A Guide to Ace the Michigan's Driver's Exam

A driver’s license is one of the most important things to have when driving your new car. It is your card not to be arrested for driving without legal documents proving your right to drive. So, before you get behind the wheel, have a valid driver’s license.

However, you might want to remember that getting a license means completing all the legal papers needed and passing a driver’s permit test.

The state of Michigan requires you to pass the test to ensure you know and understand the laws and regulations of driving down the road.

But before you focus on passing the exam, you first need to understand the process of obtaining your driver’s license because it’s not just about taking the Michigan permit test.

What’s the Process of Getting a Driver’s License?

There are some variables to consider if you must take the knowledge exam and driving skills test. You must take and pass the exam considering that the below category is true to you:

• If you will be getting your driver’s license for the first time
• If your foreign driver’s license has expired
• If your driver’s license from another state has been expired for more than four years

Suppose your case falls into one of the above categories. In that case, there are four steps that you need to follow to get your driver’s license: taking the written test, getting the Temporary Instruction Permit, passing the driving skills test, and completing all the required documents.

Taking the Driver’s Written Test

The knowledge test, also known as the driver’s written test, determines whether you’ll be able to continue getting your driver’s license. So, it is important to prepare for and pass the exam. The test will measure your knowledge of Michigan’s traffic laws and driving practices.

If you’re 18 years old or older, you can take the exam at any branch office of the Secretary of State (SOS). However, if you’re under that age, you must follow specific guidelines to get your driver’s license. Check out this website for the guidelines for teenagers who want to get their license.

Preparation for the Written Test

The exam is not that hard, especially if you are prepared enough. Here’s what you can do to ace Michigan’s driving exam:

• The Secretary of State encourages exam takers to read the free downloadable PDF titled “What Every Driver Must Know.” The booklet contains most of the answers to the driver’s examination, so reading and understanding the book’s content will help you ace the test. You can also find this booklet at any SOS branch office.
• The driver’s written test usually contains up to 40-50 questions depending on the type of questionnaires they have prepared. Most of the time, they allocate ten items for recognizing road signs, and the 30 or 40 items could fall under multiple-choice or true or false types of questions. If you want to practice answering questions, there are plenty of Michigan permit practice tests you can print and download online. One trusted website that you can check out to take a practice test online is https://driver.education/
• If you’re not well versed in reading and speaking English, you can get a translated copy of your permit test in the language you can understand. You can also get an interpreter to take the exam. The local SOS office will give a list of available language interpreters.
• Sign language interpreters are available upon request for people with hearing impairment, or they can bring an interpreter if they know one.
• Once you take the exam, you’ll know your score immediately after submitting it and be qualified to move on to the next step.

Getting the Temporary Instruction Permit

Once you have passed the driver’s written test, you will need to get a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP). You will get this permit right after you pass the written exam. When you get this permit, you will be given 180 days to practice driving. However, you need to be accompanied by a licensed adult. The TIP usually costs $25.

You need to spend at least 30 days practicing driving with an adult before you can take the driving skills test, which is the next step in getting your driver’s license.

Taking the Driving Skills Test

After practicing for 30 days, you can take the driving skills test at any SOS-approved third-party testing organization. The driving test fees might be different from one testing site to another, so it is better to check the costs and location of the testing organization online.

Parts of the Driving Skills Test

Before taking the driving skills test, you can get a copy of the Study Guide regarding the driving skills test published by the SOS to ace the exam. The Guide is available on any SOS branch, and you can also get it on their website for free.

When taking the driving skills test, you will need to pass the two levels. On the first level, you will not drive along the street first. There will be a practice course where you will need to pass a series of basic control exercises. Then, in the second part, you will take a road skills test, including urban, expressway, residential, and rural highway driving.

Finally, after you pass the driving skills test, you will get a certificate and are eligible to get a driver’s license. You must bring all the documents you’ve acquired, such as your Temporary Instruction Permit, driver’s skills certificate, and other identification documents, to the SOS office.

Here’s a rundown of other required documents that you need to get your driver’s license finally:

• Documents proving your identity, like school ID, marriage licenses, U.S military ID cards, and other documents that prove that you are you
• Documents proving that you are a legal citizen of the U.S
• Documents confirming that you are living in Michigan
• Social Security Number or documents supporting that eligibility to get one

You can find the complete list of required documents on the State of Michigan’s official website.