of employment, – while going to or from an authorized activity*, or – when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or a licensed driver 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or legal guardian. Drivers with a level 1 or level 2 license are prohibited by law from using a cellular phone while operating a motor vehicle.
* Authorized activity means any of the following: (a) A school or school sanctioned event or activity. School means a public or private school, including a home school. (b) A sporting event or activity, or extracurricular event or activity, that is not school sanctioned but that is part of an official sports league or association or an official extracurricular club, or that is paid for as a service offered by a business specializing in those events or activities or training for those events or activities. (c) A class or program of vocational instruction offered by a college, community college, nonprofit association, or unit of government or by a business specializing in vocational training. (d) An event or activity sponsored by a religious organization that is tax-exempt under federal law. (e) Transporting an individual in need of immediate emergency care or personal protection to a health care professional, hospital, police station, domestic violence shelter or public safety location.
Level 3 LICENSE
At age 17, your teen is automatically issued a Level 3 license (unless you request, in writing, otherwise) if the teen has driven under a Level 2 license for at least six months, has been violation and suspension free and has had no at-fault crashes for at least 12 consecutive months. All nighttime and passenger driving restrictions are lifted after your teen receives a Level 3 license. As a parent or legal guardian, keep in mind that Michigan law authorizes you to withdraw your consent for a teen under age 18 to drive.
At age 18, the Graduated Driver License law ends, however teens exiting from GDL may still be subject to probationary requirements. Probation does not automatically end at age 18.
In all instances drivers, front seat passengers and all others under the age of 16 seated anywhere in the vehicle must wear seat belts or be in an approved child restraint system. Additionally, AAA recommends that drivers of all ages should refrain from using a cell phone while driving, except for calling 911 or other emergency purposes. Michigan law prohibits drivers of any age from reading, composing or sending electronic text messages while operating a vehicle.
Consider using a parent-teen driving agreement to help enforce licensing rules that the state and your family set. An agreement helps you and your teen understand the rules of the road and sends a clear message that driving is an earned privilege that your family takes seriously.
Level 3 Full License Michigan
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The Michigan Secretary of State is in charge of licensing for all drivers in Michigan. To enroll in Level 1 and Level 2 of the Graduated Driver Licensing program, your teen must apply in person and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please check in advance for locations, hours, fees, plus acceptable forms of identification your teen will need to present when applying for each stage of licensing.
Study materials to help your teen get ready for the exams are also available. Keep in mind that as a parent or legal guardian, Michigan law authorizes you to withdraw consent to drive for your teen driver under age 18. This procedure begins with written notification to the Michigan Secretary of State.
Please note that all driving skills tests required for licensing are provided through an independent network of state-approved third-party organizations. A list of authorized organizations is available on the website of the Michigan Secretary of State.
Michigan Level 3 License
- Parent-Teen Driving Agreement – Signing a formal agreement with your teen helps in multiple ways.