Driving Tests

Michigan Level 2 License Rules: Curfew, Passengers and Level 3

informational·how to guide·Published May 23, 2026

What are the Michigan Level 2 Intermediate License rules?

A Michigan Level 2 driver cannot drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and cannot carry more than 1 passenger under 21. These limits do not apply when a parent, a legal guardian or a designated licensed driver 21 or older rides along, or on trips for work or authorized activities such as school. Phone use is banned except in emergencies. A violation puts 2 points on your record.

Where these rules come from

This guide follows Michigan law (MCL 257.310e) and the Michigan Department of State pages for drivers under 18 and the teen driver FAQ. It also uses the driver handbook "What Every Driver Must Know" (October 2025) and the points table of Michigan law (MCL 257.320a). Where a Department page words a rule differently from the law, this guide follows the law. All rules are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Michigan Department of State (michigan.gov/sos) before you drive.

Level 2 restrictions in Michigan

No driving from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless an exception below applies.
No more than 1 passenger under 21 unless an exception below applies.
No phone use while driving, except for emergencies. Michigan calls this Kelsey's Law.
Seat belts for the driver and everyone in the front seat, and for everyone under 16 in any seat.
Stay at Level 2 for at least 6 months. Michigan law sets this minimum.

Level 2 curfew and passenger exceptions

Level 2 curfew and passenger exceptions
Situation	After 10 p.m. and before 5 a.m.	More than 1 passenger under 21
A parent or legal guardian rides along	Allowed	Allowed
A licensed driver 21 or older designated by your parent or legal guardian rides along	Allowed	Allowed
Extra passengers under 21 are immediate family	No exception: the curfew still applies	Allowed
You drive for work, or to or from work	Allowed	Allowed (coworkers under 21 can ride together to or from work)
You drive to or from an authorized activity	Allowed	Allowed

Which activities count as authorized activities?

School or a school-sanctioned event or activity, including a home school.
An official sports league, association or extracurricular club activity, or one paid for as a service from a business.
A vocational class or program offered by a college, community college, nonprofit association, unit of government or a business that specializes in vocational training.
An event of a religious organization that is tax-exempt under federal law.
Taking a person who needs immediate emergency care or personal protection to a health care professional, hospital, police station, domestic violence shelter or public safety location.

Can a Level 2 driver drive at 11 p.m. to see a friend?

No. A social trip at night does not fit any exception, so the curfew applies. The same is true for a daytime trip with two unrelated friends under 21: only 1 can ride along. The practice question on a late social trip at Level 2 tests this rule.

Kelsey's Law: phone rules at Level 2

Under Kelsey's Law, a teen with a Level 1 or Level 2 license cannot use a cell phone while driving. "Use" means to start a call, answer a call, or listen or talk through the phone. The ban does not apply to a voice-operated system that is integrated into the vehicle. It also allows a call to report a traffic accident, a medical emergency or a serious road hazard, a threat to your personal safety, or a crime. A violation is a civil infraction with fines or community service. The practice question on a routine call at Level 2 shows a case where the ban applies.

Who gets a Level 2 license in Michigan?

You are at least 16.
You held a Level 1 Learner's License for at least 6 months.
You logged at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before the driving skills test.
You completed Segment 2 of driver education and passed the Secretary of State approved driving skills test.
You had no violations or at-fault crashes in the last 90 days.

Do I need to visit a Secretary of State office for Level 2?

No, if you meet the rules and have the photo license hard card. Michigan advances you to Level 2 automatically, with no visit to a Secretary of State office. A teen with the older paper Level 1 Learner's License must visit a Secretary of State office with the Segment 2 certificate and the Driving Skills Test Certificate.

Can my parent hold me at Level 2?

Yes. A parent or legal guardian can hold a teen at the current level (Level 1 or Level 2), or cancel the graduated license, at any time before the 18th birthday. This requires a visit to a Secretary of State office.

What happens if you break a Level 2 rule?

You break the curfew or the passenger limit

It is a civil infraction with 2 points on your driving record (MCL 257.320a). The Department of State sends a notice to your designated parent or legal guardian. You must also appear for a driver reexamination, which can lead to a suspension or more restrictions.

You get a moving violation, a suspension, an at-fault crash or a GDL restriction violation at Level 2

Michigan law extends your Level 2 period until you complete 12 months in a row without a violation, or until age 18, whichever comes first.

You drive without your license card

It is a civil infraction, but no points go on your record. Michigan law says you must carry the card at all times when you drive and show it when a police officer asks.

When do I get a Level 3 Full License in Michigan?

You need to be at least 17, hold Level 2 for at least 6 months, and have 12 consecutive months without any violations or at-fault crashes. Your parent or legal guardian must have authorized Level 3, which happens when they sign for your Level 2 license. Level 3 is issued automatically at no fee, with no GDL restrictions. Tickets, crashes, suspensions and ignoring license restrictions extend the time you need. A parent or guardian can also ask to delay Level 3. At Level 3, the general phone law (MCL 257.602b) still applies: phone use only in an emergency or under a few non-emergency exceptions.

What happens at 18?

Graduated licensing ends when you are 18. A teen with a valid Level 2 or Level 3 license automatically gets an operator's license before the 18th birthday, sent to the mailing address on file. It has a vertical format with "Under 21" printed on it and expires on the 21st birthday. Probation is a separate program: new drivers, including teens under graduated licensing, are on probation for at least 3 years, so a ticket still counts. See the guide to probationary license points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Level 2 driver drive after 10 p.m. for a job?

Yes. The curfew does not apply while you drive in the course of your job, or to or from work. On these trips you can also carry more than 1 passenger under 21, so coworkers under 21 can ride together. No adult needs to be in the vehicle for this exception.

Can a Level 2 driver take friends to school?

Yes. School and school-sanctioned events are authorized activities, and school includes a home school. On a trip to or from school, the 1-passenger limit does not apply. The same exception lets you drive after 10 p.m. to or from a school-sanctioned event, such as a late game.

How many points is a Level 2 violation in Michigan?

Two points. A curfew or passenger violation is a civil infraction, and Michigan law (MCL 257.320a) gives it 2 points on your driving record. The violation also extends your Level 2 period, and the Department of State sends a notice to your designated parent or legal guardian.

Can I drive my brother and sister at Level 2 in Michigan?

Yes. You can carry more than 1 passenger under 21 when the extra passengers are members of your immediate family, at any time of day. The curfew still applies to a family trip: from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. you need another exception, such as a parent or legal guardian in the vehicle.

How long do I stay at Level 2 in Michigan?

At least 6 months. You move to Level 3 only when you are 17 or older and have 12 consecutive months with no violation or at-fault crash. A violation at Level 2 extends the period until 12 clean months in a row, or until age 18. A parent or legal guardian can also hold you at Level 2.

Key Takeaways

Level 2 means no driving from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and no more than 1 passenger under 21, with set exceptions.
A parent, legal guardian or designated licensed driver 21 or older, work trips and authorized activities are the main exceptions.
A violation is a civil infraction with 2 points, and it extends Level 2.
Level 3 comes automatically at 17 or older, after at least 6 months at Level 2 and 12 months in a row with no violation or at-fault crash.
Next step: practice on the free Michigan operator practice test, in English only.