Free · 16 short lessons · Quoted from the manual
Michigan Driver Handbook, Chapter by Chapter
Start with lesson 1Every chapter of the What Every Driver Must Know that matters for the written test, cut down to the rules and exact numbers you need. Each point links to the manual text it comes from, with the page, and ends with questions from our free Michigan practice test.
16 lessons in handbook order
Read one lesson, answer its 3 check questions, then drill that topic in the practice test. Most lessons take about 5 minutes.
- Lesson 1Chapter 1: Your Driver's LicenseLaws and paperwork
Graduated Driver Licensing for teens
Michigan teens under 18 move through two segments of driver education and three license levels. Each level has its own age, supervision, night driving, passenger and phone rules.
10 key points · 12 numbers · Handbook pp. 4 to 5
- Lesson 2Chapter 1: Your Driver's LicenseLaws and paperwork
Permits, tests, probation and renewal
Adults who have never been licensed start with a temporary instruction permit, then pass a driving skills test. New drivers are on probation for at least 3 years, and licenses usually last 4 years.
10 key points · 9 numbers · Handbook pp. 1 to 10
- Lesson 3Chapter 2: Your Driving RecordAlcohol and DUI
Your driving record, points and implied consent
Points for moving violations stay on your Michigan record for 2 years, and too many trigger a reexamination. Refusing a chemical test brings a suspension under the implied consent law.
10 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 13 to 15
- Lesson 4Chapter 2: Your Driving RecordAlcohol and DUI
Alcohol, drugs and marijuana
A standard beer, glass of wine and shot of whiskey all hold the same alcohol, and only time sobers you up. Driving high on marijuana carries the same penalties as drunk driving.
9 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 14 to 15
- Lesson 5Chapter 4: Traffic LawsLaws and paperwork
Phones, seat belts and child passengers
Michigan bans holding or using a phone while driving, and teens with a Level 1 or 2 license may not make calls at all except in emergencies. Seat belt and child seat laws cover every driver and young passenger.
10 key points · 9 numbers · Handbook pp. 23 to 26
- Lesson 6Chapter 4: Traffic LawsSpeed limits
Speed limits and work zones
Michigan's Basic Speed Law means driving at a careful and prudent speed that lets you stop within the clear distance ahead. Work zones usually drop to 45 mph, and fines double there.
9 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 26 to 27
- Lesson 7Chapter 4: Traffic LawsEmergencies
Emergency vehicles, Move Over and school buses
Pull to the right edge and stop for emergency vehicles with lights and siren, and slow down and move over for stopped ones. Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights.
9 key points · 3 numbers · Handbook pp. 28 to 29
- Lesson 8Chapter 4: Traffic LawsRight of way
Right of way, pedestrians and roundabouts
Michigan spells out who yields when turning, at four way stops, at broken signals, at T intersections and in roundabouts. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks even on a green light.
10 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 30 to 35
- Lesson 9Chapter 4: Traffic LawsSafe driving
Passing, lane use and turns
Drive in the right lane unless an exception applies, and pass only where you can see and return safely. Michigan lists clear times when passing is prohibited.
10 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 32 to 34
- Lesson 10Chapter 4: Traffic LawsRoad signs
Railroad crossings
Trains can take a mile or more to stop and are closer and faster than they look. Stop between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks when a train is coming, and know what to do if you are stuck.
9 key points · 5 numbers · Handbook pp. 35 to 37
- Lesson 11Chapter 5: Signs, Pavement Markings and SignalsRoad signs
Traffic sign shapes and colors
A sign's shape and color both carry meaning, so learn the nine basic shapes and the color code. Regulatory signs state the law, warning signs point out hazards and orange signs mark work areas.
10 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 26 to 45
- Lesson 12Chapter 5: Signs, Pavement Markings and SignalsSignals and markings
Pavement markings and traffic signals
White lines separate lanes going the same way and yellow lines separate opposite directions. Michigan's signals include the 5 section head and the flashing yellow arrow for left turns.
10 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 46 to 50
- Lesson 13Chapter 6: Sharing the RoadSafe driving
Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles
Commercial vehicles need far more room to stop and turn, and small riders are easy to miss and easy to hurt. Michigan requires 3 feet when passing a bicyclist and bans passing a motorcycle in its own lane.
10 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 53 to 57
- Lesson 14Chapter 7: Emergencies and Special SituationsSafe driving
Aggressive driving, intersections and freeways
Aggressive driving causes an estimated 66 percent of traffic deaths, so do not respond in kind. On freeways, merge by adjusting your own speed, stay right when slower, and never back up if you miss an exit.
10 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 59 to 62
- Lesson 15Chapter 7: Emergencies and Special SituationsSafe driving
Bad weather, stopping distance and night driving
Keep a 3 to 4 second following distance, and more in bad weather or at higher speeds. Know Michigan's headlight rules and how to brake and steer out of a skid.
10 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 62 to 64
- Lesson 16Chapter 7: Emergencies and Special SituationsEmergencies
Crashes, deer and roadside emergencies
Never leave the scene of a crash, move minor crash vehicles off the road, and report injuries or damage over $1,000. With deer, do not veer: brake firmly and stay in your lane.
10 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 62 to 67
Read, check, then practice
- Read a lesson. Open any point's source to see the exact manual wording and page.
- Answer the 3 check questions at the end without looking back.
- Drill that topic in the free Michigan practice test, then take a full test when every lesson feels easy.
- Keep the Michigan cheat sheet for a last look before test day.
Source: the What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025). Lessons are plain English summaries, not the law itself; where they differ, the manual and the statute govern. Every quote on these pages is checked against our saved copy of the manual. Last checked 2026-09-27.