The Maryland motorcycle license test

How does the Maryland motorcycle license test work?

You have two ways to show you can ride:

• An approved training course, such as the Basic Rider Course. If you pass the school’s skills test, it tells the MVA, and you skip the MVA skills test
• The MVA’s motorcycle skills test, on your own safe, legal motorcycle

Under 18, you must complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program’s Basic Rider Course before applying. At 18 or older, the course is encouraged, not required. With a valid course certificate, you skip the learner’s permit and the knowledge test, and the skills test too if you’re adding Class M to a Maryland driver’s license. If you’re applying for your first driver’s license, you need a motorcycle learner’s permit even after the course.

A course certificate counts from the course date, pass or fail, and isn’t renewed once it runs out. The MVA accepts only courses it approves, not other states’ or the military’s.

For practice, the Motorcycle Operator Manual has Test Yourself questions through its chapters and a page of sample knowledge test questions with answers. The MVA’s online tutorial is for the car test.

The MVA motorcycle skills test

You take it if you have a motorcycle learner’s permit and didn’t complete a Basic Rider Course. It’s on a closed course and checks starting and stopping smoothly, turning without losing control, balance, and clutch and throttle use. Bring:

• Your motorcycle learner’s permit, and your driver’s license if you have one
• A safe motorcycle of the right class, with its registration and proof of insurance
• A helmet, eye protection, long pants and over-the-ankle footwear

If the bike isn’t safe or you aren’t dressed for it, the examiner won’t start the test. Moving here with a valid out-of-state motorcycle license, you only meet the vision standard, unless it expired a year or more ago. Your Class M comes by mail within 7 to 10 business days.