Straight answers to the most common questions about passing the DMV motorcycle knowledge exam.
The Oregon motorcycle knowledge test has 25 multiple-choice questions and is based on the Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual. The manual states you must answer 20 questions correctly to pass.
You need 20 correct answers, which is 80%. You cannot use the manual or any notes during the test, and using a phone or having someone else test for you counts as cheating.
Yes. Unless you already hold a valid motorcycle endorsement or license from another state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory or a Canadian province, you must complete an approved Team Oregon rider-education course. Team Oregon is the only approved provider in Oregon.
Yes. The Team Oregon Basic Course (for riders 16 and older) waives both the motorcycle knowledge and skills tests. The Intermediate Course (21+), the Basic Online Classroom, and the Intermediate Online Classroom waive only the skills test, so you still take the DMV knowledge test.
No. DMV does not administer motorcycle skills tests. The skills test is satisfied by completing an approved Team Oregon course.
You must hold a valid Oregon driver license, be at least 16, have parental or guardian consent if you are under 18, and pass the motorcycle knowledge and vision tests. There is no instruction permit for a moped or for a three-wheel motorcycle.
The permit is valid for one year. You must ride during daylight only, carry no passengers, wear a DOT-compliant helmet, and be supervised by a rider on a separate motorcycle who is at least 21 and holds a valid motorcycle endorsement.
You can earn a motorcycle instruction permit or endorsement at 16, with parental or guardian consent if you are under 18.
It lets you operate only three-wheel motorcycles. You need a valid Oregon driver license, must be at least 16 (with parental consent if under 18), and must pass the DMV motorcycle knowledge test. A Team Oregon course is not required for the three-wheel endorsement.
No. You may operate a moped with any class of driver license and no endorsement. A moped tops out at 30 mph on level ground (and at most a 50cc combustion engine), and it is against the law to carry a passenger on a moped.
You surrender your out-of-state, D.C., territory or Canadian-province license or endorsement, and you are not required to take a Team Oregon course or the DMV knowledge test.
Riding a motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement is a Class A traffic violation. Oregon reports that 35% of riders involved in fatal crashes in 2022 were riding without a valid endorsement.
Oregon has a universal helmet law: every operator and passenger must wear a DOT-compliant helmet whenever they ride a motorcycle, moped or unenclosed autocycle, regardless of age.
No. Oregon law does not require eye or face protection, though the manual strongly recommends a face shield or goggles. A windshield is not a substitute, and eyeglasses or sunglasses will not protect your eyes from wind and debris.
Yes. Oregon law requires the headlight to be on at all times while you ride; modulating headlights are allowed during daylight.
No. Sharing a lane with a car while passing (lane splitting) and riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles are both illegal in Oregon. However, two motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane, and one motorcycle may pass another using the same lane.
If a signal controlled by a vehicle-detection device fails to detect your motorcycle and does not turn green after one complete cycle, Oregon law lets you proceed with caution through the intersection, after yielding to any people walking or rolling.
The manual recommends a four-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead. Open it up to five seconds or more if the surface is slippery, you cannot see past the vehicle ahead, or traffic is heavy.
Yes. You must insure your motorcycle with at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others, plus $20,000 for property damage, along with matching uninsured-motorist coverage.
The Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual (Form 735-6367) is free to read or download at OregonDMV.com. The knowledge test is based directly on it.
Source: Test details are confirmed on the official agency page. 25 questions confirmed on the official page; the manual states you must answer 20 correctly (80%) to pass. To add an endorsement you must complete an approved Team Oregon rider-education course.