What a motorcycle endorsement is, who needs one, and how to add it to your Massachusetts driver license.
Massachusetts offers two ways to be licensed to ride. You can earn a stand-alone Class M (Motorcycle Only) license, or you can add a motorcycle endorsement to a driver's license you already hold. The 5-year Class M license fee is $50; adding the endorsement to an existing license costs $15 (p.8).
Either way you must first obtain a Class M learner's permit, pass the Class M knowledge test, and then either pass the on-cycle road test or complete the MREP basic rider course.
| Endorsement | Motorcycle-Only License | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Drivers who already hold a Massachusetts 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 |
Successfully completing the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP) basic rider course can take the place of the RMV motorcycle road test for any rider (p.7).
The basic rider course is about 15 hours — 5 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of on-cycle training — and you must pass both a multiple-choice exam and a riding-skills evaluation to graduate. It is required (not just an option) for applicants under 18, and it is also required before you may schedule another road test if you fail two motorcycle road tests.
A Class M (Motorcycle Only) 5-year license costs $50; adding a motorcycle endorsement to an existing license costs $15. The license application and road test fee is $35, and the learner's permit application is $30 (p.8).
The motorcycle privilege renews together with the rest of your license on the standard 5-year Massachusetts cycle. Note that motorcycles registered in Massachusetts must also pass an annual safety inspection (p.9).
Source: Some test details are confirmed by the state agency; the rest reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources. 18 of 25 (72%) to pass, with a 25-minute time limit. Massachusetts has one of the lowest passing thresholds in the country.