To legally operate a motorcycle on Utah roads, an additional driver’s license is required. A Class D (Non-Commercial) license, which is required to drive regular motor vehicles, is not sufficient for motorcycle riding. If you already possess a Class D driver’s license, you will need a motorcycle endorsement (M) added to your license in order to legally ride.
In the state of Utah, there are two ways to obtain a motorcycle endorsement (M) on your driver’s license. Each process has several steps and will take several weeks or months to complete:
Option #1: Obtain your license from the local DMV
After you arrive at the DMV, you will need to:
- Fill out a driver’s license application form
- Show the necessary documents needed to get a new driver’s license
- Pass the eye test and fill out the medical questionnaire
- Pass the written license test
- Pay a fee of $9.50 for a motorcycle endorsement, in addition to the driver’s license renewal fee
After you have completed these steps, you will receive a permit that allows you to drive any motorcycle. This learner’s permit is issued so that you may practice riding a motorcycle on “real” roads until you feel comfortable enough to return to the DMV and pass a motorcycle riding skills test. While you have this permit, there are certain restrictions placed upon you, the rider: For the first two months, you “cannot ride a motorcycle on a highway with a posted speed limit of 60 miles per hour or more. You also cannot carry passengers or ride at night after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m.” After you have had your learner’s permit for three months, all restrictions are lifted.
When you feel like you have ridden enough to be able to safely pass the motorcycle riding skills test, you must return to the DMV. Just as is the case when you take a motor vehicle driving test, you must bring your own motorcycle and learner’s permit to the DMV.
When you purchase a motorcycle, you will want to keep in mind that the size of your “testing” motorcycle will affect the size of motorcycle you can legally ride. That is, if you are tested on a motorcycle that is 249 cc. or less, your motorcycle license will only allow you to operate motorcycles that are 249 cc. or less. “CC.” stands for cubic centimeter. Motorcycles with larger cc. numbers have larger engines, are more powerful, and will therefore travel faster. If you plan to ride a motorcycle with a large engine, you must bring this size motorcycle to the DMV to be tested on. Being tested on a motorcycle that is 650 cc. or greater will allow you to legally ride any size motorcycle.
Once you have passed the riding skills test, you will receive your new, endorsed license in the mail in a matter of weeks.
Option #2: Take a Beginning Rider Course (BRC)
These courses have to be approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), and are meant to help ensure motorcycle riders are receiving comprehensive training before they head out on the roads.
According to DMV.org, insurance companies usually provide better rates for Beginning Rider course (BRC) graduates. Some motorcycle manufacturers will even help pay the cost of tuition for these courses. BRC courses are 15 hours long, and consist of 5 hours of classroom training and 10 hours of training on the motorcycle. The motorcycles used in these courses are 150 and 250 cc.—so if you plan to ride a larger motorcycle after receiving your license, you will need to be re-tested by the school or DMV with your larger bike.
To obtain your license this way, you will need to:
- Enroll in and complete a Beginning Rider Course
- Take the certificate of completion into the DMV
- Fill out a driver’s license application form
- Show the necessary documents needed to get a new driver’s license
- Pass the eye test and fill out the medical questionnaire
- Pass the written license test
- Pay a fee of $9.50 for a motorcycle endorsement, in addition to the driver’s license renewal fee
Taking a BRC eliminates the need for a motorcycle riding skills test, and the training teaches you skills that typically cannot be learned on your own. Once you have passed the written license test, you will receive your new, endorsed license in the mail in a matter of weeks.
There are several approved Motorcycle Riding Skills schools that teach Beginning Rider Courses in the state of Utah. Visit Utah’s Department of Public Safety page for more information about specific locations and types of courses offered.
Photo Courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation and Creative Commons.