The process of obtaining a motorcycle (class M) license varies considerably depending upon several factors including your age (under 18 years of age, or 18 years of age and older), your current license (if any), and whether you’ve held a motorcycle license in the past.

What are the MVA rules and procedures for obtaining a motorcycle license?

To help explain the rules for obtaining a full motorcycle license, we have identified some key steps that you may have to take first:

1.      Complete a motorcycle safety course                  

• If you are less than 18 years of age, you must complete a motorcycle safety course.  Typically, this means one of the basic rider courses offered through the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program.  However, you may be able to meet this requirement by taking a comparable course offered in another state.
• If you are 18 years of age or older, you are encouraged, but not required, to take a motorcycle safety course.

Notes:

1. If you successfully complete a course offered through the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program and have a valid certificate of completion, you will not be required later to:

• obtain a learner’s permit; or
• take the knowledge test; or
• take the skills test, if you are adding the Class M to your current Maryland license.

2.  A customer of any age who is applying for their very first Graduated Licensing System (GLS) license is required to obtain a Type I motorcycle (Class M) learner's permit, even if they have successfully completed an approved Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program. 

• You are also required to obtain a Type I automobile (Class C) learner's permit to enable you to register for and complete the required driver's education course.  

3.  If you complete a motorcycle safety course offered in another state, however, you still will be required to obtain a learner’s permit, and pass the skills test, unless you already hold a valid motorcycle license.

4.  A Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program certificate of completion is only valid for 6 months.

5.  For more information about Maryland’s motorcycle safety courses, click here: www.mva.maryland.gov/MVA-Programs/moto/default.htm

2.      Complete a driver education course                       

• If you are applying for your first GLS license, regardless of your age, you must take a driver education course. Typically, this means a course offered through a Maryland MVA licensed and approved certified Maryland driver education school. Out-of-State Driver's Education Certificates are not typically accepted by the MVA.  Currently, the MVA has only approved certain specific certificates issued by the Delaware Board of Education, that physically state that the certificate has been Approved by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.  No other out-of-state certificates are currently accepted.
• You must obtain a Class C learner's permit to register for and complete the required driver's education course.

3.      Obtain a noncommercial learner’s permit

• If you are applying for your first GLS license, regardless of your age, you must obtain a Type I Learner’s Permit for both Class C and Class M,  even if you have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course offered through the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program.
• If you want to add a motorcycle (class M) license to your Maryland driver’s license, regardless of your age, you must obtain a Type II Learner’s permit, unless you have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course offered through the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program and have a valid certificate of completion.

Notes:

1. If you currently hold a motorcycle license or endorsement from another state, or if you have held a motorcycle license/endorsement in the past (from Maryland or another state), you will not be required to obtain a learner’s permit unless you are unable to present proof of the motorcycle licensure; in this case, you will be required to obtain the learner’s permit. 

2. As part of the process of obtaining both a Type I and Type II permit, you will be required to:

• Meet the MVA’s vision requirements; and
• Pass the applicable knowledge test.

3. For more information about learner’s permits, see Obtaining a Noncommercial Learner’s Permit.

4. Obtain a provisional license

• If you are required to obtain a Type I learner’s permit, or have less than 18 months driving experience, you must obtain a provisional license before receiving a full license.

Notes:

1. If you are required to obtain a Type I learner’s permit, you will be required to complete the following steps prior to receiving the provisional license:

• Hold the permit for a minimum of 9 months.
• Ride “conviction-free” for at least 9 months;
• Maintain a log of supervised riding time (at least 60 hours); and
• Pass the applicable skills test or complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program.

Note:   Effective October 1, 2012, an individual at least 25 years old who holds a (Graduated Licensing System - GLS) learner's permit and has not been convicted of, or granted Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) for a moving violation, is eligible to take a skills driving test after holding this permit for a minimum of 45 days if they:

1. Have completed a Maryland MVA approved standardized driver education program consisting of at lease 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction training and;
2. Have completed an additional minimum of at least 14 hours of supervised behind the wheel driving (3 hours of which must occur during the period beginning 30 minutes before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunrise) and have an eligible supervising driver complete a Practice Skills log and certification page.

Notes: 

1. If the applicant has been convicted of or given a PBJ for a moving violation, then they are required to hold the permit for a minimum of 9 months following the most recent date the individual was convicted of, or granted a PBJ for a moving violation, and meet the rest of the above mentioned GLS requirements before they are eligible to take a skills driving test.
2. If an applicant is under 25 years old when they obtain their first GLS learner's permit and then turns 25 afterwards, the MVA will permit the applicant to take a skills driving test if they have held the permit at least 45 days (the 45 days may include the days the applicant held the permit before they turned 25 as well as afterwards), they have completed 14 hours of supervised driving as described above as well as the required driver's education program and have an eligible supervising driver complete a Practice Skills Log and certification page for them.
3. If the applicant has been convicted of or given a PBJ for a moving violation, they are required to hold their permit for a minimum of 9 months following the most recent date the individual was convicted of, or granted a PBJ for a moving violation, and meet the rest of the above mentioned GLS requirements before they are eligible to take a skills driving test.

2. If you are required to obtain a Type II learner’s permit, you will be required to hold the permit for at least 14 days prior to taking the skills test and receiving the provisional license.

3. If you are an inexperienced driver (less than 18 months) with an out-of-state license, you will be required to meet the MVA’s vision requirements prior to receiving the provisional license. The knowledge test and skills test are not required unless your out-of-state license has been expired for more than 12 months.

• If you are under 18 years of age, you are required to complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program or an acceptable out-of-state safety program.

4. If you are an inexperienced driver (less than 18 months) with an out-of-country  license, you will be required to complete the following steps prior to receiving the provisional license:

• Meet the MVA’s vision requirements; and
• Pass the applicable knowledge test; and
• Pass the applicable skills test; or complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you are required to complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program or an acceptable out-of-state safety program.

5. For more information about provisional licenses, see Obtaining a Provisional License.

5. Obtain a full motorcycle (class M) license

Notes:

1. The MVA automatically converts your Maryland provisional license to a full license if you ride “conviction-free” for 18 months.

Note:  If you obtain a MOTORCYCLE license as your 1st GLS license, you must apply for another GLS learner’s permit if you wish to upgrade your license to another class (i.e. class C).  Any time period that you have only held a GLS motorcycle license is NOT included in the provisional conversion process.  You must hold a noncommercial class A, B or C provisional license for a minimum of 18 months of conviction free (includes PBJ) driving before you will be eligible to convert to a FULL license. * If you have only held a class “M” provisional license this license will not be converted to a Full license, even if you have held it for 18 months or more conviction free.

2. If you are an experienced driver (18 months or more) with an out-of-state motorcycle license/endorsement, you will be required to meet vision requirements prior to receiving the provisional license.  The knowledge test and skills test are not required unless your out-of-state license has been expired for more than 12 months.

• If you are under 18 years of age, you are required to complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program or an acceptable out-of-state safety program.

3. If you are an experienced driver (18 months or more) with an out-of-country motorcycle license/endorsement, you will be required to complete the following steps prior to receiving your full license:

• Meet the MVA’s vision requirements; and
• Pass the applicable knowledge test; and
• Pass the applicable skills test.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you are required to complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program or an acceptable out-of-state safety program.

4. For more information about full licenses, see Obtaining a Full Noncommercial License.

Notes:

1. Like Maryland, some states grant an extension of the driver' license validity period to active duty military personnel and/or their dependants.  However, Maryland law does "NOT" make any provisions for the MVA to accept and transfer an Out of State driver's license that has been expired for one (1) year or more, unless the applicant retests and passes the Vision, Knowledge and Skills tests.
2. Maryland no longer acknowledges an out-of-state license holder's military extension for licensing purposes.  If the applicant's actual out-of-state license has expired for one (1) year or more and the applicant states that their license was renewed or physically extended by their licensing state, then the applicant must provide the MVA with a certified copy of their out-of-state driving record that was issued less than 30 days before, indicating a current valid license expiration date.  If the customer is unable to produce this document then they will be required to retest if they wish to transfer their out-of-state license.

Fees:

• There is a fee for a motorcycle license.  The total fee is determined by the steps that the customer is required to take before obtaining the license.

Notes:

1. The MVA will ONLY accept a Marriage Certificate that has been certified and issued by that jurisdictions proper government authority such as their Department of Vital Records/Statistics or their local or state court system.  A marriage license signed by a minister or other authorized officiant and issued by a church, etc. is a keepsake document and is NOT an official marriage document.  The local or state government authority will issue a marriage license granting the couple permission to get married by an authorized officiant.  The minister/officiant who solemnizes the marriage will complete and sign the actual marriage license that was issued by the proper government authority and then return it to the proper government authority who will verify and record the marriage/civil union in their files.  The married couple may then obtain a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate from this authority.
2. Effective January 1, 2013 the State of Maryland will permit Same-Sex marriages to be performed in Maryland and the MVA will recognize these marriages/civil unions.  Customers who have entered into a same-sex marriage and present the necessary documentation will be processed the same as customers of opposite genders. The MVA will also continue to recognize a same-sex marriage that was performed in another jurisdiction that has passed and enacted legislation that permits same-sex marriages to be performed in their jurisdiction. 
3. Veteran Status Code: Effective January 1, 2013 if you are able to present certain United States Military Veteran documentation (original or certified copy issued by the appropriate department/agency) certifying your veteran status you may apply to add a “W” restriction code indicating that you are a U.S. Veteran onto your Maryland driver’s license or identification card (ID card).  You can add this “W” restriction code when you are processed for a license or ID card Renewal, Correction or New product.

Notes:  

1. In choosing to add this code to the driver’s license or ID card, you consent to being contacted by the appropriate Executive Branch agencies regarding your eligibility for State or Federal Veteran’s benefits. 
2. “Veteran” means an individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
3. If you do not have one of the below acceptable proof of veteran status documents indicating a discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable, you will need to contact the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Service Office to obtain documentation verifying your status as a veteran.  You may call 1-800-446-4926 or visit the MDVA website at http://www.mdva.state.md.us/about/serviceProgram.html for information and assistance.    

The acceptable proof of veteran status documents are:

1. DD-214 Military Discharge Certificate, or;
2. Honorable Discharge Certificate, or;
3. Letter from U.S. Military Center in St. Louis, Missouri, or; 
4. Letter from the Maryland Veterans Administration Service Program

The acceptable documents must show the Veteran status as:

1. Honorable, or;
2. General, or;
3. General Under Honorable Conditions, or;
4. Discharged or Released under conditions other than Dishonorable

Note:  There is a fee if the applicant chooses to add or remove this designation/restriction code onto their license or ID card as a correction.

Contact Information:

MVA
Driver Services Division
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD  21062

MVA
Motorcycle Safety Program
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE, Room 207
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
Phone:         1-443-572-8236 
E-mail address - motorcyclesafety@mva.maryland.gov
Website - www.mva.maryland.gov/MVA-Programs/moto/default.htm

For telephone questions: