Michigan's new driver's licenses and IDs with higher security features are now in circulation. Residents will receive the new license or ID design if applying for their first card or when renewing/replacing their current card. There is no additional cost for the new card and all valid features, designations, and endorsements on a current license or ID will transfer to the new one. Michigan's old card design featuring the Mackinac Bridge is valid until expiration and will phase out over the next five years.
To receive your first-time REAL ID-compliant license or ID, an office visit and further documentation are required.
Unlike a standard Michigan license or ID, an enhanced license or ID can be used in place of a U.S. passport to re-enter the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean.
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You are required to provide one of the following legal presence documents:
Documents may need to be verified by the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) System.
As part of your enhanced license or ID application, you will be asked a series of questions about your legal presence document.
If your legal name is different from what is on your birth certificate or legal presence document, you must show official proof of the name change with at least one of the following documents:
If you’ve changed your name several times, provide documentation for each legal name change.
You are required to provide one of the following documents:
If you don’t have one of the previously listed documents, you can provide an official document with your full name and Social Security number for staff to review.
Please note: You may be required to correct your information with the Social Security Administration before applying for a license or ID.
If you were not previously issued a Michigan photo driver's license or ID card, you are required to provide one of the following documents:
You are required to provide two of the following documents:
If you don’t have one of the previously listed documents, you can provide an official document with your full name and address for staff to review.
At your Secretary of State office visit, provide payment for your enhanced driver’s license or ID using cash, check, money order, or credit or debit card. Additional fees apply to credit and debit transactions.
First License or ID Card
Enhanced Driver's License - $45
Enhanced Chauffeur License - $50
Enhanced State ID Card - $30
Enhanced State ID Card (Blind or 65+) - $20 Renewing
Enhanced Driver's License - $38 (Late renewal - $45)
Enhanced Chauffeur License - $43 (Late renewal - $50)
Enhanced State ID Card - $30
Enhanced State ID (Blind or 65+) - $20 Correcting or Replacing
Enhanced Driver's License - $24
Enhanced Driver's License - Adding CDL - $33
Enhanced Chauffeur License - $33
Enhanced State ID Card - $30
Enhanced State ID (Blind or 65+) - $20
Like standard licenses and IDs, most enhanced licenses and IDs can be renewed online, by mail, or at a self-service station, if a new photo isn’t required.
Most residents only need to renew their license or ID at a Secretary of State’s office every 12 years to take a new photo.
I have an enhanced driver’s license, but it doesn’t have a star. Is it REAL ID-compliant?All enhanced driver's licenses and enhanced IDs are automatically REAL ID-compliant with or without the star because they already meet the high security standards of the REAL ID Act. Enhanced licenses and IDs without a star will automatically be printed with one the next time they are renewed or replaced. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, TSA agents at airports will recognize enhanced licenses or enhanced IDs as valid REAL ID documents, even without the star.
What is the RFID chip on my enhanced license or ID?Your enhanced license or ID contains a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip to facilitate border crossings and homeland security efforts.
The chip is part of the Radio Frequency Identification security system, which is a wireless technology that stores and retrieves data remotely. The RFID chip doesn’t include any personal information, just a unique reference number.
The unique reference number assigned to your RFID chip allows the Customs and Border Protection agent to verify your identity and citizenship quickly and accurately. When you enter the U.S. by land or sea, your unique RFID number will be referenced against a secured database to verify your identity for border-crossing purposes.
The unique reference number is only activated when read by an RFID scanner.
Enhanced licenses and IDs will be mailed with a special sleeve that can be used to store the card. The sleeve shields your enhanced license or ID from unauthorized RFID readers. When you need to access your enhanced license or ID, remove it from its protective sleeve. Keep your card in its sleeve when not in use.
Do I need to pass any written knowledge or driving skills tests to get an enhanced driver's license?Not if you already have a valid Michigan driver's license or a valid license from another state. Testing is only required if: a. You have never been licensed before b. You have a medical or physical condition that indicates further evaluation is warranted c. You are applying for a chauffeur or commercial driver license (CDL) or to add CDL group designators d. You have an expired license from another state e. Your Michigan license has been expired more than four years