GetMotorcycleLicense

Motorcycle Permit Test: What the Knowledge Test Covers

· Verified against each state's own DMV, DPS, BMV or MVA, its statutes, or its state-run rider-training programme

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 →

The motorcycle knowledge test — often called the permit test — is a written or computer-based exam a state gives before issuing a motorcycle learner’s permit. It’s a separate test from the general driver knowledge test: it covers motorcycle- specific traffic law, the controls and equipment unique to a motorcycle, and safe riding practices such as lane position, braking, and how to be seen by other traffic. Required in 51 of the 51 jurisdictions covered.

We don’t host an interactive practice quiz on this page — study from your own state’s official material, linked in the table below, rather than a third-party question bank of unknown accuracy. Not every state publishes a dedicated study guide: 41 of the 51 jurisdictions covered don't, and the table links to that state's licensing agency directly instead, labeled as such rather than as a guide that doesn't exist.

Knowledge test rules, state by state

Motorcycle knowledge test requirement, fee, question count, passing score, and study material or licensing agency by jurisdiction.
JurisdictionRequiredFeeQuestionsPassing scoreStudy material / agency
AlabamaYes$5——Alabama Law Enforcement Agency — Alabama Driver Manual (November 2024), Chapter 1: motor-driven cycle and motorcycle licenses
AlaskaYes$0——Alaska DMV — Motorcycle Manual
ArizonaYes———Arizona Motorcycle Operator Manual (17th revision), ADOT/Governor's Office of Highway Safety front matter
ArkansasYes———Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Driver ServicesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
CaliforniaYes——80%California DMV — Motorcyclists Guide
ColoradoYes———Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)No dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
ConnecticutYes$4016—Connecticut Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
DelawareYes———Delaware Division of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
District of ColumbiaYes———District of Columbia Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
FloridaYes———Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
GeorgiaYes———Georgia Department of Driver ServicesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
HawaiiYes———County driver licensing offices (Hawai'i has no single statewide DMV; the City & County of Honolulu and the Counties of Hawai'i, Maui and Kaua'i each issue licences under Hawai'i Revised Statutes Chapter 286), coordinated with the Hawai'i Department of Transportation's rider-training standardsNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
IdahoYes$5——Idaho Motorcycle Operator's Manual
IllinoisYes———Illinois Secretary of State, Driver ServicesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
IndianaYes———Indiana Bureau of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
IowaYes———Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle DivisionNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
KansasYes———Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
KentuckyYes———Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver LicensingNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
LouisianaYes———Louisiana Office of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MaineYes———Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Secretary of State)No dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MarylandYes—2588%Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle AdministrationNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MassachusettsYes———Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)No dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MichiganYes———Michigan Department of StateNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MinnesotaYes———Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle ServicesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MississippiYes———Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service BureauNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MissouriYes———Missouri Department of RevenueNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
MontanaYes———Montana Motor Vehicle Division — Montana Motorcycle Supplement (Motorcycle Operator Manual)
NebraskaYes———Nebraska Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
NevadaYes———Nevada Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
New HampshireYes———New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
New JerseyYes———New Jersey Motor Vehicle CommissionNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
New MexicoYes———New Mexico Driver Manual
New YorkYes—2070%New York State Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
North CarolinaYes———North Carolina Division of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
North DakotaYes$5——North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver's License DivisionNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
OhioYes———Ohio Bureau of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
OklahomaYes———Service OklahomaNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
OregonYes$725—Oregon DMV — Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual (Form 6367; 'DMV does NOT administer motorcycle skills tests')
PennsylvaniaYes———Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver & Vehicle ServicesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
Rhode IslandYes———Rhode Island Division of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
South CarolinaYes$2——South Carolina Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
South DakotaYes———South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing ProgramNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
TennesseeYes——80%Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Control DivisionNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
TexasYes———Texas Department of Public Safety — Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), revised January 2026
UtahYes—25—Utah Driver License DivisionNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
VermontYes$112580%Vermont Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
VirginiaYes—25—Virginia Department of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
WashingtonYes—25—Washington State Department of LicensingNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
West VirginiaYes———West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
WisconsinYes———Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor VehiclesNo dedicated study guide published — links to the licensing agency
WyomingYes———Wyoming Department of Transportation — Class Designation Guide

Passing the knowledge test is usually the first step toward a permit — see permit ages, fees, and validity by state. Completing an approved safety course can waive the knowledge test in some jurisdictions — see which ones.