MI Driving Instructor exam-day guide
MI Driving Instructor · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Michigan driver's license or state ID
Bring your current, unexpired Michigan license or state ID. The testing provider must verify your identity before you can be admitted to the practical test, so confirm the exact ID requirements with the provider when you schedule.
Confirmation of your scheduled appointment
Have the appointment confirmation (email, text, or reference number) available. Arrive at the address and time on the confirmation, and confirm with the provider whether early arrival is required.
Payment for the test fee, if not prepaid
Ask the provider in advance which payment methods are accepted and whether the fee is due at booking or on test day. Do not assume cash is accepted.
Proof of completed prerequisite training or course certificate
If your pathway requires a completed instructor-preparation course or other prerequisite documentation, bring the certificate or proof the provider asks for. Confirm exactly what document is accepted with the provider.
A vehicle suitable for the practical assessment
Confirm with the provider whether you supply the vehicle or one is provided, and what condition and insurance it must be in. If you supply a vehicle, verify registration and insurance requirements in advance.
Valid vehicle registration and proof of insurance for the test vehicle
If you bring a vehicle, have current registration and proof of insurance inside it. Confirm with the provider whether these documents are checked and in what form.
Comfortable, professional clothing and closed-toe shoes
Dress as you would for a teaching job: neat, practical clothing that lets you sit, demonstrate, and move around a vehicle safely. Avoid anything that restricts movement or could interfere with pedals if you demonstrate.
Water and a light snack
The practical assessment can run long and may involve waiting. Bring water and a snack you can consume during permitted breaks. Confirm with the provider where food and drink are allowed.
Glasses, hearing aids, or other required corrective devices
If your license requires corrective lenses or another device, bring it and wear it. You may be asked to demonstrate that you meet the vision and hearing standards for an instructor.
A plan to get to the test site with buffer time
Identify the exact test location, parking, and entrance in advance. Build in extra time for traffic and check-in, and confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive late.
Knowledge of the scoring criteria and pass standard
Review the skills the assessment covers and how performance is judged. Ask the provider for the official scoring information rather than relying on secondhand descriptions.
A backup contact number for the provider
Save the provider's phone number and know their cancellation or rescheduling policy in case of illness, weather, or vehicle problems. Confirm the policy with the provider, including any fees.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's confirmation and candidate instructions line by line. Confirm the test address, arrival time, what to bring, and whether you supply a vehicle. Call the provider to resolve any ambiguity rather than guessing.
Do a full dry run of the practical skills with a supervising instructor or experienced colleague. Focus on the areas you are least confident about, such as commentary driving, hazard perception narration, or demonstrating a maneuver with a clear step-by-step explanation.
If you are supplying a vehicle, check that it is clean, fueled or charged, has working lights, signals, horn, mirrors, brakes, and seat belts, and that registration and insurance are current. Schedule any needed service now, not the day before.
Prepare your documents in one folder: ID, appointment confirmation, prerequisite certificates, and vehicle paperwork. Photograph the folder contents so you can verify nothing is missing.
Confirm the appointment one final time if the provider's instructions ask you to. Recheck the weather and traffic outlook and adjust your departure plan accordingly.
Do one short, low-stress practice session, then stop. Review your notes on teaching techniques, Michigan traffic law fundamentals, and how you will narrate your observations and decisions.
Lay out clothing, shoes, water, snack, and the document folder. Charge your phone and any devices. Get a full night's sleep; avoid last-minute cramming that increases anxiety.
Eat a normal meal, arrive with buffer time, and use the restroom before check-in. Leave distracting commitments out of the morning schedule.
Do a final document check against your photographed list. Verify the vehicle's fuel or charge, lights, and cleanliness if you are supplying it.
Introduce yourself, listen carefully to each instruction, and ask for clarification if an instruction is ambiguous. Examiners generally prefer a candidate who confirms understanding over one who guesses.
Drive and teach as you normally would, narrating hazards, observations, and decisions clearly. Manage mirrors, signals, speed, and following distance deliberately, and verbalize what you see and why it matters.
If you make a mistake, acknowledge it briefly and correct it calmly. Do not dwell on it or let it affect the next maneuver. Treat the assessment as a demonstration of professional composure.
Ask for and record the result and any feedback. If you did not pass, confirm the retake policy, waiting period, and fee with the provider before you leave.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired identification and present it when asked. The provider must confirm your identity before the practical test begins; confirm the accepted forms of ID with the provider in advance.
Follow the examiner's instructions exactly and ask for clarification when an instruction is unclear. Do not argue with the examiner during the test; raise concerns through the provider's formal process afterward.
Demonstrate safe vehicle handling at all times, including mirror checks, signaling, speed management, and following distance. Safety violations can end the assessment regardless of other performance.
Be honest about your qualifications and experience. Do not misrepresent completed training, and do not bring unauthorized materials or devices into the vehicle.
Use only breaks the provider permits, and confirm the break policy when you schedule. Do not leave the test site without telling the examiner.
Treat the examiner and other road users professionally and courteously. Aggressive driving, discourteous behavior, or unsafe actions are grounds for failure.
Understand that scoring is based on the provider's published criteria. Ask for the official scoring information rather than relying on informal accounts, and confirm the passing standard with the provider.
Confirm the cancellation, rescheduling, and no-show policies with the provider in writing. Policies, fees, and waiting periods vary, so verify rather than assume.