Driver training rules in Michigan

✓ Checked against official sources · 2026-10-18

Driver training rules in Michigan for teen and adult driver's education, CDL schools, carriers that train their own drivers and school bus drivers, each with a link to the official source. Federal ELDT rules (49 CFR Part 380) apply in every state on top of these.

Driver education (teens)	Required under 18. Segment 1: 24 hrs classroom, 6 hrs behind the wheel, 4 hrs observation. Segment 2: 6 hrs classroom.source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Supervised practice (teens)	50 hours behind-the-wheel, 10 at night. Level 1 license held at least 6 months.source 4
New adult drivers	No driver ed required at 18+. At least 30 days of supervised driving before the skills test.source 5
Who licenses driving schools	Michigan Department of State certifies driver education providers.source 3
CDL training: state rules beyond federal ELDT	State-certified commercial vehicle driver training must equal or exceed federal ELDT (49 CFR 380); providers report to SOS twice a year.source 6 · source 7
CDL schools: state license	Yes. Secretary of State driver education provider certificate in the commercial vehicle driver training classification (MCL 256.629); operating without one is a misdemeanor (MCL 256.699).source 8 · source 9
CDL schools: state hours or curriculum	No state hour minimum. Commercial vehicle driver training must equal or exceed federal ELDT (49 CFR 380).source 6 · source 7
CDL schools: instructor rules	Yes. SOS behind-the-wheel commercial vehicle instructor certificate, issued to people meeting the federal 380.605 instructor requirements (MCL 256.637).source 10
Carriers training their own drivers: license	Exempt. A business instructing only its own employees, not open to the public, is not a driver education provider (MCL 256.625).source 11
Carriers: hours or curriculum	Not applicable to an exempt carrier. No state hours for anyone; federal ELDT only.source 6 · source 11
Carriers: instructor rules	Exempt. Instructor certificates are for instructors in a provider's course; an employee-only carrier is not a provider, so federal 380.605 applies.source 6 · source 11
New school bus drivers	Driver must hold a certificate of enrollment in the entry-level school bus safety education course; course available within 90 days of enrollment. Hours not stated in statute.source 12
School bus refresher	6-hour continuing education course within 2 years of the prior course.source 12

Driving manuals and handbooks

Official publications from Michigan, checked 2026-10-19. Read them here or download them; the state's own copy is always linked.

Driving jobs in Michigan

Rules change. Always confirm with the state agency before you rely on a rule. Something out of date? Email terry@eldt.courses.

Federal rules in every state

CDL entry-level driver training must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first P, S or H endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). See ELDT record keeping under 49 CFR 380.

Sources

1. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-657
2. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-659
3. https://www.michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-under-18
4. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-310e
5. https://www.michigan.gov/sos/license-id/new-drivers-18-older
6. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-623
7. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-665
8. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-629
9. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-699
10. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-637
11. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-256-625
12. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-1851

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