Alabama Motorcycle License Grandfather Clause: Who Qualifies and How to Prove It

Alabama’s motorcycle license grandfather clause exempts anyone who was issued a license to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle before January 1, 2016 from the Class M endorsement rules created by Act 2015-223. If that describes you, the newer testing and endorsement requirements do not apply. Everyone else needs a Class M designation to ride legally on public roads.

What the Grandfather Clause Says

The exemption is written into Section 32-12-22(c) of the Alabama Code. The updated licensing requirements from Act 2015-223 “do not apply to a person who has obtained a license to operate a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle prior to January 1, 2016.”¹ The same carve-out covers the amended portion of Section 32-5A-240, the statute that otherwise requires a Class M designation for every motorcycle operator.²

The language that controls everything is “obtained a license to operate a motorcycle.” You needed an actual motorcycle-specific license or endorsement issued before the cutoff. The date on the credential is what matters, not how long you have been riding or how old you are.

One correction worth noting if you’ve seen other write-ups: the law that changed motorcycle licensing in Alabama is Act 2015-223, not Act 2015-318. Act 2015-318 dealt with drag racing penalties.³

Who the Clause Does Not Cover

Two groups often assume they are grandfathered when they are not.

The first is anyone who held only a standard Class D driver’s license before 2016 and rode a motorcycle on it. A car license has never authorized motorcycle operation in Alabama. Riders who were on the road without a motorcycle credential were not riding legally in the first place, and the grandfather clause does not reach back and cure that. If your pre-2016 license was Class D only, you need a Class M now.

The second is new residents. Alabama does not automatically carry over a motorcycle endorsement from another state’s license. When you convert to an Alabama license, expect to meet Alabama’s testing or safety course requirements even if your previous state had already endorsed you. The grandfather clause is written around licenses issued in Alabama’s own system before the cutoff, not out-of-state credentials.

Proving You Qualify

The exemption is only useful if you can show it. An officer who stops a rider has no way to know you were licensed before January 1, 2016 unless your current Alabama license reflects motorcycle authority or you can produce documentation of the earlier credential. If you cannot, the citation stands on its face.

Riding on public roads without the required license carries a fine of up to $150 under Section 32-6-18, and that is before court costs. If your license has been suspended or revoked, Section 32-6-19 raises the stakes to a fine of $100 to $500, up to 180 days in jail, and an additional six-month revocation.⁴ For most riders who think they qualify but have never had the Class M added to a current card, the simplest fix is to go get the designation and remove the question.

If You Are Not Grandfathered: Getting the Class M

Alabama law gives you two paths to a Class M designation, and either one satisfies the statute.

The first is the state-administered knowledge test at an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency driver license examining office. The exam runs 30 questions on traffic law, motorcycle handling, lane positioning, hazard awareness, and Alabama-specific rules such as the universal helmet requirement. The Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual, published by ALEA, is the official study source.⁵ The license fee is $36.25, and ALEA offices do not accept checks.⁶

The second is completing an approved motorcycle safety course in place of the written exam. The statute specifically recognizes the Alabama Traffic Safety Center/Alabama Motorcycle Safety Program and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course or Basic Rider Course II.² The same alternative is available to 14-year-olds applying for the restricted motor-driven cycle license.¹

Age Thresholds

Age matters for what the Class M covers. A 14-year-old can apply for a restricted Class M limited to motor-driven cycles, the smaller machines typically under 150cc.¹ At 16, a rider can return to the examining office and upgrade to a full Class M covering motorcycles of any engine size.⁵ Riders 17 and younger remain subject to Alabama’s graduated license restrictions, including limits on operating hours.

What to Bring

ALEA requires an original Social Security card, one primary identity document such as a certified U.S. birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport, and at least one secondary identity document that includes a photograph. If none of your documents has a photo, you will need an additional secondary document in its place. You also need two proofs of principal Alabama residence, such as a utility bill less than 90 days old or a current homeowner’s insurance policy showing your name and address.⁶ If you hold an Alabama Class D license, bring it to surrender when the updated card is issued.

After you pass and pay, the examiner issues a temporary paper license that is your legal proof of the Class M until the permanent card arrives by mail, typically within 7 to 10 days.⁷

1
Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-12-22 – License Requirements of Persons Operating Motor-Driven Cycles
2
Alabama Legislature. Code of Alabama 32-5A-240 – License Requirements of Persons Operating Motorcycles
3
Alabama Legislature. Alabama Legislature – Summaries of General Acts
4
Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 32 Motor Vehicles and Traffic Section 32-6-19
5
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual
6
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements And Fees
7
Shelby County, AL. State Drivers License Examiners Office