Montana Motorcycle Endorsement Guide

What a motorcycle endorsement is, who needs one, and how to add it to your Montana driver license.

What Is a Motorcycle Endorsement?

Montana grants motorcycle authority as an endorsement added to a valid Montana driver license — not a separate class of license. It is illegal to operate a motor scooter, motorcycle or any other motor-driven cycle on a Montana public road without a motorcycle endorsement on a valid license.

A rider who already holds a Montana driver license adds the motorcycle endorsement to it; a rider with no license obtains a Montana driver license first.

Endorsement vs. Motorcycle-Only License

	Endorsement	Motorcycle-Only License
Who it's for	Drivers who already hold a Montana 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

How to Add the Endorsement — Steps

Confirm your eligibility — age 16, or 15 with an approved Montana driver-education course (online courses are not approved).
Study the Montana Motorcycle Supplement, which the knowledge test is based on.
Pass the written test to receive a motorcycle learner license, valid one year and ridden only under a licensed rider's supervision.
Complete the five-part exam — driving-record review, physical-aptitude review, vision test, written test and road test.
Pass the road test on a properly registered motorcycle (or use a Basic RiderCourse skills-test waiver); the endorsement is then added to your license.

MSF Course Waiver

Successfully completing the Montana Motorcycle Basic Rider Course earns you a skills-test waiver from the Motor Vehicle Division, provided you obtain the motorcycle endorsement within one year of completing the course. The course is offered through Montana State University — Motorcycle.msun.edu or 1-800-922-2453. The course does not waive the written knowledge test.

Cost & Renewal

The Montana Motorcycle Supplement lists an additional motorcycle endorsement fee of $0.50 per year of license validity. Because the endorsement is part of your driver license rather than a separate credential, it renews together with your Montana driver license. Confirm current fee amounts with the Montana MVD.

Start With the Knowledge Test

Start the Montana Practice Test →

Get Your Permit Study Guide Test Tips FAQ

Source: Test details reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources — confirm with the state agency before your visit. The Montana written test is based on the Montana Motorcycle Supplement (Revised 12/15) — the MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual plus a Montana licensing/equipment section. The MVD does not publish a question count or passing score; about 25 questions with an 80% passing score (20 correct) is the multi-site consensus — confirm with the Montana MVD. Helmet age is set by statute (MCA 61-9-417), not the manual.