2023 Michigan Compiled Laws › Chapter 257 - Motor Vehicles › Act 300 of 1949 - Michigan Vehicle Code (257.1 - 257.923) › 300-1949-III - Chapter III Operator's and Chauffeur's License (257.301...257.329) › Section 257.301 - Valid Operator's or Chauffeur's License Required; Group Designation and Indorsements; Surrender of Other Valid Licenses; Notice; Number of Licenses Permitted; Certifying Nonpossession of Valid License; Pandemic Expiration Extension.

257.301 Valid operator's or chauffeur's license required; group designation and indorsements; surrender of other valid licenses; notice; number of licenses permitted; certifying nonpossession of valid license; pandemic expiration extension.
Sec. 301.
(1) Except as provided in this act, an individual shall not drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state unless that individual has a valid operator's or chauffeur's license with the appropriate group designation and indorsements for the type or class of vehicle being driven or towed. A resident of this state holding a commercial driver license group indorsement issued by another state shall apply for a license transfer within 30 days after establishing domicile in this state.
(2) An individual shall not receive a license to operate a motor vehicle until that individual surrenders to the secretary of state all valid licenses to operate a motor vehicle issued to that individual by this or any state or certifies that he or she does not possess a valid license. The secretary of state shall notify the issuing state that the licensee is now licensed in this state.
(3) An individual shall not have more than 1 valid driver license.
(4) An individual shall not drive a motor vehicle as a chauffeur unless that individual holds a valid chauffeur's license. An individual shall not receive a chauffeur's license until that individual surrenders to the secretary of state a valid operator's or chauffeur's license issued to that individual by this or any state or certifies that he or she does not possess a valid license.
(5) An individual holding a valid chauffeur's license need not procure an operator's license.
(6) An operator's or chauffeur's license that expires on or after March 1, 2020 is valid until March 31, 2021. An operator's or chauffeur's license that expires after March 31, 2021 but before August 1, 2021 is valid until 120 days after the date of the expiration.
History:
1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1967, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Apr. 21, 1967 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 139, Eff. May 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 398, Eff. Mar. 31, 1981 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 346, Eff. Jan. 1, 1990 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 159, Imd. Eff. Sept. 30, 2011 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 127, Imd. Eff. July 1, 2020 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 241, Eff. Oct. 28, 2020 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 304, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2020 ;-- Am. 2021, Act 71, Imd. Eff. July 29, 2021
Compiler's Notes:
Section 2 of Act 346 of 1988 provides:“(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this amendatory act shall take effect October 1, 1989.“(2) Sections 634, 710g, 722, 723, 724, 802, and 907 of this amendatory act shall take effect January 1, 1989.“(3) Sections 4B and 801 of this amendatory act shall take effect upon the date of enactment of this amendatory act.”Section 2 of Act 173 of 1989 provides:“(1) The amendments made to sections 8b, 57, 67a, 301, 303, 305, 306, 307, 309, 310, 312d, 312e, 312f, 312g, 312h, 314, 314b, 319a, 321a, 323, 728, 732, 743, and 907 of Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being sections 257.8b, 257.57, 257.67a, 257.301, 257.303, 257.305, 257.306, 257.307, 257.309, 257.310, 257.312d, 257.312e, 257.312f, 257.312g, 257.312h, 257.314, 257.314b, 257.319a, 257.321a, 257.323, 257.728, 257.732, 257.743, and 257.907 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, by Act No. 346 of the Public Acts of 1988 shall take effect January 1, 1990.“(2) Enacting section 2 of Act No. 346 of the Public Acts of 1988 is repealed.”Enacting section 1 of Act 71 of 2021 provides:"Enacting section 1. Sections 216(2), 217(11) and (12), 226(11) and (13), 255(4), 301(6), 306(1), (2), (4), and (6), 306a(4), 309(11), 312k(1), 314(7), 801k(1) and (2), and 811(5) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.216, 257.217, 257.226, 257.255, 257.301, 257.306, 257.306a, 257.309, 257.312k, 257.314, 257.801k, and 257.811, as amended by this amendatory act, are intended to be retroactive and apply retroactively."