Graduated Driver's License

Michigan's GDL Process

Michigan Graduated Driver’s Licensing for Teens Overview

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is a driver licensing system designed to teach teens to drive by gradually increasing their driving privileges as they advance through the system. GDL consists of two segments of driver education instruction and three licensing levels.

Teen Drivers Education Program is a three step process:

Segment 1 Course Requirements:

Teen must be minimum age of 14 years, 8 months on first day of class
Complete 24 hours classroom instruction
Compete 6 hours behind the wheel driving with an instructor
Complete 4 hours observing another teen driving
Must pass state written exam
Must pass driving portion of the course
Must bring a notebook, pen, or pencil

After successfully completing the Segment 1 course, the teen is issued a Segment 1 Completion Certificate (Note: this is NOT your license to drive). To obtain the Level 1 License a parent or guardian must accompany their teen to the Michigan Secretary of State office and present the Segment 1 Certificate for issuance of the Level 1 License. Teen must be at 14 years, 9 months to obtain their Level 1 License. The teen then starts preparing for the Segment 2 Course.

Segment 2 Course Requirements:

Must have completed and passed the Segment 1 Course firstbe minimum age of 14 years, 8 months on first day of class
Must have held their Level 1 License a minimum of 3 consecutive months by first day of class
Must have logged on their drive log a minimum of 30 hours of driving (of which 2 hours must be nighttime driving)
Must complete 6 hours of classroom
Must pass state written exam

After successfully completing the Segment 2 course the teen is issued a Segment 2 Completion Certificate. After completing Segment 2 the teen is preparing for their Road Test.

Teen Road Test Requirements:

Must have completed and passed Segment 1
Must have completed and passed Segment 2
Must have held their Level 1 License for a minimum of 6 months from when it was first
issued
Must have logged on their drive log a minimum of 50 hours of driving (of which 10 hours
must be nighttime driving)

At the time of the road test, the teen must present to the Road Test Examiner:

Their Level 1 Learners License
Their Segment 2 Certificate of Completion
Their Drive Log showing the minimum required driving hours

The three licensing levels are:

Level 1 License (Learner’s license/permit):
a. Can only drive with parent, legal guardian or with a licensed driver 21 or older
with parent or legal guardian written permission
b. No cellphone
Level 2 License:
a. Restricts unsupervised passenger limit and age
b. Restricts times teens can drive at night without a parent or legal guardian
c. No cellphone
Level 3 License:
a. Teen automatically advances at 18 years old and has successfully completed all
requirements of Segment 1 and Segment 2
b. Restrictions are lifted
c. No cellphone

Click here to view the Michigan Secretary of State’s publication of the Graduated Driver Licensing and Driver Education Requirements. it shows how graduated driver licensing and driver education are intertwined.

Click here to view the Michigan Secretary of State publication of “Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing: A Guide for Parents”. It contains valuable information on graduated driver licensing, driver education, coaching tips for parents, and more. Parents and teens are encouraged to read this publication.

Click here to view the Michigan Secretary of State publication of “What Every Driver Must Know”

***These Booklets are also available from Michigan Secretary of State offices***