Who needs a Michigan chauffeur's license?
People hired to drive vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more, to carry passengers or property for hire, or to drive a bus or school bus. Taxi and limousine driving falls under it. Farmers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel are exempt.[1]
How do you get one?
Pass the written chauffeur knowledge test and a vision test, prove legal presence, Social Security number, identity and Michigan residency, and pay the $35 fee. A driving skills test is only needed if you have never been licensed. The minimum age is 16; drivers aged 16 to 18 need driver education segments 1 and 2 and a Graduated Driver License Level 2 or 3.[1]
Is a medical card or CDL also needed?
A medical examiner's certificate is needed for vehicles rated at 10,001 pounds or more, and some larger passenger vehicles need a commercial driver license as well as, or instead of, the chauffeur's license.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Michigan chauffeur's license?
$35, after the written chauffeur knowledge test and a vision test; an enhanced version costs $50.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] Michigan Secretary of State: Chauffeur's license (read 8 Nov 2026)
