How to Get a Class B MDC Endorsement in Indiana

To get a Class B MDC endorsement in Indiana, you must be at least 15, an Indiana resident, and willing to pass a BMV knowledge test covering road signs and traffic control devices. The endorsement is added to a state identification card for a $9 fee and lets you legally ride a motor driven cycle (a scooter, moped, or small trike with an engine of 50cc or less) on public roads. There is no riding skills test.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions

Check Whether You Need It First

Most people who think they need the MDC endorsement actually don’t. Under Indiana Code 9-24-1-1, you can legally operate a motor driven cycle on a highway with any one of three credentials: a valid driver’s license, a valid learner’s permit, or an identification card carrying the Class B MDC endorsement.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-1-1 – License Required; Violation

So if you already hold an Indiana driver’s license, you’re covered. The endorsement exists for people who don’t have one: a 15-year-old who wants to ride a 50cc scooter to school, or an adult who never got a driver’s license. Those are the readers this process is built for.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions

Requirements to Apply

Three things have to be true before the BMV will issue the endorsement:

  • You are at least 15 years old.
  • You are an Indiana resident.
  • You pass a knowledge exam on road signs and traffic control devices. This test is waived if you already hold a valid Indiana learner’s permit or driver’s license, although in that case you don’t need the endorsement at all.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions

Cost

Adding the MDC endorsement to your identification card costs $9. If you qualify for Indiana’s free voter identification card, the endorsement is free.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions

What the Endorsement Covers

The endorsement authorizes you to ride a motor driven cycle, which Indiana defines as a motor vehicle with a seat or saddle, no more than three wheels, a cylinder capacity of 50 cubic centimeters or less, equipment that meets federal and state standards, and registration as a motor driven cycle. Electric bicycles are specifically excluded from the category.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions

Anything with a larger engine is a motorcycle under Indiana law and requires a full motorcycle endorsement, which involves either a riding skills test or completion of a rider education course. The Class B MDC endorsement does not authorize you to ride a bigger bike.

Where and How You Can Ride

Even with a valid endorsement, Indiana Code 9-21-11-12 limits where a motor driven cycle can go. The vehicle may not be operated on an interstate highway or a sidewalk, may not exceed 35 miles per hour, and may not be ridden by anyone under 15. It also must be registered.3Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-21-11-12 – Motorcycles; Prohibitions on Operation

The 35 mph cap is the one that trips people up. A road posted at 45 mph is off-limits for a motor driven cycle, even if your scooter can physically keep up. Plan routes along lower-speed streets.

If you’re under 18, you must wear a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards under 49 CFR 571.218, along with protective glasses, goggles, or a transparent face shield.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-19-7-1 – Minors; Protective Headgear and Face Shields Because the minimum MDC age is 15 and most riders using this endorsement rather than a driver’s license are minors, the helmet rule will apply to nearly everyone in that group.

Register the Vehicle Too

The endorsement credentials the rider; registration credentials the vehicle, and you need both. Every motor driven cycle operated on public roads must be registered with the Indiana BMV, which issues a specific MDC plate. You’ll need proof of ownership to register.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions Insurance is not required for motor driven cycles in Indiana, though carrying a liability policy protects you if you cause an accident.5Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motorcycle and Motor Driven Cycle Classifications

What Happens If You Skip It

Operating a motor driven cycle on a public road without the required endorsement, license, or permit is a Class C infraction under Indiana Code 9-24-1-1.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-1-1 – License Required; Violation A Class C infraction carries a maximum judgment of $500.6Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 34-28-5-4 – Judgments for Infractions Infractions in Indiana are civil, not criminal, so there’s no jail exposure for this violation on its own. The bigger risk is civil: if you’re in a crash while riding without proper credentials, that fact can be used against you in a lawsuit for damages.

One boundary worth knowing. The license and endorsement requirements apply only to riding “upon a highway,” so operating a motor driven cycle on private property, like farmland or a private trail, doesn’t require the endorsement, a license, or registration.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-1-1 – License Required; Violation The moment the wheels touch a public road, every requirement above kicks in.