A red, eight-sided sign is posted at the corner. What does this shape mean?

Come to a complete stop and yield to traffic and pedestrians before going on

Warning: a hazard is ahead, continue at a reduced speed

Slow down and merge with cross traffic

A yellow, sideways pennant-shaped sign appears on the left side of the road. What is it telling you?

You are in a no-passing zone because passing would be hazardous

The road narrows to one lane on the left

You see a brown sign giving directions to a park. What does the brown color tell you?

It points to a place of recreation or cultural interest

It warns of a construction zone

It marks an emergency or unplanned event

It gives a legal rule you must obey

A white X-shaped sign reading RAILROAD CROSSING stands just before the tracks. What is it called and what does it mark?

A crossbuck, marking the place where the road crosses the railroad

A yield sign for trains leaving a station

A detour sign, marking a closed road

A no-parking sign for the track area

An orange diamond sign reads ROAD WORK AHEAD. What should you do?

Drive with care because construction or maintenance crews are working in the area

Speed up to get through the work area quickly

Ignore it unless you see a flagger

A school bus ahead of you stops with its red overhead lights flashing. How close may you stop to it?

You may pass slowly without stopping

You and another driver reach a four-way stop at the same moment. The other car is on your right. Who goes first?

The other car, because the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on its right

You, because you are on the left

Whoever is driving the larger vehicle

You approach a police car stopped on the shoulder with its lights flashing. What does Michigan law require?

Slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit and move over a lane if traffic and conditions allow

Keep your speed but turn on your hazard lights

Stop in your lane until the officer waves you on

How close to a fire hydrant may you park?

Anywhere, as long as you stay in the car

On a two-lane road, a solid yellow line runs on your side of the center line, next to a broken yellow line on the other side. Can you pass?

No, you must not cross the solid line on your side to pass

Yes, if no oncoming traffic is visible

Only if the car ahead is going under the limit

The lights are flashing at a railroad crossing because a train is coming. Where must you stop?

No more than 50 feet and no less than 15 feet from the tracks

100 feet or more from the tracks

At least 5 feet from the tracks

You are 20 and have just received your Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP). How long must you practice before the driving skills test?

You can take the skills test the same day

Which people must wear seat belts under Michigan law?

Everyone in the front seat, plus all passengers under 16 in any seat

You are using high beams on a dark road and a car approaches from the other direction. When must you dim your lights?

Before you are within 500 feet of the oncoming vehicle

Only when the other driver flashes you

You never need to dim on rural roads

A deer suddenly appears in your lane and a crash cannot be avoided. What does the manual advise?

Brake firmly, hold the wheel with both hands and stay in your lane

Flash your high beams and honk, then swerve

Speed up to hit it with less damage

Swerve hard into the oncoming lane

Michigan Permit Practice Test 2026 (Free, Explained)

Michigan Secretary of State knowledge test format

Michigan Secretary of State knowledge test	Official rule
Who takes the SOS knowledge test	Applicants 18 or older who have not been licensed in Michigan or any other state in the previous four years source
Test portions	Two portions you must both pass: "Operator" (about 45 minutes online) and "Signs" (about 15 minutes online) source
Number of questions and passing score	Not published by the Michigan Department of State; the test is multiple choice on basic traffic laws and safe vehicle operation source
Where to take it	At a computer testing station in a Secretary of State office (can be scheduled up to one hour before closing), or online at home for $6.50 (age 18 and older). The SOS page lists no separate fee for the office test; the $25 TIP fee is paid at the office source
Online test rules	Computer or laptop with keyboard and mouse (no touch screen) and a webcam that takes random photographs; the online test is identical to the office test source
If you fail	A failing score ends the testing process; you must reschedule and retake the test on a different day source
Result validity	A passed knowledge test is valid for one year; applying for a new TIP after the old one expired means taking the test again source
Languages	English and a number of foreign languages, in both audio and written formats source
Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP)	$25; valid 180 days; at least 30 days of supervised practice with a licensed adult before the driving skills test source
License fee (18+)	Standard driver's license $25; enhanced driver's license $45 source
Teens under 18	Segment 1 driver education from age 14 years 8 months, with at least 70% on the Segment 1 state exam, then a Level 1 Learner's License at an SOS office with a parent or guardian (vision test, documents, photo and $25 fee; the SOS does not list an office knowledge test for this step) source
Supervised driving (teens)	50 hours, including 10 at night, logged before the driving skills test; Level 1 held at least 6 months source
Level 2 Intermediate License	From age 16; no driving 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and no more than one passenger under 21, with listed exceptions source
Probation	All new drivers are on probation for at least three years; the last 10 months must be free of at-fault crashes, suspensions and traffic convictions source
Study manual	What Every Driver Must Know (SOS-133, October 2025 edition), free to download in English and several other languages source

Checked on the official sources on September 30, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before test day.

Michigan has no DMV: it is the Secretary of State

In Michigan, driver's licenses, permits and knowledge tests are handled by the Michigan Department of State, usually called the Secretary of State (SOS), through its branch offices and online services. If you search for the "Michigan DMV test", this is the test you mean: the SOS written knowledge test, which includes a road sign test and must be passed before you can get a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP).

How you meet the knowledge requirement depends on your age:

18 and older, never licensed (or not licensed in any state in the previous four years): you take the SOS knowledge test online or at an SOS office, then get a TIP.
Under 18: you go through Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL). Your knowledge is tested in driver education: you need at least 70% on the Segment 1 state exam to pass the course.

The adult knowledge test: format

	Michigan SOS knowledge test (18+)
Portions	Two: "Operator" and "Signs", and you must pass both
Time (online)	About 45 minutes for Operator, about 15 minutes for Signs
Question type	Multiple choice, on basic traffic laws and safe vehicle operation
Number of questions / pass mark	Not published by the Michigan Department of State
Cost	$6.50 online; the SOS page lists no separate fee for the office test (you pay the $25 TIP fee at the office)
Languages	English and a number of foreign languages, audio and written
Result valid for	One year

The SOS does not publish how many questions are on the test or the passing score, so be careful with websites that quote exact numbers. What it does state is that a failing score ends the testing process and you must reschedule to take the test again on a different day.

Online or in an office

Online (18 and older): the online test is identical to the office test. You need a computer or laptop with a keyboard and mouse (no touch screen) and a webcam that takes random photos to monitor for testing violations. You get an email telling you whether you passed, and then you schedule an SOS office visit. The $6.50 fee is charged even if you are not eligible, so do not take it if your driving privileges are suspended, revoked or denied.
In an office: the test is taken at a computer testing station and can be scheduled up to one hour before closing time. The manual gives the same advice: arrive at least one hour before closing to have enough time.

If you have difficulty speaking or reading English, foreign language interpreters may be used on all written tests except CDL knowledge tests; call 888-SOS-MICH for the list.

Step by step for adults (18 and older)

Study What Every Driver Must Know (edition dated October 2025). The SOS points to chapters 4 to 7 especially, plus the Driving Skills Test Study Guide.
Pass the knowledge test online or at an office.
Visit an SOS office (pre-apply when you book): pass the vision test, bring proof of Social Security number, legal presence, identity and Michigan residency, and pay the $25 TIP fee.
Practice for at least 30 days with a licensed adult. The TIP is valid for 180 days; if you do not pass the skills test within that time, the whole process starts over.
Pass the driving skills test with an independent driver testing business. The SOS does not regulate their fees, so ask about retest and cancellation charges. Only one driving skills test may be taken in a 24-hour period.
Get your license. A standard license costs $25 and an enhanced license $45. You are then on probation for at least three years, and the last 10 months must be free of at-fault crashes, suspensions and traffic convictions.

Step by step for teens (Graduated Driver Licensing)

Segment 1 from age 14 years 8 months, with a parent's permission: at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours behind the wheel and 4 hours of observation, and at least 70% on the Segment 1 state exam.
Level 1 Learner's License (the manual sets the minimum age at 14 years 9 months): visit an SOS office with a parent or guardian, pass the vision test, bring your documents and pay $25. You drive only with a licensed parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older.
Segment 2 after 30 logged hours (2 at night) and three months with Level 1: at least 6 hours of classroom instruction and 70% on the Segment 2 state exam.
Driving skills test after 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night, with Level 1 held for at least six months and no violations in the last 90 days.
Level 2 Intermediate License from age 16: no driving from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and no more than one passenger under 21, unless an exception applies (a licensed adult 21 or older with you, work, or an authorized activity; the passenger limit does not apply to immediate family).
Level 3 Full License from age 17, after six months with Level 2 and 12 consecutive months without violations or at-fault crashes. It is issued automatically at no fee.

Under Kelsey's Law, Level 1 and Level 2 drivers may not use a phone while driving except for emergencies.

Michigan rules that come up often

These points come from What Every Driver Must Know:

Speed: 55 mph unless posted on non-freeway roads, 70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum on freeways unless posted, 25 mph in platted subdivisions, and 45 mph in posted work zones.
School buses: stop at least 20 feet away when the red overhead lights flash. You do not stop on the other side of a highway divided by a barrier or median.
Stopped emergency vehicles: slow down at least 10 mph below the limit and move over a lane if you can. Stay at least 500 feet behind a moving emergency vehicle using its lights and siren.
Railroad crossings: when a train is coming, stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the tracks.
Bicyclists: leave at least 3 feet when passing.
Phones: hand-held use is illegal for all drivers; the fine is $100 for a first offense and $250 after that.
Michigan Lefts: at some divided highways you do not turn left at the intersection. You go straight or turn right, then make a U-turn at the median crossover.

How to prepare

Read chapters 4 to 7 of the manual from start to finish, then work through the manual's traffic sign challenge until you can name each of the 54 signs from its shape and color alone. The Signs portion is separate and you must pass it too, so do not treat signs as an afterthought. Make one page of numbers (20 feet, 500 feet, 15 to 50 feet, 3 feet, 30 feet from a stop sign, 15 feet from a hydrant) and review it before the test. The manual's free 10-question sample test is a good first check.

Our practice questions are original, written from the current manual and the SOS pages, and each explanation points to the chapter it comes from. They are for practice and do not replace the manual. The Secretary of State decides what is on your test.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the DMV or the Secretary of State in Michigan?

Michigan does not have a DMV. Driver's licenses, permits and knowledge tests are handled by the Michigan Department of State, known as the Secretary of State (SOS), through its branch offices and online services. Source

Do teens take the knowledge test at a Secretary of State office?

The SOS does not list a separate office knowledge test for teens. Teens under 18 go through Graduated Driver Licensing. They must score at least 70% on the Segment 1 state exam to pass their Segment 1 driver education course, then visit an SOS office with a parent or guardian to pass a vision test and apply for the Level 1 Learner's License. Source

Can I take the Michigan knowledge test online?

Yes, if you are 18 or older. The online test is identical to the office test, costs $6.50, needs a computer or laptop with keyboard, mouse and webcam, and has two portions: Operator (about 45 minutes) and Signs (about 15 minutes). After passing, you schedule an SOS office visit. Source

How many questions are on the test and what score do I need?

The Michigan Department of State does not publish the number of questions or the passing score for the adult knowledge test. It states that the test is multiple choice, includes a road sign test, and that both the Operator and Signs portions must be passed. Source

What happens if I fail?

A failing score ends the testing process. You must reschedule and take the test again on a different day. Source

Which chapters should I study?

The SOS encourages applicants to review What Every Driver Must Know, especially chapters 4 to 7 (traffic laws; signs, pavement markings and signals; sharing the road; emergencies and special situations), and the Driving Skills Test Study Guide. Source

How long must I hold my permit before the road test?

Adults must practice with a TIP for at least 30 days before the driving skills test; the TIP is valid for 180 days. Teens must hold the Level 1 Learner's License for at least six months and log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night. Source

Other states and road signs

California permit practice test

California DMV

Texas permit practice test

Texas Department of Public Safety

Florida permit practice test

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)

New York permit practice test

New York State DMV

Pennsylvania permit practice test

PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services

Ohio permit practice test

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

North Carolina permit practice test

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)

Georgia permit practice test

Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)

New Jersey permit practice test

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC)

Virginia permit practice test

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Illinois permit practice test

Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services

Tennessee permit practice test

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services

Road signs practice test

Shapes, colors and meanings

Sources

What Every Driver Must Know (SOS-133, Rev. 10/2025, published October 2025, 92-page PDF) — Michigan Department of State (checked September 30, 2026)
New drivers (18 and older) — Michigan Department of State (checked September 30, 2026)
New drivers (under 18) — Michigan Department of State (checked September 30, 2026)
License and ID FAQs — Michigan Department of State (checked September 30, 2026)
What Every Driver Must Know (download page, English and translated editions) — Michigan Department of State (checked September 30, 2026)

Michigan has no "DMV": driver licensing is handled by the Michigan Department of State, known as the Secretary of State (SOS). passmock is an independent practice resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Michigan Department of State. Our questions are original practice questions written from the official test description and study materials; they are not questions from the real test.

Michigan permit practice test

Free Michigan Secretary of State knowledge test practice test (20 questions)