Applying for a motorcycle license in Texas begins with enrolling in a state-approved education program to learn the basics of safe motorcycle operation. All drivers applying for a motorbike license are required to complete the necessary courses and submit a complete application packet with applicable fees. Texas drivers must also complete multiple state exams to gain a license, including a vision test, knowledge exam and road skills test. Driver services in Texas are managed by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Texas drivers can apply for a permit to learn how to drive after they have taken the necessary motorcycle classes and met the state’s other eligibility criteria. The DPS requires minors to apply for a motorcycle permit before they can be found eligible to apply for a full license. Once ready, the DPS accepts transfer requests from the permit to a license in person and by mail by residents currently out of state. Keep reading to discover more about getting a license to drive motorcycles in Texas.
In Texas, drivers can request that a motorcycle endorsement be added to their current driver’s license or that they receive a stand-alone license. The M endorsement on a Texas license adds the driver’s new motorcycle privileges to the driver’s existing driving privileges. Drivers must All Texas drivers are required to have a regular driving permit/license or equivalent driving experience before the DPS will find them eligible for an endorsement.
Drivers can use a DMV motorcycle permit in Texas to practice operating a motorcycle under controlled conditions before taking the road skills exam with a state examiner. The motorcycle permit age to be eligible to apply for a learner’s permit is 15 to 17 years of age. Before they can submit a request for a permit, the DPS requires drivers to complete a state-approved motorcycle safety program and already hold a regular provisional license or driver’s permit. Minors must also confirm that they are enrolled in school and have parental permission.
To meet the DPS requirements for a motorcycle permit in Texas, drivers must include the following documents with their motorbike learners application:
What does a motorcycle permit allow you to do in Texas? Minors who are 15 years of age and hold a motorcycle learners permit can operate motorcycles with engines no larger than 250cc until their 16th birthday. This is known as the I Restriction. The J Restriction applies to all permit holders and requires that they only operate a motorcycle in the direct supervision of a licensed motorcycle driver who is 21 years of age or older.
Minors can apply for a Texas motorbike learners permit by submitting an application to the DPS in person. Getting a motorcycle permit is only possible after a driver has already earned a regular driver’s permit or learner license and earned the necessary education course completion certificate. If you are a driver between 15 and 17 years of age, you must take the following steps to receive a motorcycle permit:
The minimum motorcycle license age in Texas is only slightly higher than the permit’s minimum at 16 years of age. The requirements for a motorcycle license are in addition to the state’s requirements to earn a regular driver’s license. All Texas drivers must also complete a state-approved motorcycle course and pass a road skills exam in order to qualify for a license. The DPS may waive this course requirement for drivers transferring a license from another state.
The DPS requires drivers to enroll in the necessary motorcycle classes and submit the following documents to receive a DMV motorcycle license in Texas:
Getting a motorcycle license in Texas can be simple and quick for the prepared driver. How long does it take to get a motorcycle license through the DPS? Most drivers applying in person are able to complete the application process in just a couple hours and receive their permanent license in the mail a few weeks afterward. Drivers who are currently out of the state can apply for motorcycle privileges by mail.
TX drivers can take the following steps to get a motorcycle license from the DPS:
The process of applying for a bike license by mail is relatively the same as the process of applying in person, but only open to adult drivers who already have a TX Class A, B or C license and who have enrolled in an accredited safety program. Out of state drivers can request a DMV motorcycle license by submitting an Application for Out of State /Country Renewal / Change of a Texas Driver License or Identification Card along with the same supplemental material mentioned for in-person application submission.
Texas drivers applying in this format must also include proof of completing an applicable motorcycle safety course, the criteria which allows them to waive having to pass the road skills exam. Applications sent by mail should include payment by check or money order.
New residents to Texas must transfer any existing regular or motorcycle licenses to the state within 90 days of taking up residency. Transferring an out of state bike license to Texas can be done in person at DPS locations around the state. At the time of transfer, the driver will have to surrender his or her current license and present proof of his or her identity, lawful presence in the U.S., residency in Texas, SSN and vehicles registration (if applicable). State education and testing requirements are waived for transfer applicants.
All new drivers and applicants for an endorsement must pass a state-approved motorcycle training course before they can be found eligible for a Texas license. In addition to this motorcycle course, all drivers are required to take a general driving education course to qualify for most types of DPS licenses and permits. This basic course must include a minimum of 32 instruction hours. The minimum age for enrollment in a TX driving course is 14 years of age.
Texas drivers can choose to enroll in an approved motorcycle training school through a private third party or the driver’s public school (if applicable). The DPS also accepts Parent-taught Driver Education (PTDE) certificates as meeting the minimum education requirement. Course completion certificates have a validity of 24 months from the date of receipt.
Most drivers do not need to pass a motorcycle permit test in Texas because the written knowledge exam is waived for taking the state’s safety course, which is a requirement to receive a permit. Along the same lines, the only DMV motorcycle test required by the DPS is the road skills exam because the written exam should be waived. Drivers who have completed additional educational training or are transferring a valid license from another state may be able to waive the road skills exam as well.
An M license or general driving permit is required for drivers to operate scooters and mopeds in Texas. If desired, the DPS offers drivers the option to skip the motorcycle driving test and receive a license with a P36 Restriction by simply passing the written knowledge exam. Texas drivers with a moped license are limited to operating two- and three-wheel vehicles that do not exceed 30 mph in speed, shift gears or have an engine larger than 50 cc.
“How much does it cost to get a motorcycle license in Texas?” is an important question that state motorists ask when seeking motorcycle privileges.
The DPS has published the following motorcycle license cost schedule:
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.