Graduated Driver Licensing

Graduated Driver Licensing requires drivers under age 18 to complete two segments of driver education.

Segment One

Level 1 License

After the driver education instructor issues the green Segment One certificate, the teen and parent or legal guardian should go to a Secretary of State branch office immediately to apply for a Level 1 License. A teen must be at least 14 years, 9 months old to apply.  A parent or legal guardian must accompany the teen to sign the application. The parent or legal guardian must sign the application or the teen driver will not be issued a Level 1 License.  Signing indicates parental/legal guardian approval for licensing of a minor.  The Level 1 License is a paper license. No photograph will be taken until the Level 2 License is issued.

To obtain a Level 1 License, the teen and a parent or legal guardian must go to a Secretary of State branch office and present a:

  Primary Group identification document to verify the full name and date of birth of the teen. The teen must be at least 14 years, 9 months old to apply for the Level 1License.

  Green Michigan Department of State Segment One Certificate of Completion.

  Social Security number.

  The teen must pass the vision and health standards prescribed by the Secretary of State.

  A parent or legal guardian must be present to sign the Level 1 License application, granting approval.

With a Level 1 License, the teen driver may only drive while accompanied by a licensed parent, legal guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older.

Segment Two

Level 2 License

A teen will advance from a Level 1 License to a Level 2 License, provided all of the mandatory requirements, including a road skills test, have been met. Teens must complete both Segment One and Segment Two of the driver education course to qualify for a Level 2 License. Teens cannot have a moving violation resulting in a conviction or civil infraction determination, or been involved in an at-fault crash during the 90-day period immediately preceding application. The Level 2 License requires the teen to be photographed.

To obtain a Level 2 License, teens and their parent or legal guardian must go to a Secretary of State branch office and present:

  Proof the teen is at least 16 years old. (The Level 1 License is acceptable proof.)

  The skills test certificate, verifying the teen has passed a road skills test given by a third-party tester approved by the Secretary of State.

  Proof that they have had a Level 1 License for a minimum of 180 days.

  The white Michigan Department of State Segment Two Certificate of Completion.

A Level 2 License allows teens to drive unsupervised except between midnight and 5 a.m., when a licensed parent, legal guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older must accompany them.  Teens who must drive between midnight and 5 a.m.  because of work are not required to have an adult with them.  They should be able to provide proof they are traveling directly to or from work.

Level 3 License

A teen will automatically advance to a Level 3 License provided he or she is age 17, has met all driving requirements, and has parental authorization. This authorization is granted when the parent or legal guardian signs for the teen’s Level 2 License. If the parent does not authorize automatic advancement to a Level 3 License, the teen will remain at Level 2 until the parent accompanies the teen to a Secretary of State branch office and grants authorization, or until the teen turns age 18.  If the parent has authorized the teen to automatically advance to a Level 3 License and the teen has successfully met all licensing requirements, the Level 3 License will be mailed to the teen. There is no need to go to a branch office.

To obtain a Level 3 License, the teen must:

  Be at least age 17.

  Have driven at Level 2 for a minimum of six months.

  Have completed 12 consecutive months of driving without a moving violation, an at-fault crash that resulted in a moving violation, a license suspension or a violation of a Graduated Driver License restriction.

A Level 3 License grants full driving privileges. Graduated Driver Licensing ends for all teens at age 18.