Straight answers to the most common questions about passing the NCDMV motorcycle knowledge exam.
Most practice sources report 37 multiple-choice questions on the North Carolina motorcycle knowledge test, and you also take a separate road-sign identification test. NCDMV confirms the knowledge, road-sign and vision tests but does not publish an official question count, so treat 37 as the widely used figure and study the whole handbook.
The widely cited passing standard is 29 of 37 correct, about 78%. Because NCDMV does not publish the exact count, aim to answer every question confidently rather than counting on a narrow margin.
Yes. North Carolina law requires the operator of any motorcycle to have a motorcycle endorsement shown on their driver license. You earn it by passing a knowledge test that includes motorcycling questions and an off-street motorcycle skills test.
The endorsement is the full motorcycle privilege added to your license after you pass both the knowledge and skills tests. If you are not ready for the skills test, you can instead get a motorcycle learner permit, which lets you practice while you prepare.
You must already hold a full provisional, regular, or commercial driver license, and you must pass the motorcycle knowledge test, the road-sign identification test, and a vision test.
A motorcycle learner permit is issued for 12 months and can be renewed only once, for an additional six months.
A 16- or 17-year-old who holds a full provisional license may get a motorcycle learner permit, but only with a parent or guardian's consent and after completing an approved motorcycle safety course.
Yes. NCDMV waives the on-cycle skills test if you complete an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse, complete qualifying military motorcycle training, or present a valid motorcycle endorsement from another state. You still take the knowledge test if you do not already hold an endorsement.
Skills tests are given only Tuesday through Thursday, as weather permits, at select driver license offices, and only one skills-test attempt is allowed per day.
No. The motorcycle knowledge test is waived on a license renewal once the endorsement is already on your license.
North Carolina has a universal helmet law: the operator and all passengers on a motorcycle or moped must wear a helmet that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218, at every age. A compliant helmet has a permanent DOT symbol and a firm inner liner of polystyrene foam about one inch thick.
North Carolina law requires a helmet but does not specifically require eye or face protection. The handbook still strongly recommends a shatter-resistant face shield or goggles, and warns that a windshield is not a substitute for either.
If your test shows an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more (0.04 percent if you are operating a commercial vehicle), your driving privilege is revoked immediately for a minimum of 30 days. The handbook stresses that impairment of judgment and skill begins well below the legal limit.
The motorcycle endorsement is charged at about $2.55 for each year your license is valid, and a motorcycle learner permit is about $21.50. Confirm the current amounts with NCDMV, since fees can change.
Yes. The best way to be seen is to keep your headlight on at all times; a motorcycle with its light on is about twice as likely to be noticed during the day. Use the high beam in daylight and the low beam at night or in cloudy weather.
The front brake is the more powerful brake and can provide at least three-quarters of your total stopping power. Always use both brakes together every time you slow or stop, squeezing the front lever rather than grabbing it.
Keep at least a two-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead. Open it up to three seconds or more when the pavement is slippery, you cannot see past the vehicle ahead, or traffic is heavy.
The North Carolina Motorcyclists' Handbook (Thirteenth Edition, September 2007) is free to read or download from the NCDMV website, and printed copies are available at driver license offices. The knowledge-test questions are based on it.
Source: Sources differ on this state's test details; the most credible consensus is shown. Confirm with the state agency. Majority third-party consensus: 37 questions, 29 correct (78%) to pass. North Carolina also gives a separate road-sign identification test. The official NCDMV pages confirm the helmet, endorsement and permit rules but do not publish the question count, so the count is third-party.