Motorcycle License in New York
Verified against New York State 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 →
New York issues a Class M driver license to an adult motorcycle rider and a Class MJ license to a rider aged 16 or 17. A Class M or MJ learner permit comes first, and the road test can be waived by a Basic RiderCourse or Basic RiderCourse 2 completion card from the state's own Motorcycle Safety Program. New York requires a helmet of every operator and every passenger, with no age, experience or insurance exemption.
New York's motorcycle license requirements — including a minimum age of 18 and a training course completion that can waive the skills test if within 24 months — are verified against New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (see New York DMV — Get a Motorcycle Learner Permit and License), current as of 2026-07-28.
New York Motorcycle License Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | New York |
|---|---|
| Permit | Class M or Class MJ Motorcycle Learner Permit |
| Permit minimum age | 16 years |
| Permit fee | — |
| Permit validity | — |
| Minimum age (unrestricted) | 18 years |
| License fee | — |
| Renewal fee | — |
| Knowledge test | Required20 questions, 70% passing score |
| Skills test | Required |
The combined fee for a first New York driver license or learner permit, including any Class M or MJ credential, is set by the applicant's age and county of residence rather than by a single figure: DMV's own table runs from roughly $68.75 to $97.50 before the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) surcharge, and from about $77.75 to $107.50 with it, with the applicant's age at issuance determining the exact figure because the credential's duration is tied to age. Residents of New York City and the surrounding downstate counties pay the MCTD surcharge; other residents do not. Part of the Class M and MJ fee funds the New York State Motorcyclist Safety Program.
How do you get a motorcycle license in New York?
- Reach the minimum permit age. You must be at least 16 to apply for a motorcycle permit in New York.
- Pass the knowledge test. New York requires a motorcycle knowledge test. It has 20 questions. You need 70% to pass.
- Hold the permit. Riders under 18 must hold it at least 6 months before taking the skills test.
- Pass the skills test, or waive it. New York requires a motorcycle skills test. Completing New York's motorcycle safety course waives it if within 24 months.
- Pay the fee and get your license. The minimum age for an unrestricted motorcycle license in New York is 18.
Common questions about motorcycle licensing in New York
How old do you have to be to get a motorcycle permit in New York?
You must be at least 16 to apply for a motorcycle permit in New York.
A resident must hold a Class M or MJ learner permit before a license. The DMV's fee table for a first license or permit begins its Class M/MJ age bands at 16, and a rider under 18 holds a junior Class MJ permit rather than the adult Class M permit. A permit holder must be supervised at all times by a driver 21 or older who holds a valid motorcycle license, and must otherwise obey the general restrictions imposed on every learner permit holder; a Class MJ holder must additionally obey the restrictions that apply to a driver under 18. No published DMV page states a single validity period in days for the motorcycle permit distinct from the general learner permit rules.
What is the minimum age for a motorcycle license in New York?
You must be at least 18 for an unrestricted motorcycle license in New York.
A driver license applicant who is 16 or 17 receives the junior Class MJ credential and remains subject to restrictions for drivers under 18. A rider reaches the unrestricted Class M credential at 18.
Does New York require a motorcycle knowledge test?
Yes, New York requires a motorcycle knowledge test. It has 20 questions and a 70% passing score.
A written test of 20 multiple-choice questions; a passing score requires at least 14 of the 20 correct, including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions. The test is offered in 20 languages.
Does New York require a motorcycle skills test?
Yes, New York requires a motorcycle skills test. In New York, completing New York's motorcycle safety course waives it if within 24 months.
A road test given by the DMV. The DMV recommends at least 30 hours of practice, including at least 10 hours in medium-to-high-volume traffic, before scheduling it. An applicant under 18 must hold the learner permit at least 6 months before the road test; no minimum holding period is stated for an applicant 18 or older. Completing a qualifying Basic RiderCourse or Basic RiderCourse 2 License Waiver course waives the road test.
Completing New York's motorcycle safety course waives the state's motorcycle skills test if within 24 months. See New York’s motorcycle safety course.
New York helmet law
Required for all riders
Every motorcycle operator and every passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet meeting United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, with no age, experience or insurance exception. New York was the first state in the country to adopt a universal helmet requirement, in force since 1 January 1967. The Department recommends, but does not require, at least four square inches of reflective material on each side of the helmet.
N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 381, as published by the NYS DMV in the Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC) · 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, permits, tests and fees come from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Training facts come from the New York State Motorcyclist Safety Program, which the Department of Motor Vehicles names as its partner in administering the program. Helmet and eye-protection rules come from the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law.
- New York's first-license-or-permit fee for a Class M or MJ credential varies with the applicant's exact age and county of residence rather than a single flat amount; published figures run from roughly $69 to $108 depending on age and whether a Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District surcharge applies.
- New York's road-test waiver through a Basic RiderCourse or Basic RiderCourse 2 License Waiver completion card only applies to a course taken in New York, and lapses two years after the course is completed.
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: New York DMV — Get a Motorcycle Learner Permit and License