What a motorcycle endorsement is, who needs one, and how to add it to your Ohio driver license.
In Ohio you can either add a motorcycle endorsement to your existing driver license or, if you do not drive a car, earn a motorcycle-only license. Both require passing the same knowledge test and on-cycle skills test.
The endorsement is the common path for riders who already hold an Ohio driver license — it is added to the license you already carry rather than issued as a separate document.
| Endorsement | Motorcycle-Only License | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Drivers who already hold an Ohio 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 |
Completing an approved Motorcycle Ohio course — the Basic Riding Skills (BRS), Basic Rider Skills-Returning Rider (BRS-RR), or Basic Rider Skills-2 (BRS2) — waives the state on-cycle skills test. The skill-test waiver has been in effect since January 1, 2001.
The completion card is valid to waive skills testing for 60 days from its issue date; present it to a Deputy Registrar within that window. The BRS course runs about 16 hours and provides the motorcycles, helmets and workbooks; the BRS2 is a 6-hour, range-only course (about $75) for which you bring your own bike and proof of insurance.
Ohio charges no fee for the on-cycle skills test itself. A license or endorsement fee is charged by the Deputy Registrar when your license or endorsement is issued — confirm the current amount on bmv.ohio.gov.
The motorcycle endorsement renews together with the rest of your Ohio driver license; there is no separate motorcycle renewal cycle.
Source: Test details are confirmed on the official agency page. Confirmed on the official page: 40 multiple-choice questions, 75 percent correct to pass.