Information about and steps to take to apply for and maintain a driver's license in Michigan.
International students and scholars and their dependent family members who will be in Michigan for more than four months are considered Michigan residents and must apply for a Michigan Driver's License if they intend to drive.
All Michigan residents must obtain a Michigan Driver's License as soon as possible after arrival in order to legally drive. As a Michigan resident, there is no grace period during which you may drive using your home country driver's license.
The Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) has the latest Michigan Driver Handbook, forms and instructions on how to apply for a Michigan Driver License.
Once you have all the required documents from the Applicant Checklist, schedule an appointment with the SOS office. Please schedule your appointment through the SOS online booking system. The East Lansing office is located at 3315 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912.
Wait 10 days after you enter the United States. You may want to apply for a driver's license right away, but be patient. The 10 day wait allows time for all the government databases to update with your arrival information. If you apply too early, your application will be delayed or denied. If you are a continuing student or scholar, please remember to wait 10 days from your most recent entry to the U.S.
Michigan Secretary of State Driver's License Required Documents Checklist may include:
Take a Written Test, Vision Exam, and Pay the License Application Fee
On the same day you present your identification documents at a Secretary of State Branch Office, you will take written tests of your knowledge of Michigan driving laws and road signs. You will also take a vision exam. The vision exam is a simple test to ensure that your visual abilities are adequate for driving.
To prepare for the written test, review the "What Every Driver Must Know" handbook.
At this time you will also pay the Driver's License Fee.
After you pass the written test and the vision exam, you will get a Temporary Instruction Permit.
Practice Driving on Your Temporary Instruction Permit for at least 30 Days
After you pass the written test and vision exam you will get a Temporary Instruction Permit. You are required to wait 30 days after getting the Temporary Instruction Permit before you may take the Driving Skills Test.
During that 30 days you are only allowed to drive if you have a licensed driver, who is above the age of 18, in the car with you. You can either practice driving with a licensed driver who is above the age of 18 or you can pay for driving instruction through a private company.
If you provide your home country's license with a certified English translation (see below), you can waive the 30-day waiting period and will be allowed to take the driving skills test immediately after passing the tests in Step Two.
Take the Driving Skills Test
After you pass the written test and vision exam you will get a Temporary Instruction Permit. You are required to wait 30 days after getting the Temporary Instruction Permit before you may take the Driving Skills Test.
During that 30 days you are only allowed to drive with a licensed driver, who is above the age of 18, in the car with you.
However, if you provide your home country's license with a certified English translation (see below), you can waive the 30-day waiting period and will be allowed to take the driving skills test immediately after passing the tests in Step Two.
You can prepare for your driving skills test by reviewing the "Driving Skills Test Study Guide".
Your driving test must be conducted by an organization appearing on the following list: Michigan Department of State Driving Skills Testing, Ingham County. Some of the listed organizations will allow you to rent a car to use for your driving skills test other organizations require that you provide your own fully insured car or borrow a fully insured car from a friend.
Return to the Branch Office to Finalize Your License Application
Once you pass your driving skills test, schedule another appointment at the SOS Branch Office and bring your proof of legal presence documents (the same documents you provided in step one above), Temporary Instruction Permit, and Skills Test Certificate with you to your appointment. You will receive a temporary valid driver's license to use until your actual license arrives in the mail.
No. You do not need to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to apply. However, you must have a letter of ineligibility issued to you by the Social Security Administration. This is called the Form SSA L-676.
Information about obtaining a Social Security Number or a Letter of Social Security Number Ineligibility can be found on the Social Security Administration website at http://socialsecurity.gov. You may also call the local Social Security Administration Office
A translation of your home country driver's license is not required to get a driver's license in the State of Michigan but it will speed up the application process.
A translated driver's license can be used as evidence of driving experience and will waive the 30-day practice period before taking the driving skills test. Without a translation, you must wait at least 30 days from the day you pass the written test until the day you are allowed to take the driving skills test. If you have an English translation of your home country driver's license, you will not have to wait and can take the driving skills test immediately after passing the written test.
Translated driver's licenses or International Driving Permits are not accepted for identification purposes.
1. Find a translator.
2. Your translator must type the translation and sign the following template: Drivers License Translation Template (PDF)
3. Email a copy of your translation to . OISS will verify your immigration and enrollment status and your translator's position at MSU and sign the translation. OISS requires 8-10 business days for processing and will not accept walk-in submissions requesting same day signatures.
OISS will only do international driver's license translations for international students/scholars affiliated with Michigan State University.
An International Driving Permit issued by your home country, by itself, does not give you permission to drive in Michigan. If you will live in Michigan for more than four months, then you are a Michigan resident and you must apply for a Michigan Driver's License.
If you lose your driver's license, you must apply for a replacement at a branch office. You will be asked to provide the documents listed the Driver's License Application Process (above).
Approximately 45 days prior to the expiration of your license, a renewal notice will be mailed to the address on your license. If the renewal notice says that you are eligible to renew your license by mail, you may do so if you wish, but you are not required to do so.
If you wish to renew by mail, simply follow the instructions on the notice.
If you do not wish to renew by mail, if your notice says that you are not eligible to renew by mail, or if you do not receive a notice, then you should renew your license in person at the local branch office.
When you apply for your renewal, you will pay the renewal fee, be asked a few general health questions, and be given a vision screening test. You may also be asked to provide the following documents:
Proof of Social Security (one of the following):
Proof of legal presence (all of the following):
Short-term students, scholars and visitors who will be in Michigan for less than four months may be eligible to drive in Michigan with a driver's license issued by another country.
To find out if you are eligible to arrive with your non-U.S. driver's license see the full list of treaty and non-treaty countries on the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Foreign Driver's Licenses in Michigan website.
If your license was not issued by one of the countries on the list of treaty or non-treaty countries, you are not eligible to drive in Michigan with a non-U.S. driver's license.
Documents Needed to Drive in Michigan with a Valid Driver's License Issued by Another Country:
Treaty Countries
Non-Treaty Countries
International students and scholars and their dependent family members who will be in Michigan for more than four months are considered Michigan residents and must apply for a Michigan Driver's License if they intend to drive. All Michigan residents must obtain a Michigan Driver's License as soon as possible after arrival in order to legally drive. There is no grace period during which you may use your home country license to drive. Jump to Michigan Driver's License.
Beware of leasing vehicles from individuals or unauthorized dealerships. There are may things that could go wrong including:
It is best to lease vehicles from authorized dealerships to ensure that you are following all Michigan driving laws.
Owners of vehicles are required to purchase insurance and keep valid proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times. Some insurance companies will mail you updated insurance cards automatically while other companies require you to download your insurance certification yourself from the company's website.
If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer while driving the vehicle and you cannot show valid proof of insurance the court may order the Secretary of State to suspend your driver license.
Michigan residents must immediately title and register their vehicles at a Secretary of State office. Titles are required for all motor vehicles and for all trailers 2,500 pounds and over. A "resident" is a person who resides in Michigan and establishes that he or she is legally present in the United States.
Proof of registration must be stored inside the vehicle at all times.
Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4-feet-9-inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.
Learn more about Michigan's Child Passenger Safety Law and car seat requirements
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