Virginia Motorcycle Endorsement Guide

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

What Is a Motorcycle Endorsement?

Virginia does not use a separate "endorsement" code; instead the motorcycle privilege is a classification designation on your driver's license — Class M2 for a two-wheeled motorcycle, Class M3 for a three-wheeled motorcycle, or Class M if you qualify on both (VA Manual p.3).

If you hold no Virginia driver's license, you can instead get a driver's license restricted to operating a motorcycle only. Either way you must qualify by a rider course or by the knowledge and skills tests.

Endorsement vs. Motorcycle-Only License

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

Get a motorcycle learner's permit (valid one year) and study the Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual and Driver's Manual.
Pass the vision test, the driver's knowledge exam, and the 25-question motorcycle knowledge exam (20 of 25 to pass).
Indicate whether you want a two-wheeled (M2) or three-wheeled (M3) classification — DMV marks the designation once you pass the road test on that type, or complete an approved rider course.
Pass the off-street motorcycle skills test (starting, accelerating, shifting, turning, braking, swerving) on a properly plated and inspected motorcycle, or have it waived by an approved rider course.
Visit a DMV customer service center to have the Class M, M2, or M3 designation added; it costs $2 per year and is valid for the same period as your driver's license.

MSF Course Waiver

Completing the Virginia Rider Training Program on or after July 1, 2007 exempts you from the 30-day learner's-permit hold and from the motorcycle knowledge exam and the road skills test for one year from completion (VA Manual p.4).

Completion before July 1, 2007 waives the skills test (but not the knowledge exam) for two years. An active-duty service member — or their spouse or dependent — who completed a U.S. Armed Services-approved basic rider course may be exempt from both the knowledge and skills tests when adding a Class M or M2 designation within one year (VA Manual p.3-4).

Cost & Renewal

The motorcycle designation costs $2 per year and is valid for the same period as your driver's license. A motorcycle-only driver's license, for riders who hold no other license, costs $6 per year.

The motorcycle designation renews together with your driver's license — remember to renew the designation when you renew the license. Motorcycle registration is a separate $24.75 annual fee (VA Manual p.3).

Start With the Knowledge Test

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Source: Test details are confirmed on the official agency page. 25 questions / 80% confirmed on the official Virginia DMV page.