What You Need To Know

The Michigan teen driving laws are based on graduated licensing to eventually obtain a full driver’s license without driving restrictions. Most teenagers begin with driving restrictions, a temporary driving instruction permit, and a driving examination.

The purpose behind the Michigan teen driving laws are to impose a series of graduated restrictions aimed at keeping young drivers and the public safe.

Whether this means a teenager is working his or her way through the graduating licensing system or is “learning by doing” with a temporary driver’s instruction permit, he or she is learning and practicing what it means to be a safe driver. This should not be overlooked. Young and new drivers are statistically the most dangerous and the most likely to be involved in a car crash.

Thankfully, the process largely works. Between 2019 and 2023, car crashes involving teen drivers in Michigan decreased by nearly 10%. Unfortunately, there is more work to be done because fatal car accidents involving teen drivers increased 1.5% during that same period.

Michigan Teen Drivers Under 18

The Michigan teen driving laws provide that an operator’s license can be issued to drivers under 18 only if: (1) the teen driver has a parent’s or guardian’s permission; and (2) the teen driver has been issued “a graduated driver license” under the “graduated licensing” system. (MCL 257.308(1); 257.310e(1))

Michigan teen driving laws for 17 years olds and younger

The Michigan teen driving laws require that teenagers who are 17 years of age or younger must comply with the graduated licensing law in order to qualify to be issued a driver’s license (which is also referred to an operator’s license). (MCL 257.310e(1))

There are three levels of graduated licensing statuses in Michigan:

• Level 1 graduated licensing status: According to the Michigan teen driving laws a person who is 14 years and 9 months of age or older may be issued a Level 1 graduated licensing status is if he or she meets vision and health standards, completed segment 1 of a driver education course and received approval from a parent or guardian. To drive, a teenage driver must be accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 years of age or older. Level 1 lasts for at least six months. (MCL 257.310e(3) and (4))
• Level 2 graduated licensing status: A person must have had a Level 1 graduated licensing status for at least six months, have completed segment 2 of the driver education course, not gotten any tickets, acquired the necessary “behind-the-wheel experience” and completed a “driving skills test.” A teenager with a Level 2 graduated licensing status cannot drive between certain hours and cannot drive with more than 1 passenger under the age of 21, subject to certain exceptions. (MCL 257.310e(5) and (6))
• Level 3 graduated licensing status: The Michigan teen driving laws state that a person must be at least 17 years of age and have gone “12 consecutive months” without a traffic violation while he or she “was issued a level 2 graduated licensing status.” There are no restrictions for teenage drivers on a Level 3 graduated licensing status. (MCL 257.310e(9))

The graduated licensing system ceases to apply to teenage drivers once they turn 18. (MCL 257.310e(8))

Michigan teen driving laws for 18 year olds and 19 year olds

An original driver’s license will not be issued to 18 and 19 year olds unless they have first been issued a temporary instruction permit. They also must pass an examination that includes a driving skills test, knowledge test and road sign test. (MCL 257.306(1); 257.310c(1); 257.309(4-6))

Teenage car crashes

Car crashes involving teenage drivers (between 15 and 20 years of age) dropped 9.6% in the last 5 years from 51,570 in 2019 to 46,591 in 2023.

Below are the statistics for teenagers (15 to 20 years of age) operating motor vehicles who were involved in car crashes in Michigan between 2019 and 2023:

• 2023 – 46,591
• 2022 – 47,041
• 2021 – 48,146
• 2020 – 39,778
• 2019 – 51,570

(Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Data Query Tool, Filters: Crashes/2019-2023/ Driver Age (15-20))

Teenage fatal car crashes

Fatal car crashes involving teenage drivers (between 15 and 20 years of age) increased 1.5% in the last 5 years from 133 in 2019 to 135 in 2023.

Below are the statistics for teenagers (15 to 20 years of age) operating motor vehicles who were involved in fatal car crashes in Michigan between 2019 and 2023:

• 2023 – 135
• 2022 – 128
• 2021 – 168
• 2020 – 129
• 2019 – 133

(Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Data Query Tool, Filters: Crashes/2019-2023/Crash: Fatal Crash/Driver Age (15-20))

How old do you have to be to drive in Michigan?

Generally, the law states that a person under 18 years of age will not be issued an operator’s license to. However, teenagers who are 17 and younger may be issued an operator’s license if their parents agree and they have been issued a graduated operators license. (MCL 257.303(1)(a); 257.308(1); 257.310e(1))

Michigan driving restrictions for 17 year olds

Other than following the traffic laws that all drivers must comply with, there are no Michigan driving restrictions in Michigan for teens who are 17 year olds with a Level 3 graduated licensing status. For 17 year old’s with Level 1 or Level 2 statuses, they must follow the restrictions that apply to those levels.

Michigan teen driving laws for 16 year olds

The Michigan teen driving laws for 16 year olds, who will most likely have a Level 2 graduated licensing status, limit the hours they can drive and how many passengers under 21 years of age they can have in the car. Kelsey’s Law prohibits them from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. (MCL 257.602c(1))

Can a 16 year old driver have passengers in Michigan?

A 16 year old driver can have passengers in Michigan under certain circumstances. The Level 2 restrictions allow only 1 passenger under 21 unless: (1) the passengers are family; (2) a parent or guardian is in the car; (3) the teenager is working or going to or from work or an authorized activity.

According to the Michigan teen driving laws there is no restriction on the number of passengers who are 21 years of age or older that a 16 year old on a Level 2 graduated licensing status can have in the car. (MCL 257.310e(6)(b))

Michigan level 2 license restrictions

The Michigan level 2 license restrictions under the graduated licensing law prohibit teenagers from operating a motor vehicle between 10 pm and 5 am. The restrictions also prohibit teenagers from operating a motor vehicle with more than one passenger who is under the age of 21. (MCL 257.310e(6))

According to the Michigan teen driving laws the restrictions on operating hours do not apply under the following circumstances:

• The teenager “is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or a licensed driver 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or legal guardian.” (MCL 257.310e(6)(a)(i))
• The teenager “is operating the vehicle in the course of his or her employment or while going to or from employment or while going to or from an authorized activity.” (MCL 257.310e(6)(a)(ii)

According to the Michigan teen driving laws the restrictions on the number of passengers that may be in a Level 2 teenage driver’s vehicle do not apply under the following circumstances:

• The teenager driving “is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or a licensed driver 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or legal guardian.” (MCL 257.310e(6)(b)(i))
• “Any additional passengers who are less than 21 years of age are members of [the teenage driver’s] immediate family.” (MCL 257.310e(6)(b)(ii))
• The teenager “is operating the vehicle in the course of his or her employment or while going to or from employment or while going to or from an authorized activity.” (MCL 257.310e(6)(b)(iii)

According to the Michigan teen driving laws an “authorized activity” includes school/school-sanctioned activities, sporting events or activities, extracurricular events or activities, vocational training, religious events or activities and “[t]ransporting an individual in need of immediate emergency care or personal protection.” (MCL 257.310e(15))

Can you drive by yourself with a segment 2 permit?

You can drive by yourself with a segment 2 permit, which is also called a Level 2 graduated licensing status. If you choose to have passengers, you can only have one who is under 21, unless certain exceptions apply. There is no limit on the number of passengers who are over 21 years of age. (MCL 257.310e(6))

Michigan teen driving laws on probation period

As with all other drivers who have been previously issued a driver’s license in Michigan, teenagers will be on probation for 3 years. (MCL 257.310d(1))

Parents can restrict teenage drivers

According to the Michigan teen driving laws the operator’s license of a teenager – i.e., a minor driver – can be cancelled by the Secretary of State at the request of the driver’s parents or guardian. Also, a teenager’s graduated licensing status can be reduced – or advancement can be delayed – if his or her parents or guardian ask the Secretary of State to do so. (MCL 257.323b)

A minor is any driver under 18 years of age. Any person 18 and older is considered “an adult” under Michigan law. (MCL 722.52(1))

Was your teen injured in a car accident in Michigan? Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law now for a free consultation.

If your teen has been injured in a car accident in Michigan and you need help with your claim or have questions about the teen driving laws, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms.  This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions. 

We have more than 2,000 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck accident and car accident settlement in the state.

Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.

(Sources: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide Reports, Historical Information, 5 Year Summary, “5 Year Trends – Drivers in Fatal Crashes”; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide Reports, Historical Information, 10 Year Summary, “10 Year Trends – Statewide,” “Teen/Young Adult Drivers [Age 16-20]”)