Maryland Motorcycle Permit Test Practice

The Maryland MVA motorcycle knowledge test is 25 questions, multiple choice. Every question is based on the Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001). The standard Class C car knowledge test is separate.

You must score 84% to pass — 21 of 25 correct. (The 88% / 22 correct threshold applies to the standard Class C learner's permit, not the motorcycle test.)

Maryland issues a separate Class M motorcycle license. The Class M is what legally allows you to operate a motorcycle on public roads — operating without one can mean fines, license suspension and points on your driving record.

Yes. Maryland has a universal motorcycle helmet law — every operator and passenger must wear protective headgear that meets the federal FMVSS 218 standard, regardless of age. Helmets carry a factory-applied DOT or Snell label.

Yes. No person may operate or ride a motorcycle in Maryland without an approved eye-protection device, unless the motorcycle has an approved windscreen mounted at a proper height to protect the operator's face and eyes.

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a Maryland motorcycle learner's permit. Applicants under 18 must also complete an approved Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program course before earning the Class M license.

You may operate only while accompanied by, and under the immediate supervision of, a licensed motorcycle operator who is at least 21 years old and has held a motorcycle license for at least three years. The supervising rider may be on another motorcycle, on foot, or in another vehicle within safe traveling distance.

Only as the supervising rider. A learner's-permit holder may carry as a passenger only the qualified supervising motorcycle driver — at least 21 years old and with three or more years of motorcycle licensing.

Yes. Students who successfully complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program's Basic Rider Course (BRC) or Alternate Basic Rider Course (ABRC) receive a licensing completion certificate they can take to any full-service MVA office to obtain a Class M license without additional skills testing.

No. Lane sharing is prohibited in Maryland. Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely. Lane splitting between rows of stopped or moving cars is not permitted either.

In Maryland a BAC of .05 or above can lead to an alcohol-related conviction, and the MVA will automatically suspend the license of any driver who tests at .08% or higher. Maryland's implied consent law means you have agreed to take a chemical test if a police officer requests one.

The on-cycle skill test for both two- and three-wheeled motorcycles uses penalty points. The examiner must end the test and fail the applicant if they accumulate 11 or more points, stall the engine four times, drop the motorcycle, commit an unsafe act, or violate a traffic regulation.

For a two-wheeled motorcycle: Left U-turn, sharp right turn from a stop, cone weave through five cones 12 feet apart, normal stop, quick stop from about 15 mph, and obstacle swerve at 12-20 mph. The three-wheeled version replaces the U-turn with a sharp left turn.

You may retake a second test the next day if an appointment is available. If you fail the second or any subsequent test, you must wait at least seven calendar days before retesting. All testing is by appointment only.

A motorcycle used for testing must be properly registered with a license plate displayed, and the applicant must wear approved eye protection and a helmet. The test will not be conducted using a vehicle with defective equipment.

A new resident with a valid non-commercial license from another jurisdiction must obtain a Maryland license within 60 days of becoming a Maryland resident. A CDL holder must transfer their CDL within 30 days.

At a minimum: two brakes, one headlight, one rear red light, one brake-actuated red stop light, one white license-plate light, a horn, two mirrors (each with at least 7 sq inches of reflective surface), two unaltered fenders, two foot rests for the operator and two retractable foot rests for a passenger.

The Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001) is published by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. It is available through MVA at mva.maryland.gov — every motorcycle knowledge-test question is based on it.