Sep 07, 2026

How to Get Your Motorcycle License: A Step-by-Step Guide for Anyone Interested in Taking on Two Wheels

Learning to ride a motorcycle can feel so damn intimidating when you have no idea where to begin. The good news is you do not need to grow up around motorcycles, already own a bike, or know everything about riding before you start. I promise, I knew NOTHING not that long ago.

Every experienced rider was once a beginner. Literally, every single person. Getting your motorcycle license is simply the first step and from there you can take it one piece at a time.

Disclaimer: Licensing requirements vary by state, so always check your local DMV or licensing agency for exact rules. However, the overall process typically looks like this:

Step 1: Check Your State’s Requirements

Start by visiting your state’s DMV website and searching for “motorcycle license” or “motorcycle endorsement.”

Depending on where you live, you may need to:

Be a certain minimum age
Hold a regular driver’s license
Apply for a motorcycle learner’s permit
Pass a written knowledge test
Complete an approved motorcycle safety course
Pass a riding skills test
Provide identification and residency documents
Pay an application or licensing fee

Some states issue a separate motorcycle license, while others add a motorcycle endorsement to your existing driver’s license. Do not let the list overwhelm you. Your DMV website should explain exactly what is required and in what order.

Step 2: Study the Motorcycle Handbook

Download or pick up your state’s motorcycle handbook. This is what you will use to prepare for the written motorcycle knowledge test. There is a ton in there and all of it is worth reading.

The handbook usually covers:

Motorcycle controls
Basic riding techniques
Lane positioning
Intersections
Braking and cornering
Riding around other vehicles
Road hazards
Protective gear
Carrying passengers and cargo
Alcohol, medications, and riding

Even if you plan to take a training course, reading the handbook will help you understand the language of motorcycling before you get on a bike. You can also take online practice tests, but make sure the questions are based on your state’s current handbook.

Step 3: Get Your Motorcycle Learner’s Permit

Many states require you to pass a written knowledge test before receiving a motorcycle learner’s permit. A permit allows you to practice legally, but it may come with restrictions. Depending on your state, permit holders may not be allowed to:

Ride after dark
Carry passengers
Ride on freeways
Ride without supervision
Ride without specific protective equipment

Know your restrictions before practicing. A motorcycle permit is not permission to jump into traffic before you are ready—it is a tool that allows you to build experience safely and legally within a safer place that the freeway (no thanks!).

Step 4: Enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Course

For most new riders, taking an approved beginner motorcycle course is the best way to learn. I enrolled for my birthday gift to myself years ago and had never really sat on a bike before then. My coach had a bit of a "crusty" attitude which I found amusing and made the class more fun in my opinion. Anyways.....

Courses such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course or an equivalent state-approved program are designed for people with little or no riding experience. Many provide the motorcycle for you so make sure you find a class that does provide the bike. Usually they are lower CC, low seat heights, super manageable!

During the course, you will typically learn:

How to use the clutch and throttle
How to start and stop smoothly
How to shift gears
How to turn and maneuver at low speeds
How to brake properly
How to swerve around hazards
How to look through a turn
How to build safe riding habits

You will practice in a controlled environment with trained instructors instead of trying to figure everything out in traffic. I don't think we got out of 2nd gear in my class. Everything was very slow (which was GREAT!).

In some states, successfully completing an approved course allows you to waive the DMV riding skills test. You may still need to complete the written test and other licensing requirements, so confirm this with your state.

These classes can fill quickly—especially during spring and summer—so register as early as possible*

Step 5: Get Proper Riding Gear

Even if your course provides a motorcycle, you will usually be expected to bring your own riding gear to a lot of them.

Course requirements vary, but you will likely need the basics:

A DOT-approved helmet
Eye protection
Full-finger gloves
A long-sleeve shirt or riding jacket
Durable pants
Over-the-ankle boots

Whenever possible, choose motorcycle-specific gear designed to protect you from impact, abrasion, weather, and debris. Your gear does not need to be the most expensive gear on the market. It needs to fit properly, protect you, and allow you to operate the motorcycle comfortably. Avoid buying everything based on appearance alone. A helmet that does not fit, boots that interfere with shifting, or gloves that limit your hand movement can make learning much harder.

Step 6: Complete the Course and Riding Evaluation

At the end of your training course, you will usually complete both a knowledge assessment and an on-bike skills evaluation.

The riding evaluation may include:

Starting and stopping
Tight turns
Shifting
Cornering
Quick stops
Swerving
Controlled low-speed riding

You are not expected to ride like an expert. The goal is to demonstrate that you can safely control the motorcycle and apply the fundamental skills you learned. If you do not pass the first time, that does not mean riding is not for you. Some people simply need more practice or another day in the course environment. Ask your instructors about retesting, additional coaching, or repeating the class. It's soooo worth it and you'll be a better rider for it in the long run.

Step 7: Take Your Completion Documents to the DMV

After passing an approved course, you may receive a completion card or certificate. Take that document to your DMV or licensing agency along with any other required paperwork.

You may also need:

Your current driver’s license
Proof of identity
Proof of residency
Your learner’s permit
A completed application
Payment for licensing fees
Vision-test results

If your state does not waive the riding test, you will need to schedule and pass a DMV motorcycle skills test before receiving your license or endorsement. Check whether your course completion certificate has an expiration date. Do not finish the class and then wait too long to complete the licensing process.

Step 8: Receive Your Motorcycle License or Endorsement

Once you have completed all state requirements, your DMV will issue your motorcycle license or add the motorcycle endorsement to your driver’s license.

Congratulations BABE!—you are officially licensed to ride.

But your license is not the finish line. It simply means you have demonstrated the minimum skills required to begin riding legally on public roads. Real confidence comes from continued education and thoughtful practice.

Step 9: Choose the Right First Motorcycle

You do not need the biggest, fastest, or most expensive motorcycle to become a “real” rider. A good first motorcycle should:

Fit your body comfortably
Have manageable power
Feel balanced at low speeds
Allow you to reach the controls
Match the type of riding you plan to do
Be affordable to insure, maintain, and repair

Sit on several motorcycles before making a decision. Ask dealerships to explain the differences between models, but do not let anyone pressure you into buying more motorcycle than you want. The best first bike is the one that helps you build skills—not the one that impresses someone else.

Step 10: Practice Before Taking on Busy Roads

After you are licensed, spend time practicing in a safe, familiar environment before heading into complicated traffic. Continue working on:

Smooth starts and stops
Shifting up and down (on small hills too)
Tight turns
Emergency braking
Swerving
Parking (back that thang up!)
Hill starts
Looking through corners
Lane positioning

Gradually add new challenges. Start with quiet streets, then move to roads with more traffic, higher speeds, unfamiliar turns, and eventually freeway riding when you are ready. It took me awhile to take the on ramp for a CA freeway :) There is no prize for rushing. Riding within your current ability is always the right choice.

What If You Are Nervous?

Gosh, I remember that feeling so vividly! Being nervous does not mean you cannot become a rider. It means you understand that riding requires your attention and respect. A healthy does of fear is so normal! BUT, you do not need to eliminate every fear before beginning. You need qualified instruction, protective gear, a motorcycle you can comfortably manage, and enough patience to build your skills gradually.

Do not compare your progress with anyone else’s. Some riders understand the clutch immediately but struggle with tight turns. Others feel comfortable maneuvering the bike but need more time to relax at speed. We are all good/bad at different things and that is totally ok! Your timeline is your own.

You Do Not Have to Figure It Out Alone

Many people delay learning because they believe they need a rider in their life to teach them. You do not. A professional training course can give you the foundation. From there, riding groups, continued education, dealership events, and communities like Babes Ride Out, The Litas, insert others here _________ can help you meet people who understand what it feels like to be new.

You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to take another class. You are allowed to practice slowly. You are allowed to say no to a ride that feels beyond your current comfort level. This is about learning the skills to make good decisions for yourself, a skill the gals are pretty damn good at!

So...start with your state’s motorcycle handbook, register for a beginner course, get the proper gear, then take the next step.

There is an entire community waiting to welcome you when you are ready babe <3