Straight answers to the most common questions about passing the DDS motorcycle knowledge exam.
The Georgia motorcycle knowledge exam has 20 questions. You need 16 correct — a score of 80% — to pass.
You must answer at least 16 of the 20 questions correctly. That is the 80% minimum score the Georgia Department of Driver Services requires.
No. It is a separate test for the Class M Motorcycle License. The motorcycle exam questions are based on the Georgia Motorcycle Operators Manual, and motorcycle applicants are also expected to know the Georgia Driver's Manual.
You must be at least 17 years old to obtain a Class M Motorcycle License. You can get a Class M Instructional Permit (MP) at age 16.
The Class M Instructional Permit lets you learn to ride on public roads. You must be at least 16, pass a vision test and the motorcycle knowledge exam, and it is valid for 6 months. It is not a motorcycle license.
On an MP you may ride only in daylight hours, may not carry passengers, may not use limited-access roadways, and must use safety equipment as prescribed by law.
It is not mandatory to hold a Class M Instructional Permit before taking the Class M exam. However, road-test reservations are available only to applicants who hold a Class M Instructional Permit.
You must pass a vision exam, the motorcycle knowledge exam, a special road signs test, a special road rules test, and an on-cycle Rider Skills Test on an actual motorcycle.
Yes. Completing a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Basic RiderCourse (BRC) or Basic RiderCourse 2 earns a 90-day license test waiver that bypasses both the knowledge test and the on-cycle skills test at a DDS Customer Service Center.
The Basic RiderCourse enrollment fee is $250 ($300 out of state). The Basic RiderCourse 2 and the Advanced RiderCourse are each $100 ($150 out of state).
Georgia requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a DOT-compliant helmet, regardless of age. The helmet must carry a label stating DOT, FMVSS No. 218, CERTIFIED.
Yes. Eye protection is required in Georgia. A face shield, goggles, or other approved eye protection must be worn — a windshield is not a substitute for a face shield.
Any motor-driven cycle with an engine of 51cc or greater is classified as a motorcycle and needs a Class M License or permit. A moped has an engine of 50cc or less.
Yes. Applicants who are 16 must comply with Joshua's Law by completing a DDS-certified driver education course — 30 hours of instruction plus 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training — and applicants under 18 need a Responsible Adult Affidavit and a Certificate of School Enrollment (Form DS-1).
Yes. Georgia requires a motorcycle's headlight and taillight to be illuminated at all times while you ride.
The manual recommends new motorcycle operators keep a minimum four-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead, and open it to five seconds or more at 40 mph or faster, on slippery roads, or in heavy traffic.
The Georgia Motorcycle Operators Manual (2023-2024) is free to read or download from the Georgia Department of Driver Services website, dds.georgia.gov, and is available at all DDS Customer Service Centers.
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.