Driving Tests

Michigan Permit Test: What's on It and How Teens and Adults Take It

informational·how to guide·Published June 20, 2026

What is the permit test in Michigan?

Michigan has no single "permit test." Teens under 18 pass the Segment 1 state exam (at least 70%) in driver education before they apply for a Level 1 Learner's License. New drivers 18 and older pass a written knowledge test, which includes a road sign test, before they get a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP). The test is free in a Secretary of State office and $6.50 (U.S. dollars) online.

Where the Michigan permit test facts come from

The Michigan Department of State (the Secretary of State) sets these rules. The facts in this guide come from its page for new drivers 18 and older, its page for new drivers under 18 and its driver handbook, What Every Driver Must Know (SOS-133, October 2025). The Driving Skills Test Study Guide and the Department of State news release of July 2, 2025 on online testing add some details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Michigan Department of State (michigan.gov/sos) before you drive.

Michigan permit test for teens and for adults

Michigan permit test for teens and for adults
What it covers	Teen under 18	Adult 18 or older
Test you pass first	The Segment 1 state exam in driver education. You need at least 70%.	The written knowledge test, which includes a road sign test.
Where you take it	With a state-certified driver education provider.	At a Secretary of State office (free), or online ($6.50).
What you get next	A Level 1 Learner's License, from a Secretary of State office.	A Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP), from a Secretary of State office.
Fee at the office	$25 licensing fee for Level 1.	$25 TIP fee.
Who this covers	Teens who are at least 14 years and 9 months old at Level 1.	Adults who were not licensed in Michigan or any other state in the previous four years.

What teens under 18 take: the Segment 1 state exam

A Michigan teen under 18 must complete driver education from a state-certified provider. It has two parts, Segment 1 and Segment 2, and you can enroll in Segment 1 at 14 years and 8 months. Segment 1 has at least 24 hours of classroom and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. You must score at least 70% on its state exam to pass.
Next, you and a parent or guardian apply for the Level 1 License at a Secretary of State office: a vision test, documents (including the Segment 1 Certificate of Completion), a photo and a $25 fee. The minimum age for Level 1 is 14 years and 9 months.

What adults 18 and older take: the written knowledge test

If you are 18 or older and were not licensed in Michigan or any other state in the previous four years, you must pass a written driver knowledge test before a Secretary of State office can issue your TIP. The test is multiple choice. It checks basic traffic laws and safe vehicle operation, and it includes a road sign test. Driver education classes are not required at 18 and older.
The same path applies if you have a foreign license or a license expired for at least four years. A license from Canada, Germany or South Korea can be converted without the knowledge test.

How to take the Michigan knowledge test in an office

1
Check that you must take it
You are 18 or older and have not been licensed in Michigan or any other state in the previous four years.
2
Study for the test
Use What Every Driver Must Know and the Driving Skills Test Study Guide. The study list below names the chapters to read.
3
Schedule an appointment online
The test is free in a Secretary of State office. When you schedule the visit online, you also pre-apply for your license.
4
Plan your time
The test is taken at a computer testing station. Appointments run until one hour before closing, and you should arrive at least one hour before closing so that you have time to finish.
5
Pass the tests and finish the TIP application
Pass the vision test and the written knowledge test. Show proof of your Social Security number, legal presence, identity and Michigan residency, and pay the $25 TIP fee.

Free in an office or $6.50 online?

The online test is identical to the office test and costs $6.50 for each attempt, which includes the convenience fee and the credit card processing fee. It is for people 18 and older. You need a computer or laptop with a keyboard, a mouse and a webcam; there is no touch-screen option. The test has an "Operator" section of about 45 minutes and a "Signs" section of about 15 minutes, so plan for about an hour. After you pass, schedule an office visit to receive your permit. The guide to the Michigan online driver's license test has the full steps.

What to do after you pass or fail the Michigan knowledge test

You fail the test in a Secretary of State office

A failing score ends the testing process. Reschedule and take the test again on a different day.

You fail the test online

You can take the online test up to two times per calendar day. You pay the $6.50 fee each time.

You pass one online section and fail the other

You may go to a Secretary of State office and take the full test there at no charge.

You pass the test, online or in an office

Get your TIP at the office visit. The question on the tests before an adult TIP lists the tests you pass first.

How long is a passed Michigan permit test valid?

A passed knowledge test is valid for one year. A TIP is valid for 180 days from the date it was issued. On it, you practice under the supervision of a licensed adult driver for at least 30 days before the driving skills test. If you do not pass the driving skills test within those 180 days, you must apply for a new TIP. A new TIP after an expired one means that you take the knowledge test again.

What to study for the Michigan permit test

What Every Driver Must Know, chapters 4 to 7. These chapters are Traffic Laws; Signs, Pavement Markings and Signals; Sharing the Road; and Emergencies and Special Situations.
The Driving Skills Test Study Guide, second half. It is written for the road test, but it explains correct driving on highways, at intersections and in cities, which also helps on the written test.
Road signs. The knowledge test includes a road sign test, so learn the signs and pavement markings in chapter 5.

Key takeaways

Michigan has no single permit test. Teens under 18 pass the Segment 1 state exam (at least 70%). Adults 18 and older pass a written knowledge test with a road sign test.
The adult test is free at a Secretary of State office and costs $6.50 online. A failing score in an office means you reschedule for a different day.
A passed knowledge test is valid for one year, and a TIP is valid for 180 days.
Study What Every Driver Must Know, especially chapters 4 to 7, and the Driving Skills Test Study Guide.
Next step: practice on the free Michigan operator practice test. Its questions are in English only.

Michigan permit test: common questions

How much does the Michigan permit test cost?

The adult knowledge test is free in a Secretary of State office. Online, it costs $6.50 for each attempt. The permit fee is separate: $25 for a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) for adults, or $25 for a Level 1 License for teens.

How old do you have to be to take the permit test in Michigan?

Adults take the knowledge test at 18 or older, online or in an office. A teen must be at least 14 years and 8 months old to enroll in Segment 1 of driver education, and at least 14 years and 9 months old to get a Level 1 License.

Where do I take the road test after the Michigan permit test?

Not at the Secretary of State office. After at least 30 days of supervised practice on your TIP, you schedule the driving skills test with an authorized driver testing business. Testing businesses set their own fees, so ask about the test fee and the retest fee before you book.

Is the Segment 1 exam the same as the adult knowledge test?

No. The Segment 1 state exam is part of the driver education course and needs at least 70%. The adult knowledge test is a separate multiple-choice test, with a road sign test, that you take to get a TIP.

Can I use an interpreter on the Michigan written test?

Yes. Foreign language interpreters may be used on all written tests, except CDL knowledge tests. If you have difficulty speaking or reading English, office staff give you a list of available interpreters. The test itself is also available in a number of languages, in audio and written formats.