To get a Connecticut motorcycle license, you add an “M” endorsement to your existing Connecticut driver’s license by passing a knowledge and vision test, riding on a learner’s permit, completing an approved safety course, and returning to the DMV to update your license. Plan on roughly $346 in combined DMV and course fees, and a few weeks of calendar time if you schedule efficiently.
Who Can Apply
You must be at least 16 years old and already hold a valid Connecticut driver’s license.1Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 14 – Section 14-40a Applicants under 18 also need a notarized Certificate of Parental Consent (Form 2-D) at the DMV appointment.2CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
Vision screening is part of the first visit. The minimum standard is 20/40 acuity or better in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.3Connecticut eRegulations. Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies – Section 14-45a-1 – Vision Requirements Testing is by appointment only at select DMV locations.4Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Take the Knowledge and Vision Tests
Step 1: Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
You cannot skip straight to the endorsement. Every new rider has to start with a permit and complete a safety course before the “M” is added.2CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
Bring to the appointment:
- Form R-229, the Application for a Non-Commercial Learner Permit and/or Driver License, available on the DMV website or at any branch.5Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for a Non-Commercial Learner Permit and/or Driver License
- Your valid Connecticut driver’s license.
- Notarized Form 2-D if you’re under 18.
You’ll take the vision screening and then a 16-question knowledge test drawn from the Connecticut Motorcycle Operator’s Manual and the Connecticut Driver’s Manual. Fees at this visit are $40 for the knowledge and vision test and $16 for the permit.2CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit The permit arrives by mail within 20 business days.
What You Can and Can’t Do on the Permit
The permit lets you ride on public roads, but under tight limits. While on a learner’s permit, you:6Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Connecticut Motorcycle Operator Manual
- Cannot ride on limited-access highways.
- Cannot ride at night.
- Cannot ride out of state.
- Cannot carry passengers.
- Must wear a DOT-approved helmet regardless of your age.
- Must carry both your permit and driver’s license when operating the motorcycle.
The permit is valid for 60 days and can be renewed once in the same calendar year. Whenever you got it, it expires on December 31 of the year you passed the knowledge test.6Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Connecticut Motorcycle Operator Manual Starting in November means a compressed window to finish the course and the DMV visit before the permit lapses.
Step 2: Complete the CONREP Safety Course
Connecticut law requires every new rider to finish an approved motorcycle training course before receiving the full endorsement.7CT.gov. Connecticut Rider Education Program The Connecticut Rider Education Program (CONREP) is the state’s approved framework, offered through providers across the state. The entry-level Basic Rider Course costs about $260.8CT State Community College. Motorcycle Rider Education
The course combines classroom instruction with hands-on riding, covering controls, cornering, and emergency accident avoidance. You have to pass both a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test to complete it. Passing CONREP waives the DMV’s separate on-cycle riding test.9Connecticut Department of Transportation. Basic Rider Course The completion certificate is good for two years.2CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
If you’ve held a motorcycle endorsement within the past two years, the training course is waived. You still have to visit the DMV to put the endorsement back on your license.1Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 14 – Section 14-40a
Step 3: Add the “M” Endorsement at the DMV
After CONREP, go to a DMV hub or branch office to have the “M” endorsement added. Bring your current license, your CONREP completion certificate, and a completed Form R-229 marked for the endorsement change.2CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit The license-change fee is $30.10CT.gov. DMV Fees
Your updated license card arrives by mail within 20 business days. Confirm the DMV has your current mailing address before you leave.
What It Costs
- Knowledge and vision test: $402CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
- Learner’s permit: $162CT.gov. Get a Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
- CONREP Basic Rider Course: about $2608CT State Community College. Motorcycle Rider Education
- License change for the endorsement: $3010CT.gov. DMV Fees
Total: roughly $346, before gear, gas, or insurance. The CONREP course is the biggest line item and the one that gives you the most back.
Restrictions After You Get the Endorsement
The “M” doesn’t come with full passenger privileges right away. The waiting period depends on your age:6Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Connecticut Motorcycle Operator Manual
- Riders 18 and older: no passengers for 90 days after getting the endorsement.
- Riders 16 or 17: no passengers for six months.
Violating the restriction is an infraction, with fines and a mark on your driving record.
Riding Without the Endorsement
Operating a motorcycle on a public highway without the proper endorsement is illegal. A first offense is an infraction carrying a $50 fine. A subsequent offense can bring a fine of up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both.1Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 14 – Section 14-40a The same statute covers permit violations: riding at night, carrying a passenger, or getting on a limited-access highway on a permit all fall under the same penalty structure.