If you want to get your motorcycle license you might be asking, “How much is a motorcycle license?”
Well, a quick query on the Internet will show you a lot of different answers. Each state has different prices for motorcycle licenses, and the simple fact of the matter is that it varies. That said, you shouldn’t end up paying more than $40 or so for the actual license itself.
That said, there are plenty of other fees often associated with the process of getting your motorcycle license. It’s not just show up, pay your fee, and leave with your license.
Let’s take a closer look at this.
The Process for Getting your Motorcycle License and the Costs
The process will vary from state to state, but most have something like this in place:
- First, you get your motorcycle permit.
- Then, you pass either a course or a couple of tests.
- Finally, you can pay for and obtain your full motorcycle license.
The permit (at least in my home state of Indiana) is gated by both a fee of $9 and a written knowledge test. Pay your nine bucks and pass the written test and you can ride a motorcycle on the road (with restrictions).
The next step can be completed in a couple of different ways. You can attend a state approve rider’s safety course that is usually run out of a local dealership, or you can learn on your own and then pass the state tests, which are a written and a riding test.
Taking a Motorcycle Safety Course
If you go with the former option, the motorcycle safety course will satisfy both your riding and written test requirements.
The good thing about taking the course is that it teaches a lot of valuable skills. I highly recommend taking a learner’s course even if you’ve ridden before.
The main downside to taking the course is that it does come with a fee. That fee can be upwards of $200. When I first got my motorcycle endorsement, I found a course at a local Honda dealership that cost me about $150. Harley dealerships (at least in my area) tend to cost more.
The courses are also horribly inconvenient, at least where I live. The time the course meets doesn’t align with a regular work schedule and if it’s held on the weekend they often take up either a Friday or a Monday, too, meaning you’ll likely need to take off at least some time from work.
While that’s a pain in the butt, it’s a small price to pay for the freedom of two wheels.
Taking the Licensing Test
The other option is to just take the state riding test after you have your motorcycle permit. The riding test is easy for anyone who can truly ride, but if you’re still working with beginner skills, you might have issues.
A lot of guys take the riding test after riding for a full season. So, they get their permit, ride all season on that, and then at the end of the season when they’re up to it, they take the riding test to get their full motorcycle license. Motorcycle license tests cost $20. If you fail, I believe you’ll have to come back and pay again.
Going just the testing route can be just fine for folks who have riding skills. It’s cheaper and quicker. However, if you’re a true beginner and just learning, take the course.
The course teaches valuable skills and will satisfy all of the licensing requirements.
Motorcycle License Things to Think About
The cost of the license is just one of the things you’ll need to pay for. While having a good idea of the costs is smart, it’s a drop in the bucket when compared to what motorcycling will cost you.
You will still need a motorcycle, gear, insurance, and have to keep that motorcycle and your gear operational. All of these things cost money. I truly believe you can do all of these things for around $1,000 if you really try.
However, that’s tough. All told, when I got started in motorcycling, I think I ended up being in $2,000 all in. That’s with a license, motorcycle, helmet and gloves (my first two gear recommendations), and insurance.
I bought a bike for a little over $1,000. I bought a good helmet for a few hundred, a good pair of gloves for a little over $100, and insurance cost me a couple of hundred bucks. Add to that the money I spent keeping a junky motorcycle on the road and gas, and you’re looking at right around $2,000 to $2,500 for a season of riding—way cheaper than a car.
The license is just part of the equation, so keep that in mind when you go about getting it. I’d say for you to follow these steps if you’re getting into riding:
- Get your motorcycle permit.
- Take a rider’s course.
- Get your motorcycle endorsement.
- Buy your first motorcycle and insurance.
- Buy your gear (at least a helmet and gloves).
- Have a hell of a lot of fun.
If you follow those steps and ride smart, you should be able to enjoy motorcycling for years and years to come.
