To get a motorcycle endorsement in Montana, you add an “M” to your existing driver’s license by passing a written knowledge test and then either passing the state’s on-cycle skills test or completing an approved Basic RiderCourse. The endorsement itself costs $0.50 for each remaining year on your license, so most riders pay only a few dollars once the testing is done.1Helena College. Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety FAQs
Who Can Apply
You need to be at least 16, or 15 if you’ve completed an approved driver’s education course. Applicants under 18 need written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
You also need a valid Montana driver’s license before the “M” can be added to it. Bring proof of identity and date of birth (a birth certificate or passport works), plus two documents showing your current Montana residential address, such as utility bills or bank statements. If you’re moving to a REAL ID-compliant license at the same time, bring proof of your Social Security number as well.
Pass the Written Knowledge Test First
Both paths to the endorsement start with the written test. It covers safe riding practices, traffic laws, and highway signs.2Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 61-5-110 – Records Check of Applicants – Examination of Applicants – Cooperative Driver Testing Programs – Reciprocal Agreement with Foreign Country The Montana Motorcycle Manual, free on the MVD website, is the source material. Study it directly rather than relying on third-party practice tests.
Once you pass, the state issues a motorcycle learner license valid for one year. It lets you ride on public roads only under the direct supervision of a licensed motorcyclist. Watch the one-year clock: if the learner license expires before you finish the skills portion, you forfeit the fee and start over, including the written test.3Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Montana Motorcycle Manual People who pass the written test in fall and wait out the winter often get caught by this.
Take the On-Cycle Skills Test
The skills test is a practical demonstration on your own motorcycle. The examiner evaluates controlled stops, turns, and low-speed control exercises designed to mimic real road conditions.2Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 61-5-110 – Records Check of Applicants – Examination of Applicants – Cooperative Driver Testing Programs – Reciprocal Agreement with Foreign Country You bring the bike, and it must be street-legal and properly registered.
Or Complete the Basic RiderCourse Instead
Montana’s second path is the Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety (MMRS) program, administered through Helena College. Completing an MMRS Basic RiderCourse waives the on-cycle skills test at the Driver Exam Station.1Helena College. Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety FAQs It does not waive the written test. You still have to pass that.
The course runs about 10 hours of hands-on riding, progressing from basic controls and straight-line riding through shifting, turning, swerving, and emergency braking.4Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Basic RiderCourse Motorcycles and helmets are typically provided for training, so you don’t need your own bike. New riders generally benefit from the structured instruction and the chance to skip the pressure of the state riding exam. Graduates get a completion card the MVD accepts as proof of skills competency.
Finish at a Driver Exam Station
Once the testing is done (or your course completion card is in hand), schedule an appointment through the Montana Department of Justice’s online system. Walk-ins work at some stations, but an appointment avoids a wasted trip. Bring your current license, any training completion certificate, and your identification documents.
You’ll also take a vision screening. Montana requires corrected or uncorrected visual acuity of at least 20/40.5Montana Secretary of State. Vision Standards If you wear corrective lenses, bring them.
Once everything checks out, the examiner photographs you and prints a temporary license on the spot. The temporary document is valid for 90 days and lets you ride legally while your permanent card is produced. The physical license with the “M” endorsement arrives by mail in about two to four weeks.6Montana Department of Justice – Motor Vehicle Division. Renewing Your License / ID Check the temporary receipt before you leave to confirm your name, address, and endorsement are all correct.
What It Costs
Adding the endorsement costs $0.50 for each remaining year on your current license.1Helena College. Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety FAQs On a standard eight-year license, that’s about $4. On a 12-year license, roughly $6. The fee is folded into your license total rather than billed separately: an eight-year REAL ID license for someone aged 21 to 67, for example, costs $67.47 without the endorsement and $71.59 with it.7Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Mail-in Renewal Standard Driver License or ID Card
Keeping the Endorsement Current
The endorsement doesn’t carry its own expiration date. It renews when your driver’s license renews, and the fee is included in that renewal. No retesting is required if you renew on time.8Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 61-5-111 – Contents of Drivers License, Renewal, License Expirations, License Replacements, Grace Period, and Fees for Licenses Permits and Endorsements – Notice of Expiration
You can renew up to six months before expiration or within one year after. Miss that one-year window and you’ll have to retake the full exam, including the skills test, to get your “M” back.9Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Motorcycle Endorsements
What the Endorsement Does Not Cover
The “M” covers standard two-wheeled motorcycles and scooters. Three-wheeled vehicles like trikes and autocycles follow separate rules, and many do not require the endorsement at all. ATVs are excluded as well.1Helena College. Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety FAQs If you’re unsure about your specific vehicle, call your local Driver Exam Station before you ride.
Riding Without the Endorsement
Operating a motorcycle without an “M” on your license is a traffic violation carrying a fine of up to $500.10Montana Code Annotated. Montana Code 61-5-102 – Drivers to Be Licensed – Penalty It can also complicate an insurance claim if you’re in an accident, since insurers look for any reason to reduce a payout and operating outside the scope of your license gives them one. At $0.50 a year, the endorsement is the cheapest part of riding legally in Montana.