Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for Michigan, United States

If you plan to explore Michigan or “the Wolverine State” on a motorcycle, you will first have to become familiar with how to operate the vehicle. With enough practice, research, and guidance, you will be able to handle a motorcycle like a pro. But getting used to the controls is just a small part of being a rider. There are regulations about the rules of the road, proper motorcyclist behavior, and vehicle maintenance that need to be memorized as well. The regulations in Michigan may differ if you hail from another region of the United States.

You are required to purchase Michigan motorcycle insurance before you are allowed to operate a motorcycle. As motorcycles are excluded from Michigan’s no-fault law, you need to acquire liability insurance coverage to help provide monetary compensation for any injuries or damages to other parties. You need to carry documentation showing that you do indeed have insurance whenever you take your motorcycle onto the road.

Though Michigan motorcycle insurance is capable of providing financial aid for multiple scenarios that can occur during a crash, the only two that you need are coverage for bodily injuries and property damages:

• $50,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident

• $100,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $10,000 for property damages sustained per accident

To obtain financial protection for your health and property, other types of motorcycle insurance may be necessary. Keep in mind, the following are optional so you do need to pay for such coverage if it is too costly for you:

• Collision coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

• Medical payments coverage

Riders and passengers under 21 are required to put on a motorcycle helmet. You are only legally permitted to ride without a motorcycle helmet if you satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old

• Own at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits insurance 

• Have held a motorcycle endorsement for two years

• Or completed an approved motorcycle safety course

Motorcycle helmets that have been crash-tested and were passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation are half, three-quarter, and full-face helmets.

Because Michigan takes a more liberal approach when it comes to adults wearing motorcycle helmets, motorcyclists have greater freedom when deciding what protective gear to wear while on their vehicles. Unfortunately, as recent statistics have shown, this has led to a rise in motorcycle fatalities in Mihigan:

• Since 2012, the average number of motorcycle fatalities has steadily increased by 18.8%

• Between 2019 to 2020, there was a 25% increase in motorcycle fatalities

• In 2019, there were about 122 motorcycle fatalities

• In 2020, there were about 152 motorcycle fatalities

Listed in this comparison chart are the features that the different protective headgear have or lack that help with safety and convenience:

Once you have turned the age of 16, you can head over to the nearest DMV to pay at least $16 to be granted a Michigan Temporary Instruction Permit.

Besides the fee, you also have to have certain documents ready and complete a few tests before you can receive the permit:

• Have a valid Michigan driver’s license

• Provide your social security number

• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship

• Provide proof of residency in Michigan

• Pass the knowledge test

• Pass the vision test

• Pay the required fees

For teenagers or first-time motorcyclists, it can be dangerous even when practicing how to ride a motorcycle. Thus, you should only ride under the following conditions:

• You must have the permit on your person

• You must be supervised by at least an 18-year-old with a valid motorcycle endorsement

• You can only operate during daylight hours

• You are not allowed to carry passengers

Once you have turned the age of 16, you can get a Michigan motorcycle endorsement added to a valid driver’s license if you can produce at least $16.

Listed below are the requirements you need to fulfill to prove that you are ready for a Michigan motorcycle endorsement:

*For applicants that are at least the age of 18, you can obtain your motorcycle endorsement by either taking the motorcycle license test after holding onto the Temporary Instruction Permit for the required amount of time or completing an approved motorcycle rider education course which allows you to waive the skills test. 

Written Portion:

• Will be completed on touch-screen computers

• Complete 20 multiple-choice questions

• Questions will be based on content from Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual

• Requires a passing grade of 80% or higher

Riding Portion:

• Will be conducted in a controlled, off-street area

• You must be wearing a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet

• Your motorcycle will be subjected to a pre-ride inspection to confirm it meets safety standards

• Provide proof of your vehicle being registered 

• Demonstrate basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on your ability to execute the following maneuvers: cone weave, normal stop, U-Turn, quick stop, and obstacle swerve 

• The examiner will access your score every time you stall the engine during an exercise

In Michigan, individuals allowed to ride as passengers do not have to be within a set age range. Unless your motorcycle has a passenger pillion, footrests, and handholds that are quality safety standards, it is considered illegal to have a passenger on board.

You are not allowed to carry more than two people on your motorcycle at a time, including yourself. You can only position the motorcycle passenger seat in the following locations:

• At the back of a large driver’s seat

• Towards the rear with a separate saddle

• Fixed to the side as a sidecar

If your passenger is over the age of 21 and owns at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits insurance, he/she is not required to wear a motorcycle helmet. In general, when determining who can ride with you on the motorcycle, the passenger must be able to:

• Reach the footrests

• Wear an approved motorcycle helmet

• Refrain from carrying any packages

• Understand and follow your directions

• Transport one other person

Due to being a cause of injury and/or death for motorcyclists, lane splitting is not permitted in Michigan. Because motorcycles are much less durable than cars or trucks, riders have to take extra care not to drive dangerously. Lane splitting encompasses these sorts of maneuvers:

• You cannot ride on top of the dividing lines between lanes

• You cannot ride in between adjacent rows of vehicles that are stopped

• You cannot overtake another vehicle sharing the same lane 

• You cannot share the same lane with another vehicle

Being the owner of a motorcycle means it is your responsibility to provide maintenance to your vehicle and ensure it functions properly while on the road. Most riders only check on their motorcycle when there are signs of faulty machinery, but it is better to inspect your motorcycle’s condition every time before you embark. It would be bad for your health if a primary component experiences mechanical failure while you are moving at high speed. You can also be subject to fines issued by the police if there are visible signs of faulty equipment.

• Horn

• Permanently Attached Seat

• Wheels

• Tires

• Handlebars 

•  Front and Rear Brakes 

• Controls

• Headlight

•  Taillight 

•  Stoplight 

• Exhaust System

•  Muffler 

•  Rearview Mirror 

• Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual
• Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Quick Facts
• Motorcycle Helmet Use in Michigan
• Michigan Legislature - Michigan Vehicle Code - Section 257.306
• Michigan Legislature - Michigan Vehicle Code - Section 257.309
• Michigan Legislature - Michigan Vehicle Code - Section 257.312a
• Michigan - Motorcycle Rider
• Michigan - Motorcycle Legislative Highlights
• Michigan - Driver’s License Fees
• Michigan - Motorcycle Temporary Instruction Permit
• Michigan - Temporary Instruction Permits