The Michigan permit test depends on your age: teens pass a state knowledge exam inside Segment 1 driver education, with 70% needed to pass, and adults 18 and older take the Secretary of State (SOS) knowledge and road sign tests at a branch office or online. The SOS does not publish how many questions are on the adult test or its passing score. Practice sites often say 50 questions and 80%, but that is unofficial.
Michigan permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Michigan Department of State, known as the Secretary of State or SOS (michigan.gov/sos) |
| Teens | Start Segment 1 at 14 years 8 months. Level 1 Learner's License from 14 years 9 months |
| Teen test | Segment 1 state exam through your driver education provider. 70% to pass |
| Adult test (18+) | Knowledge test plus a road sign test |
| Adult questions and pass mark | Not published by the SOS. Third-party sites say 50 questions and 80%, which is unofficial |
| Online test | Yes for adults 18 and older, with a $6.50 convenience fee per attempt |
| Fee | Free at a branch office. The temporary instruction permit (TIP) is $25 |
| Languages | Many languages, plus an audio option, according to the SOS |
How many questions are on the Michigan permit test?
For adults, the SOS does not publish a question count or a passing score. It says only that the test has a multiple-choice section and a road sign section. You may also see "michigan permit test 80 questions" in searches; we found no official source for that number either. Study the whole manual and aim for every question.
For teens, the SOS sets one number: you need at least 70% on the Segment 1 state exam. Your driver education provider can tell you how many questions its version has.
What's on the Michigan permit test
Both tests come from the SOS manual, What Every Driver Must Know. Expect traffic laws, safe driving and a separate road sign section. These rules come up often:
- School buses: stop at least 20 feet back when red lights are flashing, unless a physical barrier divides the road.
- Parking: stay 15 feet from a fire hydrant and 20 feet from a crosswalk.
- Move over: for stopped emergency vehicles with lights on, slow to at least 10 mph below the limit and move over if it is safe.
- Bicycles: leave at least 3 feet when passing.
- Phones: the hands-free law bans holding a phone with your hands, arms or shoulders while driving.
- Level 2 teens may not drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and may carry only one passenger under 21, with exceptions.
Teens test inside Segment 1
Michigan is one of the few states where teens do not take the permit test at a government office. Segment 1 includes at least 24 classroom hours, 6 hours of driving and 4 hours of observation, and the state exam is part of it. After you pass, you take your Segment 1 certificate to the SOS for a Level 1 Learner's License.
Michigan's fire hydrant distance is 15 feet. Some other states use 10, so label your notes if you study more than one state.
How to study for the Michigan permit test
- Download What Every Driver Must Know from michigan.gov/sos and read one chapter a day.
- Study road signs as their own topic, since adults take a separate sign test.
- Make a one-page sheet of numbers: distances, ages, hours and time limits.
- Take Michigan permit test practice quizzes and write down every question you miss.
- Teens: ask your Segment 1 instructor which chapters the state exam stresses.
What to bring and how to book
Adults take the knowledge, sign and vision tests during an SOS branch visit, which you can book online at michigan.gov/sos. Teens visit after Segment 1 with a parent or guardian.
- Teens: Segment 1 Certificate of Completion, and a parent or guardian with you.
- Proof of a valid Social Security number, or a letter of ineligibility no more than 60 days old.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence.
- Proof of identity.
- Proof of Michigan residency. Adults need at least two documents, such as a recent utility bill, pay stub or lease.
Can you take the Michigan permit test online?
Yes, if you are 18 or older. Since July 2025 the SOS has offered the same test given on branch kiosks online through Michigan.gov/SOSOnlineTesting. You need a working webcam that checks your identity for the whole test, and there is a $6.50 fee for each attempt, up to two attempts per calendar day. After you pass, you still visit a branch to get your TIP. Teens under 18 test through Segment 1 instead.
What happens if you fail the Michigan permit test?
Online, you can try up to twice per calendar day, paying the $6.50 fee each time. If you pass one section online but fail the other, the SOS lets you finish the full test at a branch office at no charge. The SOS does not publish a branch retake limit. Teens who fail the Segment 1 exam should ask their driver education provider about a retest.
After you pass
- Adults get a TIP for $25. It is valid for six months, and you practice with a licensed adult at least 30 days before the road test.
- Teens need 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, and hold the Level 1 license at least 6 months before the driving skills test.
- Road tests are given by private driver testing businesses, which set their own fees.
Michigan permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Michigan permit test?
The SOS does not publish the number for the adult test. Practice sites say 50, which is unofficial. Teens take a Segment 1 state exam through their driver education provider.
How many questions can you get wrong on the Michigan permit test?
For teens, you need at least 70% on the Segment 1 exam. The SOS does not publish a passing score for the adult knowledge test.
Can you take the Michigan permit test online?
Yes, if you are 18 or older. It costs $6.50 per attempt and needs a webcam. Teens test through Segment 1.
How much does the Michigan permit test cost?
The test is free at an SOS branch, or $6.50 per attempt online. The TIP costs $25.
