Earning Your License

Safe riding requires knowledge and skill. A Class M designation added to your driver's license permits you to operate your motorcycle legally in Virginia. Or, you may be licensed to operate a motorcycle only. To earn either of these licenses, you will first need to pass a vision test, a driver's knowledge exam based on the Virginia Driver's Manual, a motorcycle knowledge exam based on this publication, and a motorcycle skills test.

For example, you will be tested for your ability to:

Get and keep yourself and your motorcycle in safe condition
Accelerate, brake, shift, and turn safely
Help others see you and help you see and communicate with them
Adjust speed and position to changes in traffic and riding conditions
Stop and turn quickly to cope with problems while riding

To pass, you will have to study this manual thoroughly and practice the skills and techniques.

Motorcycle Knowledge Exam

The motorcycle knowledge exam consists of 25 questions based on information found in this publication. Study this manual before attempting to take the motorcycle knowledge exam. You must successfully complete this exam before taking the skills test.

See if you can answer these questions. They are similar to questions you'll find on the actual test. The correct answers are at the bottom of this page.

1. It is MOST important to flash your brake light to warn the driver behind that:
A. He is following too closely.
B. You will be slowing suddenly.
C. There is a stop sign ahead.

2. The FRONT brake supplies how much of a cycle's total stopping power:
A. About one-quarter.
B. About on-half.
C. About three-quarters.

3. The key to making a quick turn is:
A. Shifting your weight quickly.
B. Turning the handlebars quickly.
C. Getting the cycle to lean quickly.

4. If you get a flat tire while riding, you should:
A. Hold the handlegrips firmly and stay off the brakes.
B. Shift your weight toward the good wheel and brake normally.
C. Brake on the good wheel and pull off the road as soon as possible.

Skills Test

You should be familiar with your motorcycle and the basic operating skills necessary for your safety before riding on a street with other traffic. To make sure you have the basic skills to ride, you will be required to take a skills test on your motorcycle to obtain your license.

When you report for the test you must have:

An approved helmet with a face shield and safety glasses or goggles.
Your motorcycle, with a valid license plate and a current inspection sticker.

You should wear proper protective clothing, including long pants and long-sleeved shirt or jacket, boots or shoes that cover the ankles and riding gloves.

The examiner will conduct a vehicle/equipment inspection before you perform riding maneuvers to make sure your motorcycle is properly registered and inspected and in good working condition.

The skills test will include exercises that measure your ability to handle a motorcycle including starting, accelerating, shifting, turning, braking and swerving. The test may be conducted off-street or in traffic, depending upon the branch office facilities.

The license examiner will explain each test exercise and scoring before you begin the test. You must successfully complete all the skills exercises to pass the test.

The test may be stopped by the examiner if you operate your motorcycle in a unsafe manner, disregard instructions or lose enough points to fail.

You can also stop the test. You should not try a maneuver that you do not feel you can perform safely. If you feel the exercise is too hard or you cannot safely follow the instructions, you should tell the examiner. It would be best to take more time to practice your skills and return another day.

According to Virginia law, if you fail the DMV motorcycle road skills test twice after June 30, 2007 you will be required to successfully complete a Virginia Rider Training Program before adding the Class M designation to your driver’s license.

Skills Test Waiver

If you have proof of successfully completing a Virginia Rider Training Program prior to July 1, 2007, you are exempt from holding the motorcycle learner’s permit for 30 days and from taking the motorcycle road skills test for a period of two years from completion date.

If you have proof of successfully completing a Virginia Rider Training Program on or after July 1, 2007, you are exempt from holding the motorcycle learner’s permit for 30 days and from taking the motorcycle knowledge exam and the motorcycle road skills test for a period of one year from completion date.

If you are under age 19, you must hold a motorcycle learner’s permit for at least nine months regardless of the date the Virginia Rider Training Program is completed.

Answers: 1-b, 2-c, 3-c, 4-a

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