The learner’s permit—aka the Level 1 Learner’s License—is the first of three major steps young drivers must take before earning their full driver’s license in Michigan. The learner’s license gives teen drivers a chance to gain supervised driving experience and learn safe habits before taking to the road independently.

You can start the process of working toward your Michigan learner’s license once you’re 14 years and eight months old.
With a Level 1 Learner’s License, drivers must be supervised by a designated, licensed adult driver at all times.
To upgrade to a Level 2 Learner’s License, you’ll need to remain accident- and violation-free for at least 90 days.

Before you can drive a vehicle on your own, you’ll need to learn the rules of the road and get some supervised practice in the driver’s seat—and the whole process starts with getting your learner’s license. Here’s a look at how to get your Michigan learner’s license, what the process involves, and what steps follow.

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How to get a Michigan learner’s permit

To start the process of getting a learner’s permit in Michigan—aka a Level 1 Learner's License—you’ll need to be at least 14 years and 8 months old. Specific, we know.

Once you’re old enough, you can enroll in Segment 1 driver education, which takes at least three weeks to complete. Michigan was actually the first state to require minors to take driver education before obtaining a license! Let’s be honest: you’ll be safer for taking it.

The Segment 1 driver’s education program consists of at least 24 hours of classroom learning, six hours of hands-on driving experience, four hours of driving observation time, and a written exam.

Once you pass, remember to hold onto that driver’s education certificate. It’s important for the next step in the process.

After you’ve earned that certificate and you’re at least 14 years and 9 months old, you can officially head to your local Secretary of State (SOS) branch office and apply for your Level 1 Learner's License!

What to bring to the SOS office

Once you’re ready to apply for your Level 1 Learner's License, you can

schedule your visit to your SOS office

. A parent or legal guardian will need to accompany you and sign your application.

You’ll need to have several important documents on hand before you show up at the SOS office. Those will include:

Proof of Social Security number

Proof of identity

Proof of legal U.S. presence

Proof of Michigan residency

Your Michigan Driver Education Segment 1 Certificate of Completion

To find a list of qualifying documents that will satisfy each requirement, you can visit

Michigan.gov/TeenDriver

You’ll also need to pass a vision test and a health screening.

The final step you need to take care of: payment. In Michigan, the standard fee for a first-time driver’s license is $25, but there’s no cost for a Level 1 Learner's License.

MORE: How education level affects car insurance

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Michigan learner’s permit regulations

With a Level 1 Learner’s License in Michigan, you can really start getting experience behind the wheel—but you won’t have free reign of the road just yet.

While you have a Level 1 Learner's License, Michigan law requires that:

A licensed parent, guardian, or designated driver who’s at least 21 years old must supervise your driving at all times.

You cannot use any handheld cell phone or communications device while you’re driving—and that includes

texting and driving

And just like you would at any other time, you and anyone else in your vehicle will need to wear their seatbelts.

In Michigan, the next step on your driver’s license journey will be getting your Level 2 Intermediate License, which you can apply for once you’re 16 years old. You’ll also need to:

Have your Level 1 Learner's License for at least three months to attend Segment 2 driver education

Have your Level 1 Learner's License for at least six months to apply for your level 2 intermediate license

Complete 50 hours of supervised driving time with at least 10 hours of night driving

Pass a driving skills test

Be accident- and violation-free for at least 90 days

Have a parent’s or guardian’s signature on your application

With a Level 2 Intermediate License, you’ll be able to drive without supervision, but you’ll still be subject to certain restrictions, like:

No driving alone between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

No more than one passenger under age 21 can ride with you while unsupervised, except under certain circumstances

No handheld cell phone use

Finally, as soon as age 17, you can expect to receive a Level 3 full license in the mail, so long as you’ve had your Level 2 license for at least six months and you’ve been free of any violations or

at-fault accidents

Until then, enjoy the (supervised) ride!

MORE: How to get cheap car insurance for young drivers

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