PermitPal
Motorcycle Permit Age & Course Waivers by State
Verified against official state sources · Updated July 12, 2026
You can get a motorcycle permit at 14 in 8 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota) — younger than the car permit in most of the country — while Florida and Rhode Island issue no motorcycle permit at all (you go straight for the endorsement). The bigger practical fact: in 38 of 50 states, completing an approved safety course (usually the MSF Basic RiderCourse) waives the DMV riding test — and in 18 of those it waives the written knowledge test too.
14Youngest permit (8 states)
38/50Course waives riding test
18Waive written test too
2No moto permit
Minimum motorcycle-permit age and what an approved safety course gets you, by state.
The full 50-state table
| State | Permit age | Safety course | Details & restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | Motor-Driven Cycle, 5hp/less, restriction B); Class M motorcycle permit at 16 · course waives the written test too · Daylight hours only; must be accompanied by a licensed motorcycle operator 21 or older |
| Alaska | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | with parental/guardian consent from both parents if under 18 · Must be accompanied and supervised by a rider 21+ with a valid motorcycle endorsement, riding a separate motorcycle |
| Arizona | 15½ | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · No passengers; no freeway/interstate riding; no riding between sunset and sunrise; no riding when visibility is less than 500 feet |
| Arkansas | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | Class MD, motor-driven cycle ≤250cc, ages 14-15); Class M (full motorcycle) at 16 · No passengers; no riding between sunset and sunrise; must ride under supervision of a licensed motorcycle rider 21+ with at least 1 year of riding experience |
| California | 15½ | No waiver | course required for ages 15.5-21 (California Motorcyclist Safety Program) · No freeway riding; no passengers; no riding between sunset and sunrise |
| Colorado | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | under 16 requires direct MSF-instructor supervision / MOST certificate · course required under 16 (direct instructor supervision) and effectively required for minors seeking to shortcut the 12-month permit hold · No passengers; daylight hours only; riders under 18 must ride with a supervising licensed adult 21+ |
| Connecticut | 16 | No waiver | must already hold a valid CT driver's license; parental consent required if under 18 · course required to obtain the full motorcycle endorsement (DMV-approved novice motorcycle safety course) · Not valid for carrying passengers; Connecticut only; daylight driving only; not valid on limited-access highways; protective headgear required |
| Delaware | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | endorsement itself requires age 17); parental/guardian signature required under 18 · course waives the written test too · course required under 18 (Motorcycle Rider Education Program Basic Rider Course) · No passengers; no operation between sunset and sunrise; approved safety helmet and eye protection required at all times; no operation on the federal interstate highway system |
| Florida | — | No waiver | No motorcycle permit — endorsement only · course required for all new motorcycle endorsement applicants (Basic RiderCourse) |
| Georgia | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course required at exactly age 16 (Joshua's Law: 30 hrs classroom + 6 hrs behind-the-wheel driver training) for the instructional permit; Motorcycle Safety Program (Basic RiderCourse) required for the skills-test waiver on the full Class M license · Motorcycle operation in daylight hours only; no passengers allowed; no limited access roadways; safety equipment as prescribed by law |
| Hawaii | 15½ | No waiver | course required for ALL applicants effective December 24, 2025 (Act 66, HRS 286-110) — a state-approved Basic Rider Course must be completed BEFORE a Class 2 instruction permit can even be issued · No passengers; no riding during hours of darkness |
| Idaho | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | must already hold a valid Idaho driver's license · course required for all applicants under 21 · No passengers; no highway (interstate) riding; daylight riding only; helmet required for riders under 18 |
| Illinois | 16 | Partial | -17 for Class L (motor-driven cycle, must have completed driver's education); 16+ for Class M with enrollment in a motorcycle training course; unrestricted permit issuance at 18 · course waives the written test too · Daylight riding only; must ride under direct supervision of a licensed rider 21+ with 1+ years of experience |
| Indiana | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · No passengers; may only ride 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset; DOT-approved helmet required; permit valid 1 year; applicant must already hold a valid Indiana driver's license, and a parent/guardian must sign an Agreement of Financial Liability if under 18 |
| Iowa | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | Must be accompanied by a licensed motorcycle rider who stays within sight/hearing distance (on/in a different vehicle); only one learner per supervising licensed driver; under-18 permit holders may only ride with a licensed parent/guardian or immediate family member 21+, or with written parental permission from any other licensed adult 25+; permit issued for one 4-year term, no renewal |
| Kansas | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · Ages 14-16 (K.S.A. 8-2,100): must be accompanied by an adult 21+ who holds a valid Class M license with at least 1 year of driving experience, either riding a motorcycle in general proximity or as a passenger on the permittee's motorcycle; permit valid 1 year. Ages 17+ (K.S.A. 8-239) may apply for a standard instruction permit. |
| Kentucky | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · No passengers on a motorcycle instruction permit; minors under 18 may not be on the roadway between midnight and 6 a.m. without due cause; permit valid 1 year, renewable once |
| Louisiana | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · Under age 17 with a learner's license operating a motorcycle: restricted to within 3 miles of residence (or of a temporary residence where a parent/guardian is staying) unless accompanied by a licensed parent/guardian, a licensed adult 21+, or a licensed sibling 18+; riders 17+ face no stated distance restriction |
| Maine | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course Yes — a motorcycle rider education course (Basic Rider Course) completion certificate is required before a learner's permit, license, or endorsement can be issued at all, for every applicant regardless of age · Riders under 18 must also complete a basic driver education course and hold a Class C learner's permit before enrolling in the BRC; a passenger restriction applies for 60 days after endorsement is issued via the road-test waiver; completing the course on a 3-wheel motorcycle restricts the rider to 3-wheel motorcycles only |
| Maryland | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course Yes, for all riders under 18 · Motorcycle (Class M) learner's permit required unless applicant holds a Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program (MSP) Basic Rider Course completion certificate, which waives the learner's permit, knowledge test, and skills test entirely |
| Massachusetts | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Yes, for riders under 18 (Motorcycle Rider Education Program / MREP, as part of junior operator requirements) · Permit holders may only ride between sunrise and sunset; no passengers permitted; riders under 18 may not operate between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.; permit valid 2 years (or length of U.S. stay); under-18 applicants need written parental/guardian consent |
| Michigan | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course Yes, for ages 16-17 (must be enrolled in or have completed an approved motorcycle safety course to get the Temporary Instruction Permit); not required at 18+ if holding a valid operator's/chauffeur's license · TIP holders may not ride at night or carry passengers, and must be under the constant visual supervision of a licensed motorcycle operator 18+; parent's signature required for 16-17 year olds unless emancipated; TIP valid 180 days; not eligible for more than 2 TIPs in a 10-year period |
| Minnesota | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Yes, for applicants under 18 (must show a certificate from an approved motorcycle driver's safety course to get the permit) · Must wear eye protection and a DOT-approved helmet; no passengers; no night riding (30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise); permit valid 1 year, renewable |
| Mississippi | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | Permit must be held for 1 year or until age 17, whichever first; holder may only operate under direct supervision of a licensed adult 21+ with a motorcycle endorsement; no passengers; no controlled-access highways (e.g., interstates); applicant must be 16 to obtain the full driver's license/motorcycle endorsement |
| Missouri | 15½ | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course Yes, for applicants under 16 (Motorcycle Rider Training Course required before a Class M permit can be issued); not required at 16+, though GDL rules apply if under 18 · Under-16 permit holders limited to engines ≤250cc, no passengers, 50-mile radius from home address, daylight riding only; parent/guardian must sign a permission statement at the DOR office; permit valid 6 months, one renewal allowed; fee $3.50 |
| Montana | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | Permit holder must be in immediate possession of the permit and under immediate/proximate visual supervision of a motorcycle-endorsed licensed adult; no passengers; permit valid 1 year, non-renewable; must hold a valid Montana driver license |
| Nebraska | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · Motorcyclists must be accompanied by a licensed motorcycle operator who is at least 21 within visual contact |
| Nevada | 15½ | ✓ Waives riding test | course Required for riders under 18 (MSF course + 50 supervised hours + 6-month permit hold); optional for 18+ (course waives skills test) · Daylight hours only; no passengers; no freeways/high-speed roadways; must be supervised by a licensed rider on a separate motorcycle |
| New Hampshire | 16 | Partial | course waives the written test too · course Mandatory for applicants under 18 (Basic Rider/motorcycle safety course + parental permission form) · Valid 45 days (one-time 45-day renewal); sunrise to sunset only; no passengers |
| New Jersey | 17 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Mandatory for applicants under 18 (Basic Rider Course); optional for 18+ · No riding 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise; no passengers; no state toll roads or limited-access highways; must practice at least 20 days before road test eligibility (min age 18 for road test) |
| New Mexico | 15 | No waiver | course Yes — must be enrolled in or have completed an MVD-approved driver education course (with DWI prevention component) to get the instructional permit · No passengers while operating a motorcycle |
| New York | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | Must be supervised by a driver 21+ with a valid motorcycle license, who must stay within 1/4 mile of the learner at all times; Class MJ (junior, ages 16-17) subject to additional under-18 restrictions |
| North Carolina | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Mandatory for ages 16-18 with a full provisional license (MSF or NC Motorcycle Safety Education Program course + parental/guardian consent); optional for 18+ (course waives skills test) · Issued for 12 months, renewable once for an additional 6 months |
| North Dakota | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Mandatory for riders under 16 (proof of enrollment in an MSF Basic Rider Course required before testing) · Ages 14-15: daylight only, 510cc or under, helmet required, no passengers. Ages 16-17: daylight only, helmet required, no passengers. Ages 18+: daylight only, no passengers |
| Ohio | 15½ | ✓ Waives riding test | course Mandatory for riders under 18 (motorcycle safety education course required before testing) · Must carry TIPIC at all times; daylight hours only; no passengers; no interstates/congested roads; helmet and protective eyewear required; under-18 applicants need parent/guardian co-signer; must hold TIPIC 6 months before licensing if 15.5-16 |
| Oklahoma | 14 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course Mandatory for ages 14-18 (MSF course required) · Ages 14-15 (learner restriction): ride only 4:30am-9:00pm, obey speed limits, accompanied by licensed rider 21+, headgear required, engine displacement capped at 300cc; must hold permit 30 days before full endorsement |
| Oregon | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Effectively mandatory for the full endorsement — Oregon DMV does not administer a motorcycle skills test; an approved Team Oregon rider education course is required (unless transferring a valid out-of-state/Canadian motorcycle license) · Must be accompanied by, and under visual supervision of, a licensed rider 21+ on a separate motorcycle; daylight hours only; no passengers |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Mandatory for applicants under 18 (PAMSP Beginner Riding Clinic required before licensing, in effect since Aug. 31, 2012) · Sunrise to sunset only; no passengers other than an instructor; must ride under immediate supervision of a licensed motorcycle operator unless holder has another license class |
| Rhode Island | — | ✓ Waives riding test | No motorcycle permit — endorsement only · course CCRI (Community College of Rhode Island) motorcycle safety course required to add M endorsement · No standalone motorcycle instruction permit is issued; an M endorsement (full, or restricted to 2-wheel 'Q' or 3-wheel 'W') is added directly to a valid RI driver's license upon completion of the CCRI motorcycle safety course |
| South Carolina | 15 | Partial | course Not mandatory unless applicant fails the DMV skills test 3 times, at which point an SCDMV-authorized motorcycle safety course (with in-course skills test) is required · Beginner's permit holders under 18 must hold permit 180 days (30 days if 18+); solo riding limited to 6am-6pm (8pm DST); outside those hours must be supervised by a licensed motorcyclist 21+ with 1+ year experience riding nearby |
| South Dakota | 14 | No waiver | Permit holder (age 14-17) may operate 6am-8pm only, must be accompanied by a licensed motorcycle operator age 18+ riding a separate motorcycle; no passengers allowed; permit valid for 1 year |
| Tennessee | 15 | — | Class P-M motorcycle learner permit (age 15): engine limited to 650cc or less, no passengers, no interstate highways, operate only 4am-8pm, and only within 7 miles of the minor's home; at age 16, permit holder may exchange permit for full Class M license with no additional testing required |
| Texas | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course Yes for all applicants - an approved Motorcycle Safety Course (TDLR-approved Basic Rider Course / BRC2) is required to obtain a Class M license · 'J' restriction: practice only under supervision of a licensed motorcycle operator 21+ who stays in sight; 'I' restriction for 15-year-olds limits riding to motorcycles 250cc or less (removed at 16 after passing a skills test); minors must have completed 32 classroom hours of driver ed and proof of school enrollment |
| Utah | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course no - BRC/ERC course completion is optional but waives the riding skills test and the 2-month permit-holding requirement for under-19 riders · Riders under 19 must hold the learner permit at least 2 months (waived if BRC/ERC completed) with no passengers, no riding 10pm-6am (except to/from home, work, farm, or emergency), and no highways posted above 60 mph; restrictions lift automatically for riders 19+ |
| Vermont | 16 | — | Applicant must already hold a valid VT Driver's, Commercial, or Junior License; permit valid 120 days, renewable only twice; if 16-17 with a Junior License, a parent/guardian must sign the application; no passengers allowed |
| Virginia | 15½ | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course no - Virginia Rider Training Program is an alternative pathway that waives the knowledge exam and road skills test · Must be 15 years and 6 months old; holders under 18 must hold permit 9 months (30 days if 18+); no passengers; must be accompanied by a licensed motorcyclist 21+ (or parent/guardian, or sibling 18+) in a separate vehicle; must wear approved helmet, eye and face protection |
| Washington | 16 | No waiver | course Yes for applicants under 18 seeking the endorsement - must pass an approved 2-wheel safety course; not mandatory for adults 18+ · Permit valid 180 days; no passengers; no riding during hours of darkness; knowledge and riding skills tests cannot be waived and must be taken at an approved motorcycle safety training school; under-18 applicants need parent/guardian consent |
| West Virginia | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course no - Motorcycle Safety Program course (~17 hours, Sat-Sun) is optional but waives the on-cycle skills test · Applicants under 18 must first complete Level Two GDL (or hold Class E license); permit valid daylight hours only, no passengers, valid 180 days and cannot be renewed; must wait 7 days after permit issuance before taking the on-cycle skills test |
| Wisconsin | 16 | ✓ Waives riding test | course Mandatory for under-18 applicants (proof of enrollment in Basic Rider Course required for the permit; completion required before full Class M license); optional but recommended for 18+ (waives the DMV road skills test) · Under-18 applicants need parent/guardian sponsorship and proof of driver ed completion; permit valid 6 months; must wear approved headgear and eye protection; no passengers unless passenger holds Class M with 2+ years experience; no night riding unless accompanied by a Class M holder 25+ with 2+ years experience |
| Wyoming | 15 | ✓ Waives riding test | course waives the written test too · course no - Basic RiderCourse is optional but waives all Class M testing requirements if completion card presented within 2 years · Applicants under 18 need parental permission signed in front of coaches; permit issued after passing written exam and vision test |
📥 Download as CSV (with per-state official sources) — free under CC BY 4.0, credit “GetPermitPal.com”.
📱 Whichever path your state offers, the knowledge test still comes first for most riders. Start free in your browser has a manual-verified motorcycle bank for every state — or start with the free web practice test. Free to start, $29.99 once. Also on the App Store and Google Play.
How we verified this
Every row comes from the state licensing agency's own pages, the official motorcycle manual, or the state's official Motorcycle Safety Program — not rider forums or prep sites. Permit rules and course-waiver programs change (Hawaii made its rider course a permit prerequisite in December 2025); the date above is when each row was last checked. Where an official page couldn't be read directly, the row is marked lower-confidence in the CSV.
Common questions
How old do you have to be to get a motorcycle permit?
It ranges from 14 (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota) to 17, with 16 the most common minimum. Several states also require you to already hold a regular driver's license first — see the details column.
Does the MSF course replace the DMV motorcycle test?
In 38 states the course completion card waives the riding (skills) test, and in 18 states it waives the written test too. In a handful — including California and Washington — the course is required but you still take the tests.
What restrictions come with a motorcycle permit?
Almost universally: no passengers. Most states add daylight-only riding and no freeways; several require a licensed rider supervising nearby. Your state's specifics are in the table.
Is the motorcycle written test hard?
It covers riding-specific material the car test never touches. Try your state's free motorcycle practice test — 20 real questions in the real exam format.