Secretary of State (SOS)
Michigan Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official SOS Driver knowledge exam (written knowledge test) for first-time applicants 18 and older; drivers under 18 qualify through Graduated Driver Licensing by passing the Segment 1 and Segment 2 driver education exams plus the road skills test with free practice tests written from the state's own rules — plus the verified facts below: how many questions, the passing score, and what it costs.
Michigan permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- Check your state's official site
- Passing score
- Check your state's official site
- Minimum permit age
- 14 years, 9 months
- Fee
- $25 licensing fee for the Level 1 (GDL learner's) license, due at the Secretary of State office visit
- If you fail
- Failing the knowledge test at a Secretary of State office ends the testing session, and you must reschedule to retake it on a different day; office testing is free. A passed knowledge test stays valid for one year.
- Online testing
- Available in some cases
- Languages
- English and a number of foreign languages, in both written and audio formats (the SOS does not publish a fixed language list for the knowledge test)
How it works
Step 1
Take Practice Test 1 like the real thing — no notes, one question at a time.
Step 2
Read every explanation, especially for questions you missed. That's where the learning happens.
Step 3
Repeat with Test 2 and the road signs test until you pass comfortably every time.
Free Michigan practice tests
Michigan Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
Michigan Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
Michigan Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in Michigan
Michigan licenses teens through a three-level Graduated Driver Licensing system built around two segments of driver education. After finishing Segment 1, a teen at least 14 years, 9 months old can get a Level 1 Learner's License to drive with a licensed parent, guardian, or designated adult 21 or older, and must log 50 hours of supervised driving including 10 at night. The Level 2 Intermediate License (age 16, after Segment 2 and a driving skills test) bans driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and allows no more than one passenger under 21 outside immediate family, with limited exceptions, until the unrestricted Level 3 License at 17.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: SOS
Michigan permit test FAQ
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Michigan?
You can apply for a learner's permit in Michigan at 14 years, 9 months, according to the SOS (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the Michigan permit cost?
$25 licensing fee for the Level 1 (GDL learner's) license, due at the Secretary of State office visit — as listed by the Secretary of State (SOS), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the Michigan permit test?
Failing the knowledge test at a Secretary of State office ends the testing session, and you must reschedule to retake it on a different day; office testing is free. A passed knowledge test stays valid for one year. (per the SOS, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the Michigan permit test online?
Yes, in some cases. The SOS offers an online option for the Driver knowledge exam (written knowledge test) for first-time applicants 18 and older; drivers under 18 qualify through Graduated Driver Licensing by passing the Segment 1 and Segment 2 driver education exams plus the road skills test — check eligibility on the official site.
What languages is the Michigan permit test offered in?
English and a number of foreign languages, in both written and audio formats (the SOS does not publish a fixed language list for the knowledge test) (per the SOS, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in Michigan?
Driver licensing in Michigan is handled by the Secretary of State (SOS). The official site is https://www.michigan.gov/sos.
Where can I read the official Michigan driver handbook?
The official Michigan driver handbook is published by the SOS at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/resources/forms/what-every-driver-must-know. It is the source our practice questions are grounded in.
What is the Michigan permit test officially called?
The SOS officially calls it the Driver knowledge exam (written knowledge test) for first-time applicants 18 and older; drivers under 18 qualify through Graduated Driver Licensing by passing the Segment 1 and Segment 2 driver education exams plus the road skills test. "Permit test" and "written test" are common informal names for the same exam.