Driving Tests

Michigan Road Test (Driving Skills Test): What to Expect and What to Bring

informational·how to guide·Published May 17, 2026

How does the Michigan road test (driving skills test) work?

Independent driver testing businesses approved by the Michigan Department of State give the road test, called the driving skills test. It has three parts: a vehicle inspection, a basic control skills test and an on-the-road test, and takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Teens need Segment 2, 6 months on Level 1 and 50 supervised hours. Adults need 30 days on a TIP.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the Michigan Department of State pages for new drivers under 18 and new drivers 18 and older, the Driving Skills Test Study Guide and the handbook "What Every Driver Must Know" (October 2025). The exercises and scoring limits come from the study guide. The facts are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Michigan Department of State (michigan.gov/sos) before you drive.

Who gives the Michigan road test, and who sets the fee?

Independent driver testing businesses give the road test. They employ examiners that the Michigan Department of State authorizes. To find one, use the "Locate a driver testing business" search on the Department of State pages and choose your county.
The state does not regulate their fees. Before you book, ask about the initial fee, the retest fee, the refund policy, and charges for wrong documents, defective equipment and a missed appointment.

The 3 parts of the Michigan driving skills test

The 3 parts of the Michigan driving skills test
Part	What happens	To pass
1. Vehicle inspection	Before any driving, the examiner checks your vehicle, its insurance, its registration and the plate tab.	The vehicle meets the legal and safety standards. A defect cancels the test.
2. Basic control skills test	Three off-road exercises.	Six errors or fewer.
3. On-the-road test	A set route with city, residential and expressway driving.	No more than 25 points and no automatic failure.

Do you have to pass the parts in order?

Yes. You must pass each part in order. A failure in any one of the three parts ends the test, and you do not go on to the next part.

Basic control skills test: the 3 exercises

Forward stop line: drive forward and stop with the front bumper within 2 feet of the stop line, without touching or passing it.
Curved path backing (Y-turn): back from a 90-degree angle into a simulated driveway.
Parallel parking: drive past a parking space on the passenger side, then back into it. The space is the length of your vehicle plus 6 feet.
Scoring: each time you touch a boundary, and each time you move the vehicle to correct your path, counts as one error.

On-the-road test: what each route tries to include

Left and right turns of different difficulty.
Intersections where you stop and then drive straight through, and intersections where you drive through without a stop.
Expressway or rural highway driving, and urban and residential driving, with lane changes.
A simulated head-on collision that you must avoid.
A curve and a railroad crossing (real or simulated).
Turning the fan or radio on and off while you drive.

Teen checklist: who can take the test and what to bring

Age 15 or older, with a parent or guardian who comes to the test.
Segment 2 of driver education completed.
A Level 1 Learner's License held for six consecutive months.
At least 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 at night.
No convictions, civil infractions, license suspensions or at-fault crashes in the 90 days before the test.
Bring your completed driving log, your Level 1 license, your Segment 2 certificate of completion, and insurance and registration for the test vehicle.

Adult checklist: 30 days on a TIP

If you are 18 or older and new to driving, you must practice for at least 30 days with a supervising driver on a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) before the test. If you held a license before, ask a Secretary of State office whether the 30 days apply to you.
A TIP is valid for 180 days from the date it was issued. If you do not pass the driving skills test in that time, you must apply for a new TIP and start again. Our guide to the Michigan Temporary Instruction Permit covers how to get one.
Bring your TIP, proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance, and the vehicle's registration with a license plate that has the correct year's tab.

Vehicle and test-day rules

A missing side view mirror or a broken taillight is enough to cancel the test.
Driver-activated features are not allowed. Examples are a parking-assist system, a four-way camera and a self-steering feature.
You cannot use study aids, notes, a cell phone or any other electronic device.
Only you, the examiner, and any required passenger or interpreter may be in the vehicle.
A sign language or foreign language interpreter may ride along to translate the examiner's instructions.

After the test: fail or pass

You fail

You book a new appointment and start over from the vehicle inspection. Michigan allows only one driving skills test in 24 hours.

You pass and you are a teen

The examiner gives you a signed receipt. The receipt is not a license. You move up to the Level 2 license automatically once you are 16, have gone 90 days without a conviction, and your Segment 2 pass is reported. You do not need to visit a Secretary of State office. See the Level 2 license rules for the limits that come with it.

You pass and you are an adult

The examiner gives you a signed receipt, and the testing business reports your result to the Department of State electronically. After the state receives it, log into e-Services to get a temporary license to drive on until your license is processed and mailed. If the result does not show within 24 hours, visit a Secretary of State office with the test certificate, your TIP and identity documents.

Key takeaways

Approved driver testing businesses give the Michigan road test, and the state does not set their fees. Ask about retest and missed-appointment charges before you book.
The test has a vehicle inspection, basic control skills and an on-the-road test. It takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, and a failure in any part ends it.
Teens bring the driving log, Level 1 license and Segment 2 certificate. Adults bring the TIP. Everyone brings insurance and registration for a safe, working vehicle.
Next step: practice the traffic rules on the free Michigan operator practice test. It is in English only.

Michigan road test: common questions

Who can ride in the car during the Michigan road test?

Only you, the examiner, and any required passenger or interpreter may be in the vehicle. A sign language or foreign language interpreter may ride along to translate the examiner's instructions. All interpreters must be at least 16 years old, and a foreign language interpreter must show a driver license or other photo ID to the examiner.

Can I use my backup camera on the Michigan road test?

Yes. Systems that work on their own as soon as the engine runs are allowed, such as a backup camera, blind-spot indicator lights or a lane-departure alarm. A feature that you must switch on, such as a parking-assist system or a four-way camera, is not. If you are unsure, ask the examiner before the test begins.

What is an automatic fail on the Michigan driving skills test?

Speeding 10 mph or more over the limit is an automatic failure, with no warning. Failing to follow the same instruction twice and refusing to wear a safety belt (without a physician's statement or waiver) are automatic failures too. Each one fails you even if your point total is under the 25-point limit.

Can I retake the Michigan road test the next day?

Yes, if at least 24 hours have passed. Michigan allows only one driving skills test in 24 hours. You book a new appointment and start over with the vehicle inspection, and you pay whatever retest fee the testing business charges, so ask about that fee first.

Does my parent have to come to my Michigan road test?

Yes. The Department of State says both the parent or guardian and the teen must be present. The study guide lets a parent name another adult in writing, so ask your testing business before you rely on that.