Photo: Daoud Saeed, Pexels
In Michigan, the Secretary of State (SOS) issues your permit and license, but it does not give the road test. Driving skills tests are run by private testing businesses, which set their own prices. So your total cost is a mix of fixed SOS fees and a market price for the skills test. This guide covers both, plus how to book SOS appointments and the online knowledge test for adults.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- First standard license: $25. First enhanced license: $45.
- Teen Level 1 learner’s license: $25.
- Adult Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP): $25.
- Adults can take the knowledge test online for a $6.50 convenience fee, or free at an SOS office.
- Driving skills test: booked with and paid to a private testing business. The state does not set the fee.
How much does a Michigan license cost?
| Item | Fee | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 learner’s license (teens) | $25 | Teens entering graduated licensing |
| Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) | $25 | New drivers 18 and older |
| Knowledge test online | $6.50 convenience fee | Adults 18 and older testing from home |
| Knowledge test at an SOS office | Free | Anyone testing in person |
| First standard driver’s license | $25 | First Michigan license |
| First enhanced driver’s license | $45 | US citizens who want a card for land and sea border crossings |
| Driving skills test | Set by the testing business | Everyone. Not regulated by law. |
| Segment 1 and Segment 2 driver education | Set by the driving school | Teens |
SOS pages don’t all show the same renewal and replacement amounts, so check the current “Driver’s License Fees” page before you pay. National comparison: US license costs by state.
Teens: what you book and when
- Segment 1 driver education with a driving school. You book this with the school, not the SOS. Its final exam takes the place of the SOS knowledge test for teens. See Segment 1 explained.
- SOS office visit for the Level 1 license. Book online with the Michigan Secretary of State. Bring your Segment 1 certificate, documents and a parent or guardian. Checklist: Michigan permit documents.
- Segment 2 with a driving school, after at least 3 months on Level 1 with the required practice hours. See Segment 2 and when to book it.
- Driving skills test with a private testing business, once you meet the Level 2 rules. See Michigan Levels 1, 2 and 3.
- SOS visit for the Level 2 license, with your skills test certificate.
Adults 18 and older: booking step by step
- Knowledge test. Take it online from home (convenience fee) or book a free test at an SOS office. Online testing needs a computer with a keyboard, mouse and webcam, not a touch screen. You get two online attempts per calendar day. A pass stays valid for one year. If you pass only one section online, you can finish the other at an SOS office at no charge. Details: Michigan knowledge test for new drivers 18+.
- Book an SOS office appointment to get your Temporary Instruction Permit. Pay the $25 fee and pass the vision test.
- Practice for at least 30 days. Adults must wait 30 days on the TIP before the skills test, unless they previously held a license in Michigan, another state or another country. See the Michigan TIP.
- Book the skills test with a testing business.
- Return to the SOS with your passing certificate to get your license.
Booking the Michigan driving skills test
- The SOS does not run skills tests. Approved driver testing businesses do, under written agreements with the state.
- Fees are not regulated by law, so prices differ. Ask what the fee covers before you book: is a retest included, is there a cancellation charge, and can you use their car?
- Lists of testing businesses are available at SOS branch offices.
- The test has a vehicle inspection, basic control exercises and an on-road part.
More: Michigan third-party road test providers and fees and the Michigan driving skills test.
Canceling or changing a Michigan test
- SOS appointments: change or cancel through the SOS online appointment system.
- Skills tests: the testing business’s own policy applies, because the state doesn’t regulate fees. Get the cancellation terms in writing when you book.
If you fail in Michigan
| Test | Retest rule |
|---|---|
| Knowledge test online | Up to two attempts per calendar day |
| Driving skills test | One attempt per 24 hours, except when a test was stopped for faulty equipment or documents |
| Skills test fee | Set by the testing business. Ask whether retests cost the full fee. |
Waits in other states: retake waiting periods by state.
Common questions
How much does a Michigan driver’s license cost in total?
For an adult: $25 TIP, $0 or $6.50 for the knowledge test, the testing business’s skills test fee and $25 for a first standard license. Teens add driving school fees for Segments 1 and 2.
Why can’t I book my road test with the Secretary of State?
Michigan moved skills testing to approved private testing businesses. The SOS issues the license once you have passed.
Can teens take the knowledge test online?
The online option is for adults 18 and older. Teens take the Segment 1 final exam through their driving school.
Do I need an appointment at a Michigan SOS office?
Book one. The SOS asks you to schedule online for in-office tests and to receive your permit.
Is the enhanced license worth the extra $20?
Only if you cross into Canada by land or sea and want to use your license instead of a passport. A standard license works for driving.
What happens if I pass only one section of the online test?
You can complete the other section at an SOS office, free of charge.
Main guide: learning to drive in Michigan. Practice: Michigan permit practice test. Booking tips: how to book a DMV test appointment.
Sources
- Michigan Department of State, “Driver’s License Fees” (michigan.gov), search-result extract only
- Michigan Department of State, “License and ID information” and “Licenses and ID” FAQ (michigan.gov), search-result extract only
- Michigan Department of State, “New drivers (18 and older)” (michigan.gov), search-result extract only
- Michigan Department of State, “Michigan Secretary of State now offers online driver’s license testing for adults” (July 2025) (michigan.gov), search-result extract only
- Michigan Department of State, “Driver testing businesses and examiners” (michigan.gov), search-result extract only
- Michigan Department of State, “What Every Driver Must Know” (October 2025) (michigan.gov), search-result extract only