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Michigan Drivers Ed Online for Teens (DMV Licensed)
Ready to Get Your Michigan Driver's License?
Who it's for: Michigan teens roughly 14¾ to 16 working through Segment 1 and Segment 2 toward a first license
Complete this approved online course and satisfy the 30-hour driver's training requirement — no in-car practice needed.
What it does NOT cover: the behind-the-wheel (in-car) instruction that is part of each segment, or the 50 hours of supervised practice (at least 10 at night) your teen logs between segments.
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ETS Traffic School | DriversED Courses
ETS Traffic School, together with DriversEd.com, offers a variety of Driver’s Education courses designed for drivers across many U.S. states. Our programs help new and experienced drivers learn the rules of the road, improve driving knowledge, and prepare for state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requirements.
We currently offer several Driver’s Education courses, including:
- Teen Drivers Ed – Designed for teen drivers who are preparing to obtain their learner’s permit and begin their driving journey safely and responsibly.
- Adult Drivers Ed – Created for adults who are getting their first driver’s license or want to improve their understanding of traffic laws and safe driving practices.
- Mature Drivers Ed – Designed for experienced drivers who want to refresh their driving knowledge and stay up to date with modern traffic laws and safety practices.
- And more driver education courses depending on your state requirements.
Our Driver’s ED courses cover essential topics such as traffic laws, road signs, defensive awareness, and safe driving habits that every driver should understand before getting behind the wheel.
Depending on your state’s requirements, completing a Driver’s Education course may be necessary before applying for a learner’s permit or driver’s license. We recommend checking with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to confirm the specific requirements for your state.
The intended use of this course is for educational purposes only. If you are taking this course to meet state licensing requirements, you should confirm acceptance with your state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the appropriate state licensing authority.
Michigan Drivers Ed Online for Teens (DMV Licensed)
If your teen is about to turn 14 years 8 months, Michigan drivers ed online is where a lot of families begin. This course handles the classroom side of both Segment 1 and Segment 2 — the rules of the road, the Level 1 test prep, the safe-driving foundation — on a schedule that fits around middle and high school. What it can't do is the in-car part, and Michigan is specific about how that works. This page lays out exactly what the course covers, what the state still requires in a real car, and how the whole graduated-licensing ladder runs from Segment 1 to a full license at 17.
What is Michigan drivers ed online?
Michigan drivers ed online is a self-paced teen driver education course that delivers the classroom instruction Michigan requires across its two driver-ed segments. It's the same foundation a first time driver course Michigan has always covered — traffic laws, signs, safe-driving habits — just delivered online instead of from a fixed classroom seat.
Here's the part families need to understand clearly, because plenty of pages blur it. Michigan structures teen driver education in two segments, and each segment has two pieces: classroom hours and behind-the-wheel (in-car) hours. This online course is the classroom piece of both Segment 1 and Segment 2. The behind-the-wheel hours — the in-car instruction where a teen drives with a certified instructor — and the 50 hours of supervised practice your teen logs with a parent between the segments are separate, and they happen in an actual vehicle through a Michigan SOS-licensed driver-education program.
So think of online drivers ed Michigan as the knowledge half of getting licensed. It preps your teen for the Level 1 learner's license knowledge test, builds the rules foundation, and covers the classroom side of both segments. The driving half — the in-car instruction and the supervised practice — your teen logs separately. We'd rather be upfront about that than let a family think a single online course is the whole road to a Michigan license. It isn't. Because segment setups vary by provider, confirm with your Michigan-licensed driver-education program how its Segment 1 and Segment 2 classroom and in-car pieces fit together.
Who needs Michigan teen drivers ed?
Michigan teens starting the licensing process at 14 years 8 months and working toward a first license need driver education, and this course covers the classroom portion of Segment 1 and Segment 2 for them. Here's who this is built for.
This course fits your teen if they:
- Are around 14¾ to 16 and starting Michigan's two-segment driver-education path
- Want a head start on Michigan permit test preparation online before the Level 1 learner's license knowledge test
- Need the classroom portion of Segment 1 to reach the Level 1 license, and the classroom portion of Segment 2 to move toward the Level 2 license
- Are homeschooled or have a packed schedule and want a self-paced Michigan driver education course instead of a fixed classroom time
Your teen may need a different path if they:
- Are 18 or older — adults over 18 follow a different Michigan licensing process and aren't required to complete the two-segment teen driver-education program
- Need the behind-the-wheel hours — the in-car instruction comes from a certified instructor in a real vehicle, not from this online classroom course
- Are a new resident teen transferring driving credentials from another state — confirm how Michigan's segment requirements apply to your situation with the Michigan Secretary of State
A quick note for parents shopping best drivers ed Michigan or cheap drivers ed Michigan options: the classroom course is only one part of what your teen needs. Each segment also has in-car instruction, and there are 50 supervised-practice hours between the segments. Price the classroom course, but plan for the in-car pieces too.
How does Michigan graduated licensing (Segment 1 & 2) work, step by step?
Michigan uses a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system built around two education segments and three license levels: a Level 1 learner's license, a Level 2 intermediate license, and a Level 3 full license, all set by MCL 257.310e and the Michigan SOS Graduated Driver Licensing and Driver Education Requirements. Each step has its own age, waiting period, and restrictions. Here's the whole ladder.
| Step | Age / timing | What it requires | Driving restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Enroll at 14 years 8 months | Classroom instruction + behind-the-wheel | Not yet driving independently |
| Level 1 learner's license | 14 years 9 months | Complete Segment 1; pass the knowledge test | Drive only with a parent/guardian or a designated adult 21+ |
| Supervised practice | After Level 1 | Log 50 hours (at least 10 at night) | Same as Level 1 — always supervised |
| Segment 2 | After holding Level 1 at least 3 months | Classroom instruction + behind-the-wheel | Still on the Level 1 license |
| Level 2 intermediate license | Age 16 | Complete Segment 2; pass the road test | Night and passenger restrictions apply |
| Level 3 full license | Age 17 | Hold Level 2 cleanly per state rules | None of the GDL restrictions |
Step 1 — Segment 1 (enroll at 14 years 8 months). Your teen begins the first segment at 14 years 8 months. Segment 1 combines classroom instruction — the part this online course delivers — with behind-the-wheel in-car training through a Michigan-licensed program. The classroom side preps the Level 1 knowledge test.
Step 2 — Level 1 learner's license (14 years 9 months). After completing Segment 1, a teen can get the Level 1 learner's license at 14 years 9 months. On a Level 1 license, your teen may drive only when a parent, legal guardian, or a designated adult 21 or older is in the vehicle. This is the supervised-learning stage.
Step 3 — Log 50 hours of supervised practice. With the Level 1 license, your teen logs 50 hours of supervised driving practice, at least 10 of them at night, with a qualified adult. This is the single most valuable part of the whole process, and it can't be shortcut online. Keep a log — Michigan expects it.
Step 4 — Segment 2 (after at least 3 months on Level 1). After holding the Level 1 license for at least 3 months and building practice hours, your teen takes Segment 2 — again, classroom instruction (covered online here) plus behind-the-wheel training.
Step 5 — Level 2 intermediate license (age 16). After completing Segment 2 and passing the road test, your teen can move up to the Level 2 intermediate license at 16. Level 2 carries nighttime and passenger restrictions set by MCL 257.310e — the supervised-only requirement lifts, but under the statute a Level 2 driver generally can't drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and can carry no more than one passenger under 21 (both with limited exceptions for work, authorized activities, family, or adult supervision).
Step 6 — Level 3 full license (age 17). At 17, with a clean Level 2 record per Michigan's rules, your teen reaches the Level 3 full license and the GDL restrictions come off.
The 50-hours-of-practice rule and the two segment road tests are what families underestimate. The behind-the-wheel instruction and the segment road testing are separate from this online classroom course — they happen in a real vehicle through a Michigan SOS-licensed program. For the exact current ages, hold periods, and restrictions, the Michigan SOS new-drivers page and the graduated-licensing statute MCL 257.310e are the authoritative sources.
What does the course cover?
The course covers Michigan traffic laws, road signs and signals, vehicle controls, right-of-way and intersections, speed and space management, impaired and distracted driving, sharing the road, and accident prevention — the full classroom foundation for both segments, built to prep the Level 1 knowledge test.
| Module | What it builds |
|---|---|
| Michigan rules of the road | The traffic laws your teen is tested on and licensed under |
| Signs, signals, and markings | The road-sign material that dominates the Level 1 knowledge test |
| Get to know your vehicle | Controls, gauges, mirrors, and pre-drive checks |
| Right-of-way and intersections | The most common new-driver crash scenario |
| Speed and space management | Basic speed law, following distance, stopping distance |
| Risky behaviors and impairment | Michigan's zero-tolerance stance for under-21 drivers; the texting and handheld rules |
| Sharing the road | Motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, large trucks, school buses |
| Driving environments and emergencies | Snow, ice, freeway driving, night driving, vehicle failures |
| Final knowledge check | Confirms completion before the certificate is issued |
Michigan rules of the road and signs
The course starts where the Level 1 knowledge test starts — signs, signals, pavement markings, and Michigan's core traffic laws. The state exam pulls heavily from road signs and traffic rules, so this section does double duty: it's both license-prep and test-prep. A teen who works through it carefully walks into the knowledge test ready.
Right-of-way, speed, and space
New drivers crash at intersections more than anywhere else. The course drills right-of-way rules, four-way-stop logic, yielding, and the following distance that keeps a teen out of rear-end collisions. It covers the basic speed law and how stopping distance grows on wet and icy Michigan roads, from Detroit surface streets to the I-94 and I-75 corridors.
Risky behaviors, impairment, and under-21 driving
Michigan takes a hard line with young drivers. Anyone under 21 faces a zero-tolerance standard for alcohol, and the state restricts handheld phone use and texting behind the wheel. The course is direct about what those rules mean and why they exist — the leading causes of death for Michigan teens are on the road, and the content doesn't soften that.
Sharing the road and handling the unexpected
From the freight traffic on I-75 to cyclists in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids to the school buses every teen will follow eventually, the course covers sharing the road safely. The final stretch handles adverse conditions — lake-effect snow, ice, fog, night driving, and what to do when something on the car fails — before the closing knowledge check.
What will your teen study? (chapter outline)
The online classroom is organized as eleven chapters that build from the licensing process up through real road judgment. Here's the full chapter map so you and your teen know what the Segment 1 and Segment 2 classroom coursework actually covers.
- Welcome — how the course works, what the certificate is for, and how it fits into Michigan's two-segment licensing path.
- How to Get Your Michigan License — the GDL ladder: Segment 1 at 14 years 8 months → Level 1 learner's license at 14 years 9 months → Segment 2 (after 3 months on Level 1) → Level 2 intermediate license at 16 → Level 3 full license at 17, with the waiting periods, the 50-hour practice rule, and the restrictions at each step.
- Get to Know Your Vehicle — controls, gauges, mirrors, and the pre-drive checks every new driver should make second nature.
- Signs, Signals, and Markings — the road-sign material that dominates the Level 1 knowledge test.
- Driving Rules and Maneuvers — right-of-way, four-way-stop logic, turning, lane use, and Michigan's core traffic laws.
- Sharing the Road — motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, large trucks, and school buses.
- Driving Environments — city streets, rural roads, and the I-75/I-94/I-96 freeway driving a new Michigan driver will face.
- Risky Behaviors — speeding, distraction, the texting and handheld rules, fatigue, and aggressive driving.
- Alcohol and Drugs — Michigan's zero-tolerance standard for drivers under 21 and why impaired driving leads the causes of death for the state's teens.
- Accident Causes and Prevention — how new-driver crashes happen at intersections and rear-ends, and the habits that prevent them.
- Owning a Vehicle — insurance, registration, and the basics of keeping a car on the road in Michigan.
This online course is the classroom portion of Michigan drivers ed. The behind-the-wheel (in-car) instruction in each segment and the 50 hours of supervised practice (at least 10 at night) happen separately, in an actual vehicle through a Michigan SOS-licensed driver-education program.
How does my teen complete the segments and get licensed?
Enroll, finish the online classroom coursework at your teen's pace, then handle the in-car hours, the supervised practice, and the Michigan SOS steps separately. Here's the order.
Step 1 — Enroll in the Michigan drivers ed course. It's $49.00 flat. Set up the account with your teen's information and they can start right away on any device.
Step 2 — Complete the Segment 1 classroom coursework. Self-paced, mobile-friendly, progress saved automatically. Your teen can fit it around school over days or weeks. This covers the classroom side of Segment 1 and preps the Level 1 knowledge test.
Step 3 — Finish Segment 1's behind-the-wheel and get the Level 1 license. Separately from this course, your teen completes Segment 1's in-car instruction through a Michigan-licensed program, then gets the Level 1 learner's license at 14 years 9 months and drives only with a parent, guardian, or designated adult 21+.
Step 4 — Log 50 hours of supervised practice. With the Level 1 license, your teen logs 50 hours of supervised driving (at least 10 at night) with a qualified adult. Keep the log — Michigan expects it.
Step 5 — Take Segment 2. After holding the Level 1 license at least 3 months, your teen completes the Segment 2 classroom coursework (online here) and Segment 2's behind-the-wheel instruction.
Step 6 — Pass the road test and move to Level 2 at 16. After Segment 2 and the road test, your teen applies for the Level 2 intermediate license at 16, with its night and passenger restrictions.
Step 7 — Reach the Level 3 full license at 17. With a clean Level 2 record per Michigan's rules, your teen reaches the Level 3 full license at 17 and the GDL restrictions come off.
Because the behind-the-wheel instruction and segment road testing are separate from this online classroom course and run through a Michigan SOS-licensed program, confirm your provider's segment setup before relying on any single step.
How much does it cost?
$49.00 for the full online classroom coursework covering Segment 1 and Segment 2. That covers enrollment, all the classroom material, the final exam, and the electronic completion certificate. It does not cover Michigan SOS license fees, or the cost of the behind-the-wheel (in-car) instruction your teen completes through a licensed driver-education program.
| Cost item | Amount | Who collects it |
|---|---|---|
| ETS Michigan drivers ed online course (Segment 1 & 2 classroom) | $49.00 | ETS Traffic School |
| Electronic completion certificate | Included | ETS Traffic School |
| Behind-the-wheel (in-car) instruction | Varies by program | Michigan SOS-licensed driver-education program |
| Supervised practice (50 hrs) | Free with a parent | Any qualified adult 21+ |
| Michigan SOS license fees | Set by the state | Michigan SOS |
At $49, the classroom course is one of the more affordable Michigan drivers ed cost online options, and it's the predictable part of the budget. The in-car hours are where costs vary — supervised practice with a parent is free, while the behind-the-wheel instruction through a licensed program adds to the total. If you're comparing cheap drivers ed Michigan against other mi drivers ed course options, compare the classroom price first, then factor the in-car pieces every Michigan teen needs.
Where in Michigan is it available?
Statewide. It's online, so a teen in Detroit and a teen in Grand Rapids take the same Michigan drivers education online course. The Michigan SOS offices, the behind-the-wheel programs, and the road tests are local, but the classroom coursework is identical everywhere.
- Detroit (Wayne County) — metro teens learning on I-75, I-94, and the Lodge Freeway, where Detroit drivers ed online and online drivers ed Detroit searches start
- Grand Rapids (Kent County) — West Michigan families on the US-131 and I-96 corridors
- Warren and the Macomb County suburbs — teens driving the I-696 and M-53 commuter routes
- Ann Arbor (Washtenaw County) — a busy university town with heavy cyclist and pedestrian traffic
- Lansing (Ingham County) — the capital region near the SOS headquarters
- Flint (Genesee County) — mid-Michigan teens on the I-69 and I-75 interchange
Wherever your teen is in Michigan, the online drivers ed for teens Michigan course is the same. The local part is just which Michigan SOS branch and which licensed program handle the in-car training and road test.
About this page
This Michigan drivers ed online page was written and reviewed by the ETS Traffic School content team. ETS Traffic School operates driver-education programs across the United States and maintains its course pages against current state requirements and Michigan Secretary of State guidance.
Sources consulted for this page:
- Michigan Secretary of State — New drivers (under 18) — Segment 1 and Segment 2 structure, Level 1/2/3 licensing, and supervised-practice requirements
- Michigan Secretary of State — Graduated Driver Licensing and Driver Education Requirements (PDF) — segment hours, Level 1/2/3 ages, supervised-driving and Segment 2 eligibility requirements
- Michigan SOS — Graduated Driver Licensing: A Guide for Parents (PDF, SOS-383) — parent-facing walkthrough of the GDL ladder and restrictions
- Michigan Compiled Laws — MCL 257.310e — the graduated-licensing statute: Level 1/2/3 ages, the 6-month Level 1 hold, 50 hours (10 at night), and Level 2 night/passenger restrictions
- Michigan Secretary of State — driver-education and licensing overview
This online course delivers the classroom portion of Michigan driver education for Segment 1 and Segment 2. The behind-the-wheel (in-car) instruction in each segment, the 50 hours of supervised practice (at least 10 at night), the Level 1 hold period, the segment road testing, and all Michigan SOS steps are separate requirements completed outside this course through a Michigan-licensed driver-education program. Confirm current requirements and your provider's segment setup with the Michigan SOS before relying on them for your teen's specific licensing step.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Next scheduled review: December 2026
Ready to enroll?
$49.00 — Michigan Drivers Ed Online for teens, covering the classroom portion of Segment 1 and Segment 2. Self-paced, mobile-friendly, course completion certificate delivered electronically. Preps the Level 1 learner's license knowledge test; the behind-the-wheel instruction and the 50 hours of supervised practice are completed separately in a vehicle through a Michigan-licensed program.
Enroll in the Michigan Drivers Ed for Teens course
Questions before you enroll? Check the ETS Traffic School support center or call our Michigan support line during business hours.