Free practice for the West Virginia motorcycle knowledge test. Score 19 of 25 correct (76%) to pass. Realistic exam simulator with instant scoring — no signup required.
Start Practice Test →Free West Virginia motorcycle exam simulator with instant scoring.
Key facts and numbers to memorize before test day.
Every motorcycle test topic, explained section by section.
Universal Helmet Law — who must wear a helmet in West Virginia.
How to add a motorcycle endorsement to your license.
The official West Virginia motorcycle operator manual.
How to pass the West Virginia motorcycle knowledge exam.
Step-by-step West Virginia motorcycle permit requirements.
How to pass the West Virginia motorcycle test on the first try.
West Virginia reprints the standard MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual but wraps its own helmet, eye-protection, headlight and licensing law around it, and several West Virginia rules set it apart from other states — worth knowing before you test.
West Virginia's motorcycle knowledge test is a multiple-choice exam widely reported at 25 questions. The pass mark is generally cited as 76% — 19 of 25 correct. West Virginia does not publish an official count, so confirm the current format at your DMV office.
The commonly reported standard is 19 of 25 (76%). West Virginia is unusual in not using the 80% bar most states use. The test is closed-book and based on the West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual.
It is based on the West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (18th Edition), the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Operator Manual reprinted by the WV DMV: motorcycle controls, lane positioning, the SEE strategy, braking, turning and swerving, hazard awareness, carrying passengers, and West Virginia's helmet, eye-protection and licensing rules.
Pass the motorcycle knowledge and vision tests at a DMV office. Any person 16 or older may apply; if you are under 18 you must first have completed the requirements for a Level 2 intermediate (or Class E) driver's license (W.Va. Code §17B-2-5).
The motorcycle instruction permit is valid for 180 days and cannot be renewed. If it expires before you complete the skills test, you must reapply.
You may ride only during daylight hours and you may not carry a passenger. These restrictions apply for the life of the permit.
Yes. After you have held the instruction permit for at least seven days, you can schedule the on-cycle skills test. You must pass it before a motorcycle endorsement is added to your license or a motorcycle-only license is issued.
Yes. If you already have your motorcycle permit and successfully complete an approved West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program Basic RiderCourse, you are issued a completion card that waives the DMV on-cycle skills test, and the 'F' endorsement is added to your license.
West Virginia has a universal helmet law (W.Va. Code §17C-15-44): every operator and passenger must wear a helmet, at every age. An approved helmet must meet ANSI Standard Z90.1, U.S. DOT FMVSS 218, or Snell standards.
Yes — for every operator and passenger. You must wear shatter-resistant safety eyeglasses, goggles, or a face shield (contact lenses do not count). Unlike many states, West Virginia's eye-protection requirement is not waived by having a windshield (W.Va. Code §17C-15-44).
Yes. A person with a valid driver's license who is operating a fully enclosed autocycle is exempt from these motorcycle equipment requirements (W.Va. Code §17C-15-44).
Yes. West Virginia law requires every motorcycle to display lighted head lamps at all times when on the highway. Riding with your headlight on also makes you far easier for other drivers to see.
West Virginia adds motorcycle authority as an 'F' endorsement on your driver's license, rather than a separate class. You get it by holding the instruction permit, passing the knowledge and on-cycle skills tests (or waiving the skills test with an approved Basic RiderCourse). The endorsement fee is about $1 per year of license validity.
A BAC of 0.08% or above makes an adult operator legally under the influence (W.Va. Code §17C-5-2). Riders under 21 face a 0.02% zero-tolerance limit. Impairment of judgment and balance begins well below the legal limit.
No. A motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a traffic lane, and lane splitting — riding between lanes of traffic — is not permitted. No more than two motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane (W.Va. Code §17C-15-44a).
The 'F' endorsement is added to your license for a fee of about $1 per year of license validity. The Basic RiderCourse, which can waive the skills test, has a separate tuition (commonly around $100) and runs roughly April through October.
Bring a properly registered and insured motorcycle in safe operating condition, your DOT-approved helmet, and eye protection. The off-cycle skills test checks balance, shifting, turning, stopping and swerving.
The West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual is published by the WV Division of Motor Vehicles at transportation.wv.gov/DMV. The knowledge-test questions come directly from it.
Practice now — free, instant scoring, no signup.
Start Practice Test →This free West Virginia motorcycle permit test practice covers the topics on the official DMV motorcycle knowledge exam — controls and gear, turning and swerving, lane positioning, hazard awareness, and traffic laws. Whether you are getting your first motorcycle permit or adding an endorsement, our practice test and study tools help you prepare to pass on your first attempt.
Source: Test details reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources — confirm with the state agency before your visit. The pass standard is widely reported as 19 of 25 (76%) — unusually, not the common 80%; West Virginia publishes no official count, so this is third-party consensus. A rider must hold the instruction permit at least 7 days before the on-cycle skills test. Universal helmet law, and eye protection is required for every rider even if the motorcycle has a windshield.