Michigan · Permit testOfficial study materials and courses
| Option | Price | Free to use | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official sources | |||
What Every Driver Must KnowOfficial · PDFThe Secretary of State’s manual for the knowledge test, in seven chapters, with answer keys for its own sign challenge and 10-question test. | Free | The whole manual, with a sign challenge and a self-test | |
Driving Skills Test Study GuideOfficial · PDFHow the skills test is given and scored, from the vehicle inspection to the on-road route. | Free | The whole guide, with a supervised driving log | |
| In person | |||
Certified driver education, under 18In person · certified providersSegment 1 and Segment 2 courses. The SOS’s page for teens links its search for certified providers. | Set by each provider | Nothing free | |
Adult driver educationIn person · certified instructorsOptional at 18 or older. The SOS’s page for adult drivers explains how to find a provider. | Set by each provider | Nothing free | |
Prices and ratings checked November 2026.
Who needs driver’s ed in Michigan?
Under 18, you do. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) has two segments of driver education, each taught by a provider the Michigan Department of State certifies, and each one ends with a state exam. The segment pages have the hours and the rules.
At 18 or older, the SOS doesn’t require a course, and its page says few providers teach adults. The manual does encourage an adult course before the driving skills test: it’s taught by certified instructors and includes supervised driving on a range and on the road.
Make sure your teacher is certified
The Driving Skills Test Study Guide says it’s illegal for anyone to charge a fee for driving instruction unless the Department of State certifies them. Before you pay someone to prepare you for the skills test, ask for a written agreement that names them as a certified driver education provider.
A study path for the knowledge test
The SOS points you to What Every Driver Must Know, chapters 4 to 7 above all. A plan built on it:
- Read chapter 1 for how licensing works at your age, then skim chapters 2 and 3.
- Give chapters 4 to 7 the most time: traffic laws, signs and signals, sharing the road and emergencies.
- Learn the sign shapes and colors in chapter 5 until you can tell a sign’s meaning from its shape.
- Write down the numbers: speed limits, stopping distances, parking distances and points.
- Finish with the manual’s own self-test and the practice test here.
Supervised driving
Under 18, you log supervised hours on Level 1 with a parent, guardian or designated adult, and the SOS gives parents its Supervised Driving Guide. At 18 or older, you practice on your temporary instruction permit (TIP) with a licensed adult.
Sources: Michigan Department of State and 3 more. Checked November 2026.
- Michigan Department of State: New drivers under 18 ↗
- Michigan Department of State: New drivers 18 and older ↗
- Michigan Department of State: What Every Driver Must Know (PDF, October 2025) ↗
- Michigan Department of State: Driving Skills Test Study Guide (PDF, rev. 03/2021) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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