What a motorcycle endorsement is, who needs one, and how to add it to your Georgia driver license.
Georgia does not add a motorcycle "endorsement" code to a car license the way some states do. Instead, motorcycle authority is its own license class — the Class M Motorcycle License. A Class M License or a Class M Instructional Permit is required to legally operate any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle with an engine of 51cc or greater (GA Motorcycle Manual, Different Types of Vehicles).
If you already hold a Class C license or another class and you qualify for Class M, that license must be surrendered and a new license containing the Class M is issued. You are not refunded for the remaining validity of the old license (GA Motorcycle Manual, How to Obtain Your Class M License).
| Endorsement | Motorcycle-Only License | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Drivers who already hold a Georgia 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 |
The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) Basic RiderCourse (BRC) and Basic RiderCourse 2 each provide a 90-day license test waiver to successful graduates. The waiver lets you bypass both the knowledge test and the on-cycle skills test at a DDS Customer Service Center.
Certified motorcycle training schools that offer the Three-Wheel Training Course can also issue a 90-day waiver. A military member or dependent who completed an equivalent MSF Basic RiderCourse can obtain a 90-day waiver by submitting a Military Waiver application with their course completion card to the Motorcycle Safety Program. You must visit a DDS Customer Service Center within 90 days to obtain the Class M License.
The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Basic RiderCourse enrollment fee is $250 ($300 for out-of-state residents). The Basic RiderCourse 2 and Advanced RiderCourse are each $100 ($150 out of state). DDS license and permit fees are separate — confirm current amounts on dds.georgia.gov.
The Class M classification renews together with the rest of your Georgia license; there is no separate motorcycle renewal cycle. For Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program information, visit dds.georgia.gov or call (678) 413-8400.
Source: Test details are confirmed on the official agency page. The Georgia DDS requires a minimum score of 80% — 16 of 20 correct — on the motorcycle knowledge exam.