Updated on July 15,2021
As of 2019, Michigan ranks in the top 10 states for licensed drivers in the U.S. with over 7 million licensed residents. Surprisingly, among those over 7 million licensed drivers, only 2,831,499 vehicles were registered in 2019. The lack of vehicle registrations could be because of successful public transportation. The Great Lake State is home to 82 transportation systems, 21 of those working in the inner cities. Regardless of if you use public transportation or your own vehicle, you should have a state ID. Keep reading to learn more about driving in Michigan!
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Michigan Driver’s License Renewal Guide
What do I need and how do I renew my Michigan driver’s license? Good questions.
If your Michigan driver’s license is nearly expired, it’s important to get it renewed before the expiration date. The Michigan drivers license renewal process is relatively simple, but there are some things you should know beforehand, including how you can renew, what you’ll need, and how much it costs.
This guide was created to clearly explain how to renew a Michigan driver’s license.
How to Renew Your Michigan Driver’s License
In the state of Michigan, you can renew your driver’s license online, in person, or by mail. When you receive your renewal notice from the Secretary of State, it will explain your options for renewing your driver’s license.
If you renewed your license by mail last time, you’ll need to renew it in person this time, as the Michigan Secretary of State requires in-person renewal every 8 years. An enhanced driver’s license can never be renewed online.
Renewing an Expired License in Michigan
Your Michigan driver’s license will expire every 4 years on your birthday.
There is one exception to this rule. If you’re under 21, your Michigan driver’s license will expire on your 21st birthday regardless of when you got it.
Renewing your license before it expires is important because renewal requirements change based on whether your license is valid, expired, suspended or lost.
Required License Renewal Forms and Documentation
The Michigan license renewal process changes depending on how you’re renewing.
When you renew online, all you have to do is fill out some basic information, such as eye color and date of birth, and pay the renewal fee. If you’re renewing by mail, you simply have to fill out and sign your renewal notice and pay the renewal fee by mail. Renewing in person is also a pretty simple process.
All you have to do is bring your current license or another form of identification and your social security number, take a vision exam and a photo, and pay the Michigan drivers license renewal fee.
Michigan License Renewal Fees
The fee for renewing your driver’s license in Michigan is actually very reasonable. To renew a standard license, it will only cost you $18. However, there will be a $7 late fee added on if you don’t renew your license in time.
If you have a chauffeur’s license, commercial license, or moped or motorcycle license, the renewal fee will change. You can view a complete list of fees on the Michigan Secretary of State website.
Replacing a Lost or Stolen Driver’s License
Most of the information above only applies if you’re renewing your license on time. The process for how to renew a Michigan drivers license changes a bit when you’re renewing with special conditions, including if your license is expired, enhanced, suspended, or lost or stolen.
If you happen to lose your license and need a replacement, you’ll have to provide additional forms of identification.
Acceptable forms of identification in this case include a U.S. Military ID card, a government-issued ID card, or a U.S. passport. If you know your driver’s license number, you can renew online without having to show proof of identification.
For drivers with a suspended license, all fees must be paid for your license to be reinstated.
You’ll also need to provide proof of your address, your identity, and a legal presence document. The standard reinstatement fee is $125.
An expired license can still be renewed, but you have to pay a $7 late renewal fee. However, if your license has been expired for 4 or more years, Michigan license renewal laws require you to retake both the written and driving portions of your test.
Check Driver’s License Status in Michigan
To check the status of your license, you can get a copy of your driving record from the Michigan Secretary of State.