Key points
You can start the first segment of driver education at 14 years and 8 months with a parent's permission.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“To apply, you must be at least 14 years, 8 months and have your parent or guardian’s permission to start Segment 1.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 4The first segment requires at least 24 hours of classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel, 4 hours of observation, and 70 percent on the state exam.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“Segment 1 requires at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, a minimum of four hours of observation time in a training vehicle and a minimum of 70 percent on the Segment 1 state exam.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 4The learner's license is available at 14 years and 9 months.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“GDL Level 1 Learner’s License: To apply, you must be at least 14 years, 9 months old”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 4With a learner's license, you may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older in the front seat.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“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.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5The second segment requires a log of at least 30 supervised hours, including 2 at night.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“To apply, you must present a driving log of at least 30 hours of supervised driving time (including a minimum of 2 hours at night)”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5Before the driving skills test you need 50 supervised hours, including 10 at night.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“You must keep a driving log that tracks your supervised driving time (and complete a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours at night) before taking the driving skills test.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5The intermediate license requires age 16, 6 months on the learner's license, and no violations, at fault crashes or suspensions in the prior 90 days.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“To apply, you must be at least age 16 and have held your Level 1 Learner’s License for at least 6 months. You must have no violations, at-fault crashes or suspensions on your driving record for the 90 days preceding your license application.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5Intermediate license drivers may not drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless an exception applies.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“Level 2 Intermediate License restrictions prohibit you from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless one of the following applies:”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5Intermediate license drivers may not carry more than 1 passenger under 21 unless an exception applies.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“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:”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5The full license requires age 17, 6 months on the intermediate license, and 12 straight months without a moving violation.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“To be eligible, you must be at least age 17 and have held the Level 2 Intermediate License for at least six months. You must have driven 12 consecutive months without a moving violation”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 5
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 14 years 8 months | minimum age to start driver education | Handbook p. 4 |
| 24, 6 and 4 hours | first segment classroom, behind the wheel and observation minimums | Handbook p. 4 |
| 70 percent | minimum score on the first segment state exam | Handbook p. 4 |
| 14 years 9 months | minimum age for a learner's license | Handbook p. 4 |
| 21 | minimum age of the supervising adult | Handbook p. 5 |
| 30 hours (2 at night) | supervised driving log needed for Segment 2 | Handbook p. 5 |
| 3 months | time on the learner's license before the second segment | Handbook p. 5 |
| 50 hours (10 at night) | supervised driving needed before the driving skills test | Handbook p. 5 |
| 16, 6 months, 90 days | age, time on the learner's license, and clean record period for the intermediate license | Handbook p. 5 |
| 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. | intermediate license night driving restriction | Handbook p. 5 |
| 1 passenger under 21 | intermediate license passenger limit | Handbook p. 5 |
| 17, 6 months, 12 months | age, time on the intermediate license, and clean driving period for the full license | Handbook p. 5 |
3 questions from the Michigan practice test
1. What clean driving record must a Michigan teen have for GDL Level 3 eligibility?
- Six consecutive months with no parking ticket of any kind
- Twelve consecutive months without a moving violation, at-fault crash, suspension, or GDL restriction violation
- Twenty-four months with no insurance claim
- Three consecutive months with no nighttime driving
Show answer
Twelve consecutive months without a moving violation, at-fault crash, suspension, or GDL restriction violation. Michigan requires a teen seeking GDL Level 3 eligibility to drive for 12 consecutive months without a moving violation, an at-fault crash, a license suspension, or a violation of any GDL restriction. The six-month choice confuses the minimum time held at Level 2 with the separate clean-record period. Parking tickets, nighttime driving, and insurance claims are not the four conditions named in this requirement. Read the rule as a checklist: count twelve uninterrupted months, then check each listed event. A single event in one of those categories breaks the clean period described by the manual.
2. At what age may a Michigan teen begin Segment 1 driver education?
- 16 years
- 14 years and 8 months, with a parent's or guardian's permission
- 15 years and 6 months
- 13 years
Show answer
14 years and 8 months, with a parent's or guardian's permission. To apply for Segment 1 driver education you must be at least 14 years and 8 months old and have your parent's or guardian's permission. Segment 1 includes at least 24 hours of classroom instruction and six hours behind the wheel, after which the Level 1 learner's license allows supervised practice. The driving skills test comes at 15 after Segment 2 and 50 logged hours.
3. What are the requirements for a Michigan Level 2 Intermediate License?
- Age 15 with no conditions
- Age 17 and one year on Level 1
- Age 16, six months on the Level 1 license, and no violations, at fault crashes or suspensions in the 90 days before applying
- Age 16 and a parent's signature only
Show answer
Age 16, six months on the Level 1 license, and no violations, at fault crashes or suspensions in the 90 days before applying. To apply for a Level 2 Intermediate License you must be at least 16, have held the Level 1 Learner's License for at least six months, and have no violations, at fault crashes or suspensions on your record for the 90 days preceding the application. Level 3 follows at 17 after six months on Level 2 and 12 consecutive months without a moving violation or at fault crash.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free Michigan practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the What Every Driver Must Know, Chapter 1: Your Driver's License. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.