How to Get a Motorcycle License in Washington State

To get a motorcycle license in Washington State, you add a motorcycle endorsement to an existing Washington driver license. The Department of Licensing (DOL) runs the process: confirm you meet the prerequisites, pass a knowledge test and a riding skills test through a DOL-approved training school, then apply for the endorsement online or at a licensing office and pay a fee that starts at $27.¹

Riding without that endorsement on a public road is illegal, whether the bike is a two-wheel motorcycle, a three-wheel motorcycle, or a scooter.² And the endorsement is vehicle-specific: a two-wheel endorsement does not cover a three-wheel motorcycle, and the reverse is also true.

Before You Start: Eligibility

You need a valid Washington driver license first.² The endorsement sits on top of that license; it isn’t a standalone credential.

Applicants under 18 have two extra requirements. A parent or guardian must sign a consent form at a DOL office, and the rider must complete a state-approved motorcycle safety course. Adults can test their way to the endorsement without a course, but minors cannot.³

The Instruction Permit (Optional)

You don’t have to hold an instruction permit before earning the endorsement, but many riders use one to practice legally on public roads while preparing for the tests. The permit is valid for 180 days, and you’re allowed one initial permit and one renewal within a five-year period.³

The restrictions matter. On a permit, you must carry both the permit and your driver license, you cannot carry passengers, and you cannot ride during hours of darkness.⁴ Riding home after sunset is a violation. Let the permit expire without completing the endorsement and you’ll have to retest to get a new one.

Testing

All motorcycle testing happens through DOL-approved training schools, not at DOL offices. You can either take the tests as part of a motorcycle safety course, which is what most riders do, or schedule standalone tests at a training school.

Two-Wheel Endorsement

The two-wheel path requires four tests: two knowledge tests and two riding skills tests.⁵ Test scores are valid for one year; if that window closes before you apply, you’ll retest from scratch. After passing, allow at least three business days for the school to enter your scores into the DOL system before you apply for the endorsement.³

Three-Wheel Endorsement

The three-wheel path requires a knowledge test and a skills test built for three-wheel motorcycles. The same DOL-approved training schools offer three-wheel courses and exams. Holding one type of endorsement does not qualify you for the other.

Applying for the Endorsement

Once your scores are in the DOL system, you can apply online or in person. Online is faster: apply through the DOL website, pay the fee, and print a temporary driver license with your endorsement immediately.³ If you’d rather apply in person, any DOL licensing office will verify your test results, take payment, and issue the same temporary license on the spot. Carry the temporary document whenever you ride until the permanent card arrives in the mail.

What It Costs

Adding a motorcycle endorsement to an existing license costs between $27 and $41. The formula is a $25 license and application fee plus $2 for each year remaining on your current license.⁶ Four years left on your license, for example, works out to $33.

DOL fees don’t include what you pay a private training school for a safety course. Course tuition varies by provider and is a separate cost.

Moving to Washington With an Endorsement Already

If you already hold a motorcycle endorsement from another jurisdiction, Washington will transfer it. Accepted origins are all U.S. states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, British Columbia, and Japan.³

Timing is what people get wrong. Transfer the endorsement at the same time you apply for your Washington driver license, and bring proof of the out-of-state motorcycle license or endorsement to the licensing office. If you get your Washington license first without the endorsement, you’ll go through the full testing process as if you’d never been endorsed anywhere.³

Penalty for Riding Without the Endorsement

Riding without a valid endorsement is a traffic infraction. The penalty is the base traffic infraction fine plus an additional $250 that goes into the state’s motorcycle safety education account, and the motorcycle may be impounded.² It’s not a criminal charge, but with impound costs added in, it runs well past the price of the endorsement itself.

Helmet and Eye Protection Before You Ride

Every operator and passenger on a motorcycle in Washington must wear a helmet meeting Washington State Patrol standards. The law has no age exemption.⁷

If your motorcycle doesn’t have a windshield, you also need eye protection that conforms to State Patrol rules: glasses, goggles, or a face shield.⁷ A full-face helmet with an integrated visor covers both.

1
Washington State Department of Licensing. Motorcycle Endorsements
2
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 46.20.500 – Special Endorsement, Penalties, Exceptions
3
Washington State Department of Licensing. Get a 2-Wheel Motorcycle Permit or Endorsement
4
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 46.20.510 – Motorcyclist’s Instruction Permit
5
Washington State Department of Licensing. 2-Wheel (2W) Motorcycle Testing
6
Washington State Department of Licensing. Driver Licensing Fees
7
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 46.37.530 – Motorcycles, Motor-Driven Cycles, Mopeds, Electric-Assisted Bicycles, Helmets, Other Equipment, Children, Rules