Michigan Teen Drivers Ed: Segment 1 and Segment 2 Explained
Michigan teen Driver Education can feel confusing at first because the process is split into two separate courses, multiple practice-hour requirements, and three levels of Graduated Driver Licensing. If you are helping your teen get started, the most important thing to understand is how Segment 1 (the Level 1 Learner’s License), Segment 2 (supervised driving), and the road test fit together. This guide walks through each step, including when your teen can enroll, what each segment includes, how many hours they need to log, and what happens before the Level 2 License. All Star Driver Education helps Michigan families navigate this process every day through state-certified teen Driver Education programs.
Looking for Michigan class options? See All Star’s Michigan Driving School page to find Segment 1 and Segment 2 programs near you.
What is the quick summary for Michigan teen Driver Ed?
Michigan teen Driver Ed requires two courses: Segment 1 before a Level 1 Learner’s License and Segment 2 before the driving skills test and Level 2 Intermediate License. Teens under 18 must complete both segments as part of Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing system.
In general, the process looks like this:
- Enroll in Segment 1 between ages 14 years and 8 months and 17.5 years
- Complete at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and 4 hours of observation
- Pass the Segment 1 state exam
- Apply for a Level 1 Learner’s License at a Michigan Secretary of State office
- Level 1 license must be held for at least 3 months with at least 30 supervised driving hours logged (including 2 hours at night) before beginning Segment 2
- Complete Segment 2, which includes at least 6 hours of classroom instruction
- Log at least 50 total supervised driving hours, including 10 hours at night, before the driving skills test
- Pass the driving skills test and meet the Level 2 License requirements
Michigan’s process is designed to gradually give teen drivers more freedom as they gain experience, complete training, and demonstrate safer driving habits.
What is Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing system?
Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing system is the step-by-step licensing process for drivers under 18. It includes two segments of Driver Education and three licensing levels: Level 1 Learner’s License, Level 2 Intermediate License, and Level 3 Full License.
The GDL process begins with Segment 1 Driver Education. After completing Segment 1 and passing the state exam, the teen and a parent or guardian can apply for the Level 1 Learner’s License. The Level 1 License allows the teen to practice driving only with a licensed parent, guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older.
Segment 2 comes later, after the teen has gained supervised driving experience. Once the teen completes Segment 2, logs the required practice hours, holds the Level 1 License long enough, and passes the driving skills test, they can advance to the Level 2 Intermediate License. Level 2 allows unsupervised driving but still imposes restrictions on nighttime driving, passengers, and cell phone use.
When can a teen start Segment 1 in Michigan?
A teen can start Segment 1 in Michigan at age 14 years and 8 months with the permission of a parent or guardian. Segment 1 is the first formal Driver Education course in the GDL process and must be completed before the teen can apply for a Level 1 Learner’s License.
At All Star Driver Education, Segment 1 is for students under 18. Students who are 18 or older are typically directed to All Star’s adult online “All State” class instead of Michigan teen Segment 1.
To register for All Star’s Michigan Segment 1 program, students must upload required documentation to the student portal before class begins. This usually includes a birth certificate, passport, or state ID, along with a signed contract. Because document approval can take up to 3 business days, families should submit paperwork early rather than waiting until the start of class.
High school programs may also be open to students who do not attend that school, as long as they can travel to the location for class.
What does Michigan Segment 1 include?
Michigan Segment 1 includes at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and 4 hours of in-car observation. This course is designed to prepare teen drivers for the Level 1 Learner’s License and supervised practice driving.
The classroom portion covers core traffic laws, signs, signals, defensive driving, basic vehicle control, risk awareness, and safe driving habits. Michigan requires at least 24 total classroom hours, and classes are limited to no more than 2 hours of classroom instruction per day.
The behind-the-wheel portion gives the student supervised experience in an instructional vehicle with a licensed Driver Education instructor. Segment 1 also includes observation time, where students ride in the training vehicle and learn by watching another student driver and instructor.
All Star’s state-approved Michigan Segment 1 course typically takes up to 6 weeks to complete, depending on location and availability. Tuition includes classroom instruction, workbook materials, activities, 6 hours of driving, and 4 hours of observation in an All Star training vehicle. Segment 2 and the road test are purchased separately.
What is required to pass Segment 1?
To pass All Star’s Michigan Segment 1 course, students must complete the required instruction and pass a written exam with at least 56 out of 80 questions correct. Students are allowed up to three attempts to pass the final written exam.
Michigan’s state requirement is a passing score of at least 70% on the Segment 1 state exam. Once the student has completed the classroom, driving, observation, and exam requirements, All Star uploads the Segment 1 Certificate of Completion to the student portal and promptly notifies the customer.
That certificate is important, but it is not a driver’s license. A teen cannot drive independently with a Segment 1 Certificate of Completion. The certificate is used to apply for a Level 1 Learner’s License through the Michigan Secretary of State.
Families should keep a copy of the certificate with other licensing documents. It will be needed as the teen moves from Driver Education into supervised practice.
Do you get a license after Segment 1?
No, completing Segment 1 does not give a teen a license. After Segment 1, the teen receives a Segment 1 Certificate of Completion, which is required to apply for the Michigan Level 1 Learner’s License.
To apply for the Level 1 License, the teen must be at least 14 years and 9 months old. A parent or guardian must accompany the teen to the Secretary of State’s office. The teen will also need to pass a vision screening and present the required identity, residency, legal presence, and Social Security documentation.
Once issued, the Level 1 License allows the teen to begin supervised driving with a licensed parent, guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older. The supervising adult should sit in the front passenger seat and must have a valid, unexpired driver’s license.
Under Kelsey’s Law, Michigan teens with a Level 1 License cannot use a cell phone while driving except in an emergency. Families should treat this stage as structured practice, not just a waiting period before the road test.
How do teens schedule behind-the-wheel lessons for Segment 1?
With All Star, students can schedule Segment 1 behind-the-wheel training through the student portal after Day 1 of class. These lessons are part of the required Segment 1 course and must be completed before the student can receive the Segment 1 Certificate of Completion.
Students are expected to arrive on time for every scheduled session and follow the instructions provided by their All Star location. If a school district calls a snow day, All Star classes and behind-the-wheel lessons are also canceled. Instructors may contact students if conditions improve, but families should plan for weather-related changes during Michigan winters.
Behind-the-wheel training is where students begin applying what they learn in the classroom. That practice may include basic vehicle controls, turns, lane position, scanning, stopping, speed control, and other early driving skills. Parents should pay attention to instructor feedback, because those notes can help guide supervised practice after the Level 1 License is issued.
What happens after a teen gets a Level 1 Learner’s License?
After getting a Level 1 Learner’s License, the teen must begin logging supervised driving hours with a licensed parent, guardian, or designated adult age 21 or older. These hours are required before Segment 2 and before the driving skills test.
Michigan requires at least 30 hours of supervised driving, including 2 hours at night, before a teen can enroll in Segment 2. Those hours must be documented in a driving log and presented before Segment 2 begins.
The full requirement before the driving skills test is higher. Before testing for a Level 2 License, the teen must complete at least 50 total supervised driving hours, including 10 hours at night. These hours should include more than short neighborhood drives. A strong practice plan includes residential streets, busier roads, parking, turns, lane changes, intersections, different times of day, and different weather conditions.
Parents should keep practice calm, consistent, and aligned with what the teen learned from their instructor.
When can a teen take Segment 2 in Michigan?
A teen can take Segment 2 after holding a Level 1 Learner’s License for at least 3 continuous months and logging at least 30 supervised driving hours, including 2 hours at night. Segment 2 is the second required Driver Education course in Michigan’s GDL process.
At All Star, Segment 2 is for students under 18 who have already completed Segment 1. Adults 18 and older are not eligible to take Segment 2 with All Star because Segment 2 is part of the teen GDL pathway.
Before class begins, All Star students must upload required documents to the student portal. These include the Michigan Supervised Driving Log showing 30 hours of practice with 2 nighttime hours, the Level 1 License, and a signed contract. As with Segment 1 documents, approval may take up to 3 business days, so students should not wait until the last minute.
Segment 2 is intentionally scheduled after the teen has real driving experience. The course is more useful when students can connect classroom risk-awareness topics to situations they have already encountered on the road.
What does Michigan Segment 2 include?
Michigan Segment 2 includes at least 6 hours of classroom instruction and focuses on risk awareness, decision-making, and dangerous driving behaviors. Unlike Segment 1, Segment 2 does not include behind-the-wheel training.
All Star’s Segment 2 course focuses on helping teens recognize and avoid higher-risk situations. Topics may include distractions, alcohol and drugs, drowsy driving, emotions, poor decision-making, and the responsibilities that come with more independent driving.
All Star offers Segment 2 in multiple learning formats at many Michigan locations. Classroom-only courses are typically scheduled over 3 days with 2 hours of in-person classroom instruction each day. Some locations also offer a hybrid format with virtual class sessions and an in-person final exam.
To pass All Star’s Segment 2 course, students must attend all 6 hours of classroom instruction and pass the final written exam with at least 14 out of 20 questions correct. Students are allowed up to three attempts.
What do teens need before the Michigan driving skills test?
Before taking the Michigan driving skills test, a teen must complete Segment 2, hold a Level 1 License for at least 6 consecutive months, and log at least 50 supervised driving hours, including 10 hours at night. The teen must also have no violations, civil infractions, license suspensions, or at-fault crashes during the 90 days before the test and Level 2 License application.
Michigan driving skills tests are administered by third-party testing organizations contracted with the Michigan Department of State. The test includes a vehicle inspection, a basic control skills test, and an on-road driving test.
At the test, the teen should be prepared to present:
- Proof of valid vehicle insurance and registration
- Level 1 Learner’s License
- Segment 2 Certificate of Completion
- Signed driving log showing at least 50 supervised hours, including 10 at night
- A parent or guardian
The driving skills test receipt is not a license. After passing the test, the teen will advance to the Level 2 License once all eligibility requirements are met.
What restrictions apply to a Michigan Level 2 License?
A Michigan Level 2 Intermediate License allows unsupervised driving, but it includes passenger, nighttime driving, and cell phone restrictions. These rules are meant to reduce risk while teens adjust to driving with more independence.
With a Level 2 License, teens generally cannot drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. They also may not have more than one passenger under age 21 unless the passengers are immediate family members. Cell phone use and texting are prohibited except in emergencies.
There are exceptions to the nighttime and passenger restrictions when the teen is driving to or from a job, driving in the course of employment, traveling to or from an authorized activity such as a school event, or accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older.
Parents and guardians can also keep a teen at their current GDL level or cancel a GDL license before the teen turns 18. That gives families an additional safeguard if they feel their teen needs more time before moving forward.
When does a Michigan teen get a Level 3 Full License?
A Michigan teen can advance to a Level 3 Full License at age 17 after holding a Level 2 License for at least 6 months and going 12 consecutive months without violations or at-fault crashes. If the teen meets all requirements and parental authorization has been granted, the Level 3 License is issued automatically at no fee.
The Level 3 License removes the GDL nighttime and passenger restrictions. However, parents should still monitor their teen’s driving, especially during the first year of more independent driving. A teen may be legally ready for fewer restrictions before they have experienced every difficult driving situation.
Michigan GDL ends for teens when they turn 18. Teens with a valid Level 2 or Level 3 License will automatically be issued an operator’s license before their 18th birthday. Teens who hold only a Level 1 License at age 18 must follow the licensing procedures for applicants aged 18 and older.
How does All Star Driver Education fit in?
All Star Driver Education helps Michigan teens complete Segment 1 and Segment 2 through state-certified programs, licensed instructors, flexible class options, and structured support for families. All Star’s Michigan instructors are licensed and regulated by the Michigan Department of State, and the program is built around the requirements teens need to meet at each GDL stage.
All Star has been trusted by thousands of drivers since 1997, with 150+ instructors, 45+ locations, 100+ vehicles, and more than 250,000 graduates. For Michigan families, that means students can choose from multiple class locations and formats while still working through the same state-required licensing path.
Segment 1 provides teens with a foundation in classroom learning, behind-the-wheel instruction, and observation. Segment 2 helps students revisit risk awareness after they have gained real supervised driving experience. Together, those courses help students move toward the road test with clearer expectations and safer habits.
Are you ready to get started with Michigan teen Driver Ed?
The best time to start Michigan teen Driver Ed is before your family needs the license timeline to move quickly. Segment 1 (Level 1) licensing, supervised driving, Segment 2 (road test scheduling), and Level 2 eligibility all take time.
Browse All Star’s Michigan Driving School programs to find Segment 1 and Segment 2 classes near you. You can also use All Star’s class finder to compare available locations, schedules, and learning formats.
Michigan’s GDL process is designed to build skill gradually. With the right plan, your teen can move from the first day of Segment 1 to more independent driving with the training, practice, and support they need to stay safer on the road.
