What a motorcycle endorsement is, who needs one, and how to add it to your Kansas driver license.
Kansas grants motorcycle authority through the Class M license rather than a separate "endorsement" code added to a car license. Class M is the license classification that authorizes you to operate a motorcycle on Kansas roads.
Anyone who operates a motorcycle on public roadways in Kansas must be licensed. If you want to drive a motorcycle, the Kansas driver manual directs you to read the Kansas Motorcycle Handbook and pass the appropriate motorcycle knowledge and skills tests.
| Endorsement | Motorcycle-Only License | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Drivers who already hold a Kansas 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 |
Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-240) states that the on-cycle driving examination for a Class M license may be administered by the Division of Vehicles, by the Department of Defense, or as part of a curriculum recognized by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
In practice this means completing an MSF-recognized motorcycle rider course can satisfy the on-cycle skills exam in place of taking the test at the driver licensing office. The Kansas Department of Revenue publishes a list of approved Kansas motorcycle education schools and programs. Confirm which courses currently qualify before you enroll.
The fee for a Kansas driver license, including the Class M classification, is set by the Kansas Department of Revenue — confirm the current amount with the Division of Vehicles, since fees change. If you fail the written or driving test there is a $1.50 re-exam fee, and a license that has expired carries an added $1.00 penalty.
A Class M license renews on the same cycle as the rest of your Kansas driver license — there is no separate motorcycle renewal. An instruction permit, by contrast, is valid only one year and is renewed by retaking and passing the written examination.
Source: Test details reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources — confirm with the state agency before your visit. Kansas does not publish an official motorcycle knowledge-test count; 25 questions / 80% is a strong multi-site consensus. Every operator must wear approved eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windscreen at least 10 inches above the handlebar center.