What to do, what to bring, and what to expect at the DMV office — start to finish.
Rhode Island no longer issues motorcycle learner permits. This page explains the path the state uses instead — because the DMV does not give a motorcycle knowledge or road test, the route to riding legally runs through the required CCRI Basic Rider Course and ends with a Class M endorsement added to your existing license.
The steps below follow the official Rhode Island DMV and CCRI process. Always confirm current fees and forms on dmv.ri.gov and the CCRI motorcycle program pages before you go.
There is no motorcycle permit and no standalone DMV written or road test in Rhode Island. Every new rider must complete the CCRI Basic Rider Course, then add a Class M endorsement to a Rhode Island driver's license. Plan around the course rather than a DMV exam.
You must be at least 16 and hold a Rhode Island license — a provisional license if you are 16 to 18, or a standard license at 18 and older. If you are under 18, you must submit a notarized Minor Release Agreement form to enroll in the course.
Register for the 2-wheel or 3-wheel Basic Rider Course through CCRI (about $295, including a $10 non-refundable registration fee). Choose the course that matches the motorcycle you intend to ride, since certificates have been 2-wheel or 3-wheel specific since March 1, 2022.
The course is about 16 hours: an online eCourse (ideally done within 30 days before your first range day) plus two riding sessions of roughly five hours each. CCRI provides the motorcycle; you bring your own helmet, gloves, and boots. Finish successfully and you receive a certificate of completion.
Within six months of finishing, go to any Rhode Island DMV branch with your certificate of completion, your valid RI license, and a completed License/ID/Permit application (Form LI-1). Pay the motorcycle fee ($53.50 on the DMV fee schedule) and the Class M endorsement is added to your license.
Wear an approved helmet if you are under 21, in your first year of licensure, or carrying a passenger, and use approved eye protection on every ride. Your endorsement renews with your license — Rhode Island licenses run five years — so there is no separate motorcycle renewal.
Check the official DMV page for current fees and accepted forms of payment.
Source: Test details are confirmed on the official agency page. Rhode Island is the only U.S. state that requires every new motorcyclist to complete a rider-safety course. The DMV no longer issues motorcycle permits and gives no standalone written test, so there is no online practice test to take — the CCRI Basic Rider Course is mandatory and leads to a Class M endorsement. Details verified against dmv.ri.gov, the CCRI program pages, and R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-10.1.