What a motorcycle endorsement is, who needs one, and how to add it to your Connecticut driver license.
In Connecticut, motorcycle authority is an 'M' endorsement added to your regular motor vehicle driver's license. The endorsement, shown by the letter 'M', allows you to operate a motorcycle on public highways.
Any Connecticut driver's license holder who operates a motorcycle needs the 'M' endorsement. Non-residents and temporary residents who hold a valid out-of-jurisdiction license that authorizes motorcycle operation — such as armed-forces members, students, and non-residents employed in Connecticut — do not need a Connecticut endorsement.
| Endorsement | Motorcycle-Only License | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Drivers who already hold a Connecticut license | Riders without a regular driver license |
| Added to | Your existing license | Issued as its own license |
| Knowledge test | Motorcycle knowledge test | Motorcycle knowledge test |
| Lets you drive a car | Yes — keeps your car privileges | No — motorcycle only |
Connecticut does not treat the safety course as an optional waiver — completing a Commissioner-approved novice motorcycle-training course is the required route to the 'M' endorsement. The course covers both classroom instruction and on-motorcycle skills training.
A list of approved course providers is available from the Connecticut DMV at ct.gov/dmv/mcsafetycourses. Once you have successfully completed the training, your proof of completion must be presented to the DMV.
Connecticut charges fees for the motorcycle knowledge and vision tests and for the learner's permit. The Connecticut DMV publishes current amounts — confirm them at ct.gov/dmv before your appointment.
The 'M' endorsement is part of your driver's license and renews together with it; there is no separate motorcycle renewal cycle. New endorsement holders face a passenger restriction: riders 18 and older may not carry passengers for 90 days, and riders 16 or 17 may not carry passengers for six months, after the endorsement is issued.
Source: Some test details are confirmed by the state agency; the rest reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources. The Connecticut Motorcycle Operator Manual (R-217, Rev. 10-25) states the knowledge exam has 16 questions; 12 correct (75%) are needed to pass. The exam is given by appointment only at a full-service DMV branch office.