Driving in Michigan: licenses, rental cars and the rules of the road

EXIT01Your license

Can you drive on your own license?

Good news: Michigan doesn’t ask visitors for a local license. The law checks two things: whether your country is on the state’s treaty list, and whether your license has English on it. Pick your country and we’ll show you exactly what applies. We work from the state’s own list, and the statute itself ↗ is one click away.

Which country issued your license?

Popular picks

The treaty and non-treaty lists come from the Michigan Secretary of State’s tip sheet for police officers. The list hasn’t been updated in a few years: Croatia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Brunei and Bahrain have joined the Geneva road traffic convention since. If you’re from one of them, keep your passport on you too and there’s nothing to argue about.

Japan

Yes, together with an International Driving Permit

Your country is on Michigan’s treaty list, so you can drive on your own license without proving your legal presence. Because your card has no English translation, you also need a valid International Driving Permit.

International Driving Permit: Required. State law says you must carry a valid International Driving Permit with your license. Get it before you leave: the United States doesn’t issue them to visitors.
For how long?: As long as you’re visiting: Michigan law sets no time limit. After a year of continuous stay the Geneva convention no longer guarantees the right, and anyone who moves here needs a Michigan license.
Always on you: Your physical license, your passport and your I-94 entry record (on your phone or printed): federal rules say non-citizens 18 and over must carry it at all times.
If you move here: You’ll need a Michigan license, and a written test and road test may be waiting for you. Only Canadian, German and South Korean licenses are swapped without tests.

Japan is on Michigan’s list of treaty countries: its licenses are honored here under an international road traffic agreement.

Keep these on you whenever you drive

Your own license
The valid physical card, on you whenever you drive. A photo on your phone is not the same thing.⁸
International Driving Permit
If your license has no English on it. It’s only a translation: it never replaces your license, it always travels with it.⁸⁹
Passport and I-94
Non-citizens 18 and over must carry proof of registration at all times, and for visitors that’s the I-94 entry record: on your phone or printed out both work. Since April 2025 this is taken seriously, with fines of up to $5,000. Keep your passport with it too; the rental counter will want it.^1011121314
Registration and insurance
At a traffic stop the officer asks for these two along with your license, and both may be on paper or on your phone. In a rental, check where they are before you drive off, and keep the rental agreement handy: it shows you’re an authorized driver.¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷

Driving on a European license?

Get your International Driving Permit before you fly

You can’t get one in the United States, not even at a consulate, so sort it out before you leave. The U.S. is a party only to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so ask for the 1949-format permit. The UK government lists the U.S. as a 1949 country, and Italy, the Netherlands and Poland give the same advice.^{1819202122232425}

At home, at the licensing officeBring your license and photos. In Hungary a government office (Kormányablak) issues it on the spot; in the Netherlands any ANWB shop does.²⁶²⁴
A small feeIn Hungary it costs 5,000 forints since February 2025; elsewhere it’s a similarly small fee.²⁷
The 1949 format, one yearAsk for the 1949 Geneva format. It’s valid for one year; the 1968 Vienna version lasts three, but the U.S. never joined that convention.²⁶
Always with your licenseThe permit is only a translation and worthless on its own. Your plastic card has to be with it.²⁶¹⁸

The rental counter can be stricter than the law

Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty want a passport in the same name with any foreign license, and Thrifty requires an IDP for a non-English one. Enterprise and Alamo only recommend an IDP for Latin-alphabet licenses but require it for Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese and other scripts.^14282930

Personal driving only

The foreign-license exemption covers passenger cars and unpaid driving. If you’re paid to drive, you need a Michigan license.⁸

Who counts as a Michigan resident?

Someone who lives here and can show legal presence in the United States. Once you’ve moved in, apply for a Michigan license with proof of your Social Security number, legal presence, identity and Michigan address.³¹¹⁵

Moved here? Getting a Michigan license

With most foreign licenses (Canada, Germany and South Korea excepted) it’s a knowledge test, a 180-day instruction permit, at least 30 days of practice and a road test. No Social Security number? A Social Security ineligibility letter under 60 days old works.¹⁵

EXIT02Rental car

What to watch for at the rental counter

Neither DTW terminal has rental counters: every company sits at the rental car campus on Lucas Drive, in the airport’s northeast corner, reached by free shuttle. And Michigan is special: along with New York it’s the only state where you can rent at 18. Here’s the route step by step, plus a decoder for the counter so you don’t pay for what you don’t need.

A rental car shuttle at Detroit Metro Airport · Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0

I-94 eastbound in Detroit, approaching exit 216A · Wikihelp7586 · CC BY-SA 4.0

I-75 signs for the Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges at dusk · 42-BRT · CC BY-SA 4.0

Shuttle stop in the parking garageAt McNamara (Delta) the rental shuttles leave from the Ground Transportation Center in the parking garage; at Evans, from the one under the Big Blue Deck. Follow the “Rental Car Shuttles” signs.³²³³
Ten companies, one campusOn-airport: Alamo, American RAC, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty. Off-airport companies run their own shuttles from separate signed stops.³²
At the counter: license, passport, credit cardAs a visitor you’ll show your passport with your license, and a real credit card in your own name. Debit cards at the airport are much harder: they want a return ticket, two IDs and a bigger hold.^14342935
The deposit: from $200 upOn top of the rental, a deposit is held on your card: at Enterprise airport locations $200 to $850 depending on the location and car class. Count it against your limit until you fly home.³⁶
Return: same placeHeading home, drive back to Lucas Drive, drop the keys, and the shuttle takes you to your terminal. Leave extra time, especially in the morning rush.³²

Counter-speak, decoded: flip a card

The acronyms the agent will throw at you. Tap one before you sign.

³⁷³⁸
³⁸
³⁸
³⁸
³⁹
³⁹
³⁹⁴⁰
⁴¹¹

You can rent at 18

Most states say 21; Michigan and New York say 18. Under-25s pay a daily surcharge: at Enterprise and National $34 a day at 18–20 and $15.50 at 21–24.^4243444546

Second driver

At Enterprise it’s $15 a day, but a spouse or domestic partner who meets the age and license rules drives free. Every driver has to show a license at the counter.⁴⁷²⁸

Heading over to Canada?

Most big companies allow it, but tell the counter: ask for the Canadian Non-Resident Insurance Card, and everyone in the car needs a passport. Mexico is off-limits almost everywhere.⁴⁸⁴⁹⁵⁰

Michigan’s minimum coverage

Since the 2019–2020 reform the lowest liability you can buy is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash; the default is five times that. If the rental’s limits are low, extra liability is worth a look.³⁹

EXIT03Driving in

Driving in from Canada or a neighboring state?

Three crossings lead from Canada into Detroit, all tolled. Inside Michigan, though, there isn’t a single toll freeway and no vignette: you only pay on bridges and in the tunnel. Below, live border waits and how long the drive takes from nearby cities.

The border right now, by car

Crossing	Into the US	Into Canada
Gordie Howe Bridge	no wait	no wait
Ambassador Bridge	no wait	no wait
Tunnel	no wait	no wait

Wait times come from U.S. (CBP) and Canadian (CBSA) border agencies and refresh every few minutes. Everything about the new bridge is in our Gordie Howe Bridge guide.

Visa Waiver visitors: an approved ESTA is required at land borders too (since October 2022); it costs $40.27 in 2026.⁵¹⁵²⁵³
I-94 at a land border: $30, electronic only; apply ahead on the CBP website or in the CBP Home app.⁵³⁵¹
U.S. citizens: passport, passport card, NEXUS or an Enhanced Driver’s License; a standard REAL ID license isn’t enough.⁵⁴⁵⁵
Cannabis: never across the border, even though it’s legal on both sides.¹⁵

How far is Detroit?

From	Route	Distance	Drive time
Chicago	I-94	282 mi454 km	about 5 h 20 min
Toronto	401 → Windsor	233 mi375 km	about 4 h 30 min
Niagara Falls, Ontario	QEW → 401	237 mi381 km	about 4 h 40 min
Cleveland	I-90 → I-75	169 mi272 km	about 3 h 15 min
Columbus	US-23 → I-75	187 mi301 km	about 4 h
Indianapolis	I-69 → I-94	278 mi447 km	about 5 h 30 min
Grand Rapids	I-96	158 mi254 km	about 3 h
Mackinaw City	I-75	290 mi467 km	about 5 h

Distances and times from the open-source OSRM router, with no traffic or stops. Add plenty at rush hour and in winter.

A vignette? No such thing.

Michigan has no toll freeways, only toll bridges and one tunnel. On the way in, Ohio and Indiana have toll roads where E-ZPass beats paying by card.

Gordie Howe Bridge$5.75 / C$8Open since July 27, 2026, the third Detroit–Windsor crossing. Cards are charged the Canadian rate.⁶⁴⁶⁵⁶⁶
Ambassador Bridge$10From August 1, 2026, with E-ZPass, card or U.S. cash; more in Canadian cash.⁶⁷
Detroit–Windsor Tunnel$9$9 Detroit to Windsor, C$8.25 back. No motorcycles or bikes.⁶⁸
Mackinac Bridge$4The bridge to the north. Scared of heights? For $10 plus the toll, staff will drive your car across for you.³⁴
Blue Water Bridge (Port Huron)$5$5 per car into Canada, cards only, since December 2025.⁶⁹
Ohio Turnpike (I-80/90)$19–28Full length by car: $19 with E-ZPass, $27.75 by card; E-ZPass saves about a third.⁷⁰

EXIT04Speed

How fast can you go, and what is that in km/h?

American dashboards put miles first, with km/h at most on the small inner ring. Tap a road type and the needle shows you the limit, in both units. One rule applies everywhere: the posted number is a ceiling, and in bad weather or heavy traffic you’re expected to go slower, because the law asks for a “careful and prudent” speed.

70 mph (113 km/h) on most freeways unless posted otherwise, and there’s a minimum too: 55 mph (89 km/h). School buses and trucks top out at 65 mph.¹⁵

Speeding: how many points?

Over the limit by	Points	Points on a 55+ freeway
1–5 mph	1	0
6–10 mph	2	1
11–15 mph	3	2
16–25 mph	4	3
26 mph or more	4	4

Work zones cost more: 3 points up to 10 over, 4 up to 15, 5 beyond. Each court sets its own fine schedule; the default civil fine is capped at $100 plus up to $100 in costs. Points stay for two years, and 12 in two years gets you called in for re-examination. A foreign license won’t save you: after a conviction the state opens its own record on you, with the same fines and restrictions as anyone else.^747576158

Michigan vs. Hungary, in km/h

Freeway113 130 km/h
Rural highway89 90 km/h
Residential street40 50 km/h

MichiganHungary

Michigan figures are the unposted defaults (70, 55 and 25 mph); the Hungarian ones are the national limits for motorways, rural roads and built-up areas.¹⁵⁷⁷

Converter: miles, gallons, Fahrenheit and friends

Speedmph113km/hDistancemi16.1kmFuelgal45.4lTemperature°F-2.2°CTire pressurepsi2.41barFeetft152m

EXIT05Rules of the road

What’s legal here that isn’t back home (and the other way around)

Most rules match home, but a few make European drivers freeze the first time: right on red, the four-way stop where arrival order decides, and of course the Michigan left. Here they are drawn out, so you’re not figuring it out in the middle of the intersection.

On the boulevard and want to go left

1Go straight through the intersection in the inside lane.
2Make a U-turn at the crossover in the median.
3Head back to the intersection, turn right, and you’re there.

Coming up the side street and want to go left

1Stop, then turn right onto the boulevard.
2Make a U-turn at the crossover in the median.
3Head back straight through the intersection: that was your left turn.

Michigan left

Turning left? Go straight, then pull a U-turn.

On wide boulevards with a grassy median, many intersections simply don’t allow left turns. You drive through, U-turn at a median crossover a little farther on, then turn right when you’re back at the intersection. Weird the first time, second nature by the third. And it pays off: MDOT says these intersections often see 30 to 60 percent fewer crashes and move 20 to 50 percent more cars.

What you can’t do: turn left right at the intersection, from either road.

Illustration, not a map of a real intersection.

Lit no-left-turn signs and a Michigan left guide sign in East Lansing · Shadowlink1014 · Public domain

Late 1960sPart of Michigan’s roads ever since, and more states are adopting it.¹⁵
30–60%Fewer crashes, says MDOT, with 20 to 50 percent more cars getting through.⁷⁸
On redIf the crossover has its own signal, you may still U-turn on red when traffic is clear.⁷⁹
One carIn an unmarked crossover one car turns at a time; the extra width is for trucks, not for turning side by side.¹⁵

Right on red

You may turn right on a red light after a complete stop, once pedestrians and cross traffic are clear, unless a “No Turn on Red” sign says otherwise.⁸⁰⁷⁷

Back in EuropeIn most of Europe only a green filter arrow allows this.

Left on red, onto a one-way

From a one-way onto a one-way, and even from a two-way street onto a one-way, you may turn left on red: stop completely, check traffic from the right, and yield to oncoming cars turning right.¹⁵

Back in EuropeNot something you’ll see back home.

Four-way stop: first come, first go

When every corner has a STOP sign (often with “ALL WAY” below), whoever stopped first goes first. Arrive together and the car on the left yields to the car on the right. Same rule when a traffic light is out.¹⁵

Back in EuropeBack home signs assign priority; here arrival order does.

Roundabouts

Traffic runs counterclockwise and you yield to vehicles coming from your left as you enter. Inside you have the right of way, don’t change lanes, and if you hear a siren don’t stop in the circle: leave at the next exit and pull over there.¹⁵

Back in EuropeSame as home; just remember the siren rule.

Flashing yellow arrow

You may turn left, but only through a real gap in oncoming traffic (which has a green) and after pedestrians. A solid green arrow means oncoming traffic is stopped; a solid red arrow means you are.¹⁵

Back in EuropeIn Europe a flashing amber covers the whole junction, not just your turn.

Move over for flashing lights

When police, an ambulance, a fire truck, a tow truck or a road crew sits on the shoulder with lights flashing, slow down at least 10 mph below the limit and move over a lane if you can. If one comes at you with a siren, pull to the right and stop.⁸¹⁸²¹⁵

Back in EuropeEurope asks for care; Michigan spells out the speed cut, and skipping it costs $400 and 2 points.

Passing on the right is legal

On multi-lane roads and one-way streets you may pass on the right, just never on the shoulder. On the freeway, though, keep right: the left lane is for passing.¹⁵

Back in EuropeAt home passing on the right is banned; here it’s routine, so check both mirrors.

The zipper merge: use both lanes

When two lanes squeeze into one at a signed zipper merge, use both lanes right up to the merge point and take turns there. MDOT’s math: two lines of 500 cars instead of one of 1,000. Blocking lanes or policing traffic yourself is dangerous and illegal.⁸³

Cyclists: at least 3 feet

Since 2018 you must leave at least 3 feet when passing a cyclist, and you may pass one in a no-passing zone when it’s safe.⁸⁴

Railroad crossings

With lights flashing, bells ringing or gates down, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks. School buses and hazmat trucks always stop, signal or not, so expect it when you’re behind one.¹⁵

Hands-free only

Holding a phone while driving is illegal, even while waiting at a red light: no calls, no texts, no video. Navigation and hands-free are fine with the phone in a mount. Fines: $100 the first time, $250 after that, doubled if you cause a crash.⁸⁵⁷⁷

Back in EuropeHand-held is banned in Hungary too; here it counts at a red light as well.

Seat belts and car seats

Everyone in front must buckle up, and everyone under 16 in any seat. Child-seat rules got stricter in April 2025: rear-facing to at least age 2, a harnessed seat to age 5, then a booster until age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches. Kids under 13 ride in the back seat if there is one.⁸⁶¹⁵⁸⁷

When lights are required

From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and whenever you can’t see clearly for 500 feet. Parking lights alone are illegal, and high beams go off within 500 feet of oncoming traffic.⁸⁸⁸⁹⁷⁷

Back in EuropeHungary wants dipped or daytime running lights outside towns by day; Michigan doesn’t.

Missed your exit?

Never back up and never use a freeway median crossover: those are for emergency and road crews only. Take the next exit and come back.¹⁵

Funeral processions

Funeral processions flying orange flags have the right of way over everyone except fire, ambulance and police. Cutting through one is a civil infraction; you don’t have to pull over, though.¹⁵

Kids alone in the car

Leaving a child under 6 alone in a car is illegal when it puts them at unreasonable risk; a supervisor aged 13 or older makes it legal. In summer or winter a few minutes is already too long.¹⁵

EXIT06School bus

Yellow bus, flashing red: when do you have to stop?

The yellow school bus is sacred. When the red lights on top flash and the little STOP arm swings out, everyone stops: behind it, and on most roads coming the other way too. Pick your kind of road and we’ll show you who has to stop.

Behind the bus: STOP
Coming the other way: STOP

On a two-lane road both directions stop, at least 20 feet from the bus, and stay stopped until the red lights go off or the bus moves on.¹⁵

20 ftHow far back to stop while the red lights flash.⁹⁰
$100–500The fine for failing to stop, plus 3 points. Injuries bring higher penalties, even jail.⁹⁰¹⁵⁹¹
CameraMany buses carry stop-arm cameras: the footage alone can get a ticket mailed to you, and the fine goes to the school district.⁹⁰
AmberOverhead amber lights flashing: get ready to stop. Just the amber hazards: pass with care.¹⁵
1951The year Michigan required every new school bus to wear the same yellow.¹⁵

EXIT07Road signs

What is that sign trying to tell you?

American signs are chattier than European ones: where Europe uses a pictogram, the U.S. often spells out a whole sentence. The United States never signed the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which Hungary ratified in 1976, and its own sign manual dates back to 1935. Flip the signs and see how many you get on the first try.

RedStop, prohibited
White and blackA rule you must obey
YellowGeneral warning
OrangeConstruction and maintenance
GreenDirections and guidance
BlueServices: gas, food, lodging
BrownRecreation and culture
Fluorescent yellow-greenSchool, pedestrians, bikes
Fluorescent pinkIncidents and emergencies

0 of 36 signs decoded

Yellow center line: oncoming traffic

Yellow lines separate opposing traffic; white lines separate lanes going your way. No passing across a double solid yellow, though you may cross it to turn into a driveway or parking spot.¹⁵

Back in EuropeIn Europe center lines are white too, so this takes a day to get used to.

Center left-turn lane

The lane between the two directions, edged by yellow lines, is for left turns from both directions. Passing or merging in it is illegal and dangerous.¹⁵

Green bike lanes

Green paint marks where cars and bikes cross paths, usually at intersections and driveways. Look over your shoulder before you turn.¹⁵

EXIT08 Traffic stops

Red and blue lights in the mirror? Here’s how it goes

An American traffic stop works differently from Europe: the officer pulls in behind you and walks up, and you stay put. Michigan’s official driver handbook spells out what’s expected, and if you follow it, it’s usually over in a couple of minutes.

1
Pull over to the right
As soon as it’s safe, pull off on the right side of the road and stop. If the officer signals you to move somewhere safer, follow along.¹⁵
2
Stay in the car, belt on
Don’t get out and don’t walk toward the officer. Keep your seat belt on, switch on the interior light if it’s dusk or dark, and roll down your window.¹⁵
3
Both hands on the wheel
Empty and in plain sight. Passengers stay quiet with their hands visible too. No sudden moves.¹⁵
4
Reach for papers only when asked
License, registration, insurance: say where they are first (“in the glove box”), then get them out. As a visitor, hand over your International Driving Permit and passport too if asked.¹⁵
5
Don’t argue at the roadside
The officer should tell you why you were stopped. If you disagree with a ticket, take it up in court; if you have a problem with the officer’s conduct, contact their supervisor afterwards.¹⁵
6
Pull away calmly
Buckle up, check traffic, signal, and only then merge back in. The officer often keeps the lights on until you’re safely away.¹⁵

A blue Michigan State Police Dodge Charger · Joe Ross · CC BY-SA 2.0

A Detroit Police SUV with its light bar on · Raymond Wambsgans · CC BY 2.0

Can they stop you for no reason?

No. The U.S. Supreme Court says police can’t stop you just to check your license, without suspicion; they need at least a specific suspicion, like a traffic violation. If they have one, the stop is lawful even if the officer has other motives.⁹⁸⁹⁹

Sobriety checkpoints? Not here

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed them in 1990, in a Michigan case of all places, but in 1993 the Michigan Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional under the state constitution. So no random roadblocks here; only stops based on suspicion.^100101102

Get out only when asked

An officer may order the driver and passengers out of the car, and you have to comply. Just don’t hop out on your own.¹⁰³¹⁵

Searches

If an officer asks to search the car, you can say no; saying yes waives that protection. And a stop can’t be dragged out for unrelated questions once the traffic matter is done.¹⁰⁴¹⁰⁵

Border zone: all of Michigan

Within 100 miles of the border, federal agents may board and search vehicles and ask about your right to be here. Because the Great Lakes count as a border, the agency treats all of Michigan as inside that zone. Keep your passport and I-94 on you.^10610710810

Got a ticket? Deal with it

Most violations are civil, not criminal. You typically have 14 days to pay, by mail, phone, in person or online, or 10 days to tell the court you’re contesting. Ignore it and your driving privileges get suspended, with a $45 clearance fee to fix it.^109110111112

Rental companies pass it on

Avis and Budget bill tickets, parking fines and tolls to the renter, plus an administrative fee, sometimes weeks after you’ve flown home.¹¹³

If you’re arrested

Arrested for a traffic misdemeanor? As a non-resident you can demand to be taken before a judge right away, or post a bond of up to $100.¹¹⁴

EXIT09Drinking and driving

Can you have a beer? Limits, rules, penalties

Hungary’s rule is zero; here it’s 0.08 percent, or 0.8 per mille. Don’t be fooled: you can be convicted below that if you’re visibly impaired, and under 21 even 0.02 is an offense. A beer, a glass of wine and a shot of whiskey hold the same alcohol, and only time sobers you up: not coffee, not a cold shower, not fresh air.

Top numbers in percent (the U.S. unit), bottom in per mille (Europe’s). You can still be convicted below the limit if you’re visibly impaired.

What a drunk-driving conviction costs

	First offense	First, 0.17% or more	Second within 7 years	Third
Fine	up to $500	$200–700	$200–1,000	$500–5,000
Jail	up to 93 days	up to 180 days	5 days – 1 year	1–5 years, a felony
Community service	up to 360 hours	up to 360 hours	30–90 days	–
License	180-day suspension, restricted after 30 days	1 year, with an ignition interlock	revoked for at least a year	revoked
Points	6	6	6	6

With a foreign license it’s your Michigan driving privilege that goes. With a passenger under 16 in the car it’s a separate, harsher crime, and a fatal crash can mean up to 15 years in prison.^{116115117118119}

You agreed to the test when you got in

Anyone driving in Michigan, visitors included, is deemed to consent to a blood, breath or urine test. Refuse after an arrest and you lose your Michigan driving privilege for a year plus 6 points; refusing the roadside breath test is a civil infraction.^12011974121

Open containers: not in the cabin

No open or unsealed alcohol in the passenger area, for the driver or any passenger, parking lots included. The trunk is fine. It’s worth 2 points.¹²²¹⁵

Cannabis: legal, just not behind the wheel

At 21 and over you may carry up to 2.5 ounces, but driving high is punished just like drunk driving, and no smoking in the car. Transport it in a closed case in the trunk.^{12312412512615}

Into Canada? Never

Taking cannabis across the border is illegal both ways, in any amount, prescription or not: seizure, fines, even arrest.¹²⁷¹²⁸

A Detroit first, 1945

The first chemical test for suspected drunk drivers was given by the Detroit Police Department in 1945.¹⁵

EXIT10Winter

Chains, snow tires, ice: what to expect from November on

January is Detroit’s snowiest month, averaging 14 inches, with roughly three feet over a whole winter. The good news: most questions Europeans ask have short answers. The bad: ice, plows and deer don’t ask.

Snow blowing across a Michigan road between snowy pines · Corvair Owner · CC BY-SA 2.0

A snowplow clearing a two-lane highway in a northern state · Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0

Winter slush on Woodward Avenue near 8 Mile · Vincent Hilary · CC BY-SA 4.0

Are snow tires required?

No.

Michigan has no winter-tire rule, and most rentals run on all-seasons. The state’s traffic safety office calls winter tires the safest choice and warns that all-seasons have limited grip on ice and snow.¹²⁹

What about chains?

Allowed when needed.

Chains of reasonable proportion are legal when snow, ice or slick roads make them necessary for safety. In practice almost nobody uses them, because roads are salted and plowed quickly.¹³⁰

Studded tires?

Effectively banned.

On paper allowed from November 15 to April 1, but the State Police say no manufacturer has met the pavement-wear standard, so in practice they’re not legal in Michigan.¹³¹⁷⁹

How much snow falls in Detroit?Monthly averages in inches, 1991–2020 climate normals. January peaks, and April can still bring snow.⁵

When do the deer come out?Deer crashes per month in Michigan, 58,324 in 2024. November peaks, and most crashes happen 6–9 a.m. and 6–9 p.m.⁹⁶

Snowplows: stay 200 feet back

The law since July 2024: follow a plow no closer than 200 feet (about 12 car lengths), and if one is stopped at an intersection, stop 20 feet behind it.⁶¹³²

Flashing green = road crew

Michigan road-crew trucks can flash green lights next to the amber ones. See green, slow down: a plow or salt truck is working.¹⁵

Bridges freeze first

In the cold, bridges and underpasses ice over before the road does. Brake gently on snow; in a skid, ease off the gas and steer where you want to go.¹⁵

Lake-effect snow

When cold air sweeps across open Great Lakes water, narrow bands can dump 2–3 inches an hour. The wind decides who gets hit, so check the forecast before heading north or west.¹³³

EXIT11Wildlife on the road

Who else is crossing the road?

Deer are the most dangerous, but far from the only ones. On Michigan roads a Canada goose family strolls across, a black squirrel darts in front of you, an opossum or raccoon shows up in your headlights at night, and out in the country a whole flock of turkeys takes its time crossing. For visitors they’re real curiosities; for drivers there’s one rule: don’t swerve for an animal, because the swerve is what turns it into the bigger crash. An estimated 1 to 2 million vehicles hit animals in the U.S. every year.¹⁸⁰

Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Canada goose
Branta canadensis
- year-round
- goslings in spring
- protected
Did you know?Most of Michigan’s geese stay all year. The giant Canada goose, once nearly extinct, now thrives in cities. Pairs often mate for life, families gather in “crèches”, and an adult weighs 7 to 24 pounds with a wingspan of about five feet.^181182183

If you meet one on the roadGoslings hatch in early spring, and in June and early July the adults molt and can’t fly. If a goose family is on the road, stop and wait. Geese and their nests are protected by federal law, and a nesting pair will hiss and charge if you get close. Don’t feed them either.^184185183
Marc Steensma · CC BY-SA 3.0
Squirrels, black ones too
Sciurus carolinensis · Sciurus niger
- in town
- Belle Isle
Did you know?A black squirrel isn’t a separate species but a dark form of the eastern gray squirrel, and Detroit is a hotspot: second of 43 North American cities, behind only Ottawa. On Belle Isle they’re everywhere. The fox squirrel is the bigger one, up to about 2.7 pounds.¹⁸⁶¹⁸⁷

If you meet one on the roadNever swerve or slam on the brakes for a squirrel with traffic behind you: ease off and give it time to cross.¹⁸⁰
Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
Eastern chipmunk
Tamias striatus
- cheek pouches
- out on mild winter days
Did you know?It carries food in its cheek pouches to an underground pantry, most of all in early fall. It doesn’t truly hibernate, it slips into torpor, so it can pop up on mild winter days. It weighs just 2 to 4 ounces.¹⁸⁸

If you meet one on the roadTiny and lightning-fast. Don’t swerve for it, and don’t brake hard with traffic behind you.¹⁸⁰
Paul Danese · CC BY-SA 4.0
Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
- dawn, dusk, night
- all winter
Did you know?By day it hides under brush and log piles; it comes out at dusk, dawn and night, and stays active all winter. Its sight, hearing and smell are all excellent.¹⁸⁹

If you meet one on the roadSlow down on suburban streets at dawn and dusk, when most animals move, deer included.¹⁸⁹¹⁹⁰
Specialjake · CC BY-SA 3.0
Virginia opossum
Didelphis virginiana
- marsupial
- at night
Did you know?North America’s only marsupial. It has 50 teeth, more than any other North American mammal, and when scared it plays dead, sometimes for hours. In one study only 3.5 percent of the ticks on opossums survived. Babies are born the size of a honeybee and grow in the pouch for 50 to 70 days.^191192193

If you meet one on the roadIt’s nocturnal and scavenges roadkill, so it often ends up on the road itself. Expect one along the shoulder at night, and if it looks dead, leave it alone: it may just be playing possum.^193191194
Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
- at night
- around trash cans
Did you know?A black mask, a tail with 4 to 10 rings and front paws like little hands. Its Latin name lotor means “the washer”, but in the wild it isn’t washing food, it’s feeling for prey in the water; the “washing” is mostly seen in captivity.¹⁹⁵¹⁹⁶

If you meet one on the roadIt roams at night, around roadsides and trash cans. Don’t feed it or approach it: in Michigan raccoons can carry rabies.^195194197
Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
- in flocks
- country and suburbs
Did you know?Gone from Michigan by the 1950s, it’s back to about 200,000 birds, in every Lower Peninsula county. A tom weighs 15 to 24 pounds, and turkeys can fly: one was clocked at 55 mph.^198199200

If you meet one on the roadYou may meet a whole flock on a country road or in the suburbs. Wait for them to cross, and don’t feed them: feeding draws them in and can make them aggressive.¹⁹⁹²⁰¹
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain
Turtles
Chelydra serpentina · Chrysemys picta
- late spring, early summer
Did you know?Michigan has ten native turtle species, including the snapping turtle, whose females can lay up to 83 eggs. They can live for decades if they dodge cars: roads are likely the biggest human-caused killer of adult turtles.²⁰²²⁰³

If you meet one on the roadIn late spring and early summer females look for nest sites and cross roads. Slow down, but don’t swerve. If it’s safe, help it across in the direction it was heading, and don’t take it home.²⁰²
Ryan Hodnett · CC BY-SA 4.0
Striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
- at night
- sprays 20 feet
Did you know?When threatened it can spray up to 20 feet, and you’ll smell it from far away. In southeast Michigan, around Detroit, it’s one of the main rabies carriers.²⁰⁴²⁰⁵

If you meet one on the roadIf you see one on the road or shoulder, slow down, let it go, and keep your distance, and your dog’s.²⁰⁵
Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
Groundhog
Marmota monax
- hibernates
Did you know?Michigan’s DNR notes that on Groundhog Day, February 2, most woodchucks are still hibernating. It’s a 4- to 13-pound plant-eater and a great digger.²⁰⁶²⁰⁷

If you meet one on the roadIf one is grazing on the shoulder, ease off the gas: you never know which way it will run.
NPS · Public domain
Sandhill crane
Antigone canadensis
- in fields
- back from rare
Did you know?Once rare in Michigan, it’s now seen in fields, wetlands, parks and even neighborhoods. It stands about four feet tall with a 6.5-foot wingspan, and pairs stay together year after year.²⁰⁸²⁰⁹

If you meet one on the roadWant a photo? Pull fully onto the shoulder, not the road, and stay by your car.
PortlandAppraisalBlog · CC BY-SA 4.0
Coyote
Canis latrans
- dawn, dusk
Did you know?It lives on rodents and rabbits and eats road-killed deer too. Litters run 4 to 7 pups, and it lives 6 to 8 years.²¹⁰

If you meet one on the roadThe DNR’s advice: keep small pets indoors or supervised at dawn and dusk.²¹⁰

Hit an animal, or found an injured one?

Don’t swerve

If a hit is unavoidable, brake firmly, hold the wheel with both hands and stay in your lane. Swerving into a pole makes a far worse crash, and insurers treat it differently too.¹⁹⁰¹⁸⁰

Hit a large animal?

Pull off, switch on your hazards and call the police. If the injured animal is on the road, stay in your car: hurt animals are unpredictable.¹⁸⁰

Found an injured wild animal?

Don’t take it home: keeping a wild animal without a license is illegal, and only licensed rehabilitators may care for injured wildlife; the DNR keeps a list. Detroit Animal Care and Control only handles wildlife that has bitten a person or pet.²¹¹²¹²

A bite or a scratch

Wash it right away with soap and plenty of water, and see a doctor without delay. Michigan finds about 60 rabid animals a year, 90 percent of them bats; human deaths are extremely rare.¹⁹⁴²¹³

A dead deer on the road

The DNR doesn’t remove it; call the county or township road commission. If you want to keep it, a free salvage permit is required.²¹⁴

**Why Michigan has so many black squirrels**Detroit TV explains.WDIV Local 4

**A goose family on the interstate**Ohio police help them across I-70, twice.WSYX ABC 6

**The misunderstood opossum**A Michigan DNR expert explains.9&10 News

**The turkey comeback**How wild turkeys came back to Michigan.News 10 Lansing

**A snapping turtle on the road**The DNR’s advice.TV6 & FOX UP

**Woody, Michigan’s groundhog**Groundhog Day in southeast Michigan.CBS Detroit

EXIT12Gas and parking

Gas by the gallon, parking by phone

American gas stations throw visitors at first: they sell by the gallon, post different octane numbers than Europe, and the pump asks for a U.S. ZIP code for your card. That last one trips up most Europeans, and the fix is easy.

ENTER BILLING ZIP CODE

ZIP ▢▢▢▢▢

The pump asks for a ZIP codeThe card reader wants the billing ZIP code. With a foreign card this usually fails, and Visa even warns stations about it.¹³⁴
Try Clear or CancelFollowing Visa’s guidance, many pumps let you skip the question this way. If not, the screen sends you inside (“See Cashier”).¹³⁴
Prepay insideTell the cashier the pump number and an amount (“pump 4, forty dollars”), pay, and the pump stops right there. If less fits, the difference goes back on your card.¹³⁵
The card holdWhen pay-at-pump works, your bank may hold up to $500 until the real amount posts.¹³⁴

Which button do you press?

87Regularabout 91–92 RON
89Midgradeabout 93–94 RON
91–93Premiumabout 95–98 RON
DDieselno standard nozzle color

The U.S. number isn’t the European one: it’s the average of RON and MON, so the same fuel reads 4 to 6 points lower. Regular 87 is roughly Europe’s 91–92. Most rentals want exactly that; buy premium only if the manual says so. Watch the diesel: many stations use green diesel handles, which means gasoline in Europe, but there’s no standard, so always read the label.^136137138139

Price in dollars per gallon

1.21 per liter

Michigan’s average was $4.58 a gallon on September 30, 2026 ($4.59 in metro Detroit), above the national average. Type in the price you see and we’ll convert it to liters.¹⁴⁰

E10, E15, E85

Regular gas has up to 10 percent ethanol and suits every car. E15 is fine for 2001-and-newer cars, but E85 goes only into vehicles marked flex fuel.¹⁴¹

Self-serve everywhere

In Michigan you pump your own. New Jersey is the only state that bans it.¹⁴²

Diesel nozzles are bigger

A diesel nozzle won’t fit a gasoline car, but a gasoline nozzle fits a diesel. Take extra care with a diesel rental.¹³⁹

Parking in Detroit: where can you leave the car?

Keep this far away from…

15 ft4.6 ma fire hydrant
20 ft6.1 ma fire station driveway, same side
30 ft9.1 ma stop sign, traffic light or flashing beacon
50 ft15.2 mthe nearest rail of a railroad crossing
500 ft152.4 ma fire or a crash scene

And never: facing against traffic, more than 12 inches from the curb, in front of a driveway, alley or emergency exit, or on a bridge or in a tunnel. Cities can be stricter, and Detroit’s signs always beat the defaults.¹⁴³¹⁵

ParkDetroit: pay by plate

The city’s app works by license plate, nothing on the dashboard. Meters run Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; nights and Sundays are free. Two hours max during the day, four after 6 p.m.¹⁴⁴

12 free holidays

New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas and more: no payment on those days.¹⁴⁴

Game or concert? Book ahead

In the ParkDetroit app you can search by event or landmark and reserve a garage spot ahead, with live prices for street kiosks, garages and lots.¹⁴⁵

Car towed?

FindMyTowedCar.org shows where it is and what it costs. Since July 2025 a police tow is $225, storage $30 a day, plus a $75 admin fee. Impound lots open weekdays 9 to 5, Saturdays 10 to 2, closed Sundays.¹⁴⁶¹⁴⁷

Snow emergency: red and white signs

In heavy snow the city can declare a snow emergency: no parking on routes with red-and-white signs, and cars left there get ticketed and towed.¹⁴⁸¹⁴⁹

EXIT13When things go wrong

Fender bender, deer, flat tire: who to call and what to do

A fender bender, a deer, a breakdown: what matters is knowing who to call and what the law expects at the scene. Short and in order.

911Ambulance, fire, police, and crashes¹⁵⁰
(313) 267-4600Detroit Police non-emergency line¹⁵⁰
888-767-6424Michigan Secretary of State information line⁹
888-296-4546Potholes on state roads, MDOT voicemail¹⁵¹

Don’t drive awayLeaving the scene is a crime; with serious injuries it can mean up to 5 years in prison.¹⁵²
Help and call 911If anyone is hurt, call for help and assist as far as you reasonably can.¹⁵³
Clear the roadWith no serious injuries and cars that can move, the rule is to get them off the main roadway: shoulder, median or a nearby lot.¹⁵
Swap informationNames, addresses, license numbers, registration and insurance, and show your license. In a rental, call the company too.¹⁵³¹⁵
Police: injuries or $1,000+If anyone is hurt or killed, or the damage looks like $1,000 or more, notify the police right away.¹⁵⁴
Hit a parked car?Find the owner, or leave a note with your name and address on the windshield and report it to the police.¹⁵⁵

Broken down on the freeway?

Pull as far off as you can, switch on your hazards, and stay inside buckled up until help arrives. Walking on a freeway is illegal and deadly. MDOT’s free Freeway Courtesy Patrol also works the freeways.¹⁵¹⁵⁶

Deer in the road

Don’t swerve: stay in your lane, brake firmly, hold the wheel with both hands and come to a controlled stop. If you hit one, report it to the police; the insurer will want the report.¹⁵

Potholes

On state routes (I, M and US numbers) use MDOT’s online form or voicemail; in Detroit, the Improve Detroit app or (313) 224-0033. Damage claims rarely pay out: most are denied.^151157158

Live traffic: Mi Drive

MDOT’s Mi Drive site shows live speeds, construction, traffic cameras and snowplows on state highways.¹⁵⁹

Stuck on the tracks?

Once the lights flash or the gates drop, you have about 20 seconds: everyone out and away from the tracks. Then call the railroad number on the blue sign, and 911.¹⁵

EXIT14Detroit’s roads

The city that taught the world how to drive

Detroit didn’t just give the world the car; it taught the world how to drive it. The first mile of concrete highway was laid here, the first center line painted here, and a Detroit cop put up the first four-way, three-color traffic light. Here’s where “8 Mile” comes from, and who the freeways are named after.

Woodward Avenue around 1913: early cars, streetcars and a traffic officer · Curt Teich & Co., Chicago. · Public domain
1909
The first mile of concrete highway
On Woodward Avenue between 6 Mile and 7 Mile, for $13,537. Dust-free, quiet and cheap to keep up, argued Edward Hines and the county road commission, where Henry Ford once sat.⁷¹⁶⁰
1911
The first painted center line
Edward N. Hines’s idea, on River Road near Trenton. The first state trunkline to get one was the Marquette–Negaunee road in 1917.⁷¹⁶¹
Michigan and Griswold around 1920, with a traffic officer’s post · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
1920
The first four-way, three-color traffic light
Invented by Detroit police officer William Potts; the original is in The Henry Ford’s collection. MDOT dates it even earlier, to 1918, at Woodward and Michigan avenues.¹⁶²⁷
Overhead signs on the Davison Freeway (M-8) · Kelley Cook / KelleyCook at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
1942
The first depressed urban freeway
The Davison, today M-8, opened in Highland Park on November 25, 1942. The same year the nation’s first four-lane divided highway linked Detroit with the Willow Run bomber plant.¹⁶³⁷¹⁵

What does 8 Mile actually mean?

The Mile Roads count miles north from Campus Martius downtown. 8 Mile runs eight miles out, about 13 kilometers, marks the city limit, and doubles as the baseline of the old state land survey, hence its other name, Base Line Road.^164165166

0Campus Martiusthe heart of downtown, mile zero
5 MileFenkell
6 MileMcNicholswhere the 1909 concrete mile began
7 Mile7 Mile
8 MileBase Line RoadDetroit’s city limit, and Eminem’s movie title
15 MileMaple Roadin Oakland County
16 MileBig Beaverin Troy, the shopping strip

The Lodge, the Chrysler, the Fisher: freeway names decoded

I-75
Fisher and Chrysler Freeways
South of downtown it honors the Fisher auto-body family, north of it Walter P. Chrysler.¹⁶⁷
I-94
Edsel Ford Freeway
Named for Henry Ford’s son. Michigan was the first state to finish an interstate running all the way across it: I-94 from Detroit to St. Joseph, in 1960.¹⁶⁸⁷
I-96
Jeffries Freeway
The city stretch has officially been Rosa Parks Memorial Highway since 2005, but locals still call it the Jeffries.¹⁶⁸
I-696
Walter P. Reuther Freeway
Named for the labor leader and finished in 1989. In 2026 eastbound is closed between M-10 and I-75 all year for reconstruction.¹⁶⁹¹⁷⁰
M-10
John C. Lodge Freeway
Named for a former Detroit mayor; one stretch is the Aretha Franklin Memorial Highway.¹⁷¹
M-39
Southfield Freeway
From Allen Park to Southfield, through Dearborn and Detroit’s west side.¹⁷²
I-375
The shortest one
Barely a mile long at the edge of downtown. MDOT plans to fill the trench and turn it into a boulevard, with construction slated to start in 2027.¹⁷³¹⁷⁴

A stick shift? Forget it

In 1980 nearly one in three new cars had a manual; since 2021 it’s under one percent. Your rental will almost certainly be an automatic.¹⁷⁵

1913: the moving assembly line

Ford’s Highland Park plant started the moving assembly line, cutting Model T chassis assembly from 12.5 hours to 93 minutes.¹⁷⁶¹⁷⁷

1923: the first “super highway”

Woodward between Detroit and Pontiac became an eight-lane road split by a 40-foot median.⁷

Woodward Dream Cruise

Every August, more than a million people and 40,000 classic cars on Woodward. The 31st cruise was Saturday, August 15, 2026.¹⁷⁸¹⁷⁹

1919: Michigan’s first driver’s license

Michigan issued its first driver’s license on July 1, 1919, to Governor Albert Sleeper, and in 1934 started the nation’s first high-school driver education class.¹⁵

EXIT15Videos

Watch this before you get behind the wheel

Videos load only when you click, and they play right here on the page.

**Why Michigan turns right to go left**Detroit TV explains the Michigan left, and why other states are catching on.WDIV Local 4

**How to drive a roundabout**MDOT’s how-to: entering, circling and exiting.Michigan DOT

**Michigan’s school bus laws**When the flashing red lights mean you stop, and when they don’t.CBS Detroit

**Traffic stop etiquette**The State Police’s half-minute guide to being pulled over.Michigan State Police

**The hands-free law**What you can and can’t do with a phone behind the wheel.WDIV Local 4

**Move over, or get a ticket**State Police ticketing drivers who don’t move over for stopped emergency vehicles.WDIV Local 4

**The zipper merge**Both lanes to the merge point, then take turns: it’s faster.WDIV Local 4

**The flashing yellow arrow**MDOT explains the flashing yellow left-turn signal.Michigan DOT

**Winter driving safety**MDOT’s tips for Michigan winters.Michigan DOT

**Plow trucks and the basic speed law**Sharing the road with plows, and driving to conditions.Michigan DOT

**Avoiding deer crashes**Michigan DNR tips on avoiding deer-vehicle crashes.WNEM TV5

**The Mackinac Bridge from a drone**Five miles of bridge between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, from above.Michigan DOT

EXIT16Questions

What everybody asks

Can I drive in Michigan on a foreign license?

Yes. Visitors can drive on their home license. If it has no English translation on it, you also need an International Driving Permit, and if your country isn’t on Michigan’s treaty list you must also be able to show you’re in the U.S. legally. Check your country here.⁸⁹²⁷

How long can I drive on a foreign license?

As long as you’re a visitor: Michigan law sets no deadline. Anyone who moves here needs a Michigan license, and the Geneva convention stops guaranteeing the right after a year of continuous stay.^2152169

How old do I have to be to rent a car in Michigan?

18, which is unusual: most states say 21. Under-25s pay a daily surcharge, and you’ll need a real credit card at the counter.⁴²⁴⁵

What’s the freeway speed limit?

70 mph (113 km/h) unless posted otherwise, with a 55 mph minimum. Up north 614 miles of freeway allow 75 mph, but none around Detroit.⁷²⁷¹

Can I turn right on red?

Yes, after a full stop, once pedestrians and cross traffic are clear, unless a “No Turn on Red” sign is posted. Onto a one-way street you can even turn left on red.⁸⁰

When do I have to stop for a school bus?

When the red lights flash and the stop arm is out, stop at least 20 feet away, from either direction, unless a median or barrier separates you. Fines run $100 to $500.⁹⁰

What is a Michigan left?

On many divided boulevards you can’t turn left: drive through, U-turn at the median crossover, then turn right. MDOT says it cuts crashes by 30 to 60 percent.⁷⁸

Are snow tires or chains required?

Neither. There’s no winter-tire rule, chains are allowed when conditions call for them, studded tires are effectively banned, and you must stay 200 feet behind snowplows.^129130796

What do I do if police pull me over?

Pull over to the right, stay in the car with your belt on, turn on the dome light after dark and keep both hands on the wheel. Reach for documents only when asked, and say where they are first. Argue in court, not at the roadside.¹⁵

Can police stop me anywhere, anytime?

No: they need at least a specific suspicion, like a traffic violation. Michigan has no sobriety checkpoints; the state Supreme Court struck them down in 1993. Federal border agents, though, can stop and search vehicles anywhere in Michigan, so carry your passport and I-94.^98101108

What’s the blood alcohol limit?

0.08 percent (0.8 per mille); under 21 even 0.02 is an offense, and 0.17 or more brings harsher penalties. A first offense can cost up to $500, 93 days in jail and 6 points, and you can be convicted below the limit if you’re visibly impaired.¹¹⁵¹¹⁶

Are there toll roads or vignettes in Michigan?

No. You only pay on bridges and the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel: $4 on the Mackinac Bridge, $5.75 on the Gordie Howe Bridge.¹³⁶⁵

How do I buy gas with a foreign card?

The pump asks for a U.S. ZIP code, which usually fails with foreign cards. Try Clear or Cancel; if that doesn’t work, go inside, give the pump number and an amount, and prepay.¹³⁴¹³⁵