Motorcycle License in California
Verified against California Department of Motor Vehicles ·
Compiled and verified against primary state DMV/DPS/BMV sources by GetMotorcycleLicense Research Team — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
California issues two motorcycle licence classes: Class M1 for any two-wheeled motorcycle and Class M2 for a moped, motorised bicycle or motorised scooter. Riders under 21 must complete a California Motorcyclist Safety Program course and hold a motorcycle instruction permit for six months before applying; riders 21 and older may take the course instead of the DMV riding test, or take the riding test directly. California requires a helmet on every rider and every passenger, with no age or insurance exemption.
California's motorcycle license requirements — including a $46 fee to add the endorsement, a minimum age of 21, and a training course completion that can waive the skills test if within 12 months — are verified against California Department of Motor Vehicles (see California DMV — Motorcycle Licenses), current as of 2026-07-28.
California Motorcycle License Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | California |
|---|---|
| Permit | Class M1 or M2 Motorcycle Instruction Permit |
| Permit minimum age | 15.5 years |
| Permit fee | — |
| Permit validity | 365 days |
| Minimum age (unrestricted) | 21 years |
| License fee | $46 |
| Renewal fee | $46 |
| Knowledge test | Required80% passing score |
| Skills test | Required |
A temporary licence is issued at the office and is valid for 60 days while the permanent card is produced.
How do you get a motorcycle license in California?
- Reach the minimum permit age. You must be at least 15.5 to apply for a motorcycle permit in California.
- Pass the knowledge test. California requires a motorcycle knowledge test. You need 80% to pass.
- Get your motorcycle permit. It is valid for 365 days.
- Hold the permit, and train if required. You must hold the permit at least 180 days before taking the skills test. Riders under 21 must complete a motorcycle safety course.
- Pass the skills test, or waive it. California requires a motorcycle skills test. Completing California's motorcycle safety course waives it if within 12 months.
- Pay the fee and get your license. The license costs $46. The minimum age for an unrestricted motorcycle license in California is 21.
Common questions about motorcycle licensing in California
How old do you have to be to get a motorcycle permit in California?
You must be at least 15.5 to apply for a motorcycle permit in California.
Applicants aged 15½ to 21 must complete a CHP-approved California Motorcyclist Safety Program course and present a Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL 389) before the permit is issued. Applicants aged 15½ to 17½ must also hold a certificate of completion of driver education and driver training. Riders 21 and older do not need a permit before applying for the licence. The application and its fee are valid for 12 months.
What is the minimum age for a motorcycle license in California?
You must be at least 21 for an unrestricted motorcycle license in California.
A rider must be at least 15½ to apply for a motorcycle instruction permit. Riders under 21 must complete a California Motorcyclist Safety Program course and hold the permit for six months before applying for the licence. From 21 the course is recommended but not required.
Does California require a motorcycle knowledge test?
Yes, California requires a motorcycle knowledge test. You need 80% to pass.
Multiple-choice questions drawn from the California Motorcycle Handbook. Three attempts are allowed; failing the same test three times voids the application and the applicant must reapply. Applicants who do not already hold a California driver licence also take the car knowledge test.
Does California require a motorcycle skills test?
Yes, California requires a motorcycle skills test. In California, completing California's motorcycle safety course waives it if within 12 months.
The DMV riding test is conducted by appointment at a DMV office and covers a pre-trip inspection, riding in different track paths, slow riding and gear shifting. Presenting a valid DL 389 within 12 months of issue takes the place of it, although an applicant who holds no other driver licence may still be asked to perform an observation test.
How much does a motorcycle license cost in California?
A motorcycle license in California costs $46.
How often do you renew a motorcycle license in California?
Renewal costs $46.
Completing California's motorcycle safety course waives the state's motorcycle skills test if within 12 months. See California’s motorcycle safety course.
Engine-size tiers
- Class M2 (motorised bicycle, moped or motorised scooter) (separate credential) — Class M2 authorises a motorised bicycle, moped, motorised scooter or any bicycle with an attached motor. Class M1 covers everything Class M2 covers plus any two-wheeled motorcycle.
California helmet law
Required for all riders
Every driver and every passenger on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or motorised bicycle must wear a safety helmet meeting the standards set under Vehicle Code § 27802. The helmet must be fastened by its straps and fit securely without excessive lateral or vertical movement. The requirement does not reach a fully enclosed three-wheeled vehicle at least seven feet long and four feet wide weighing 900 pounds or more unladen.
Cal. Veh. Code § 27803 · verified 2026-07-28
Source Notes
Where a source is stale, conflicting, or required a judgment call, we document it here rather than presenting a single confident-sounding number. See our methodology for how these calls are made.
- Licence classes, ages, permit rules and fees come from the California DMV. Training facts come from the California Highway Patrol, which administers the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, and from the program's own site. Helmet rules come from the California Vehicle Code.
- Two state agencies name this course differently. The CMSP is run by the California Highway Patrol, which calls the course the Motorcyclist Training Course and names Total Control Training, Inc. as its contractor. Some DMV pages still call the same 15-hour course a Basic Rider Course, a name belonging to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's separate curriculum. This page follows the CHP as the agency that administers the programme under Vehicle Code sections 2930 to 2935.
- CMSP course prices are set by each training site and are not published centrally, so no tuition figure is shown here.
- The DMV publishes two different motorcycle retest fees: $7 on its motorcycle licensing page and $9 on its general licensing fee schedule. The motorcycle-specific figure is shown here.
means no primary source publishes that figure — left blank on purpose rather than estimated or copied from an unverified aggregator.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-28 (verified by: agent) | Source: California DMV — Motorcycle Licenses