In California, the DL 389 is the Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training that an approved California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) provider hands you after you pass the course. You don’t download or fill it out yourself, and the DMV doesn’t issue it. Its job is to let the DMV waive the motorcycle riding skills test when you apply for a Class M1 or M2 license. If you’re under 21, you cannot get a motorcycle license in California without one.
Do You Actually Need a DL 389
Whether the certificate is required or optional comes down to your age on the day you apply.
Under 21, it is mandatory. State law requires you to complete an approved CMSP course and present a DL 389 before the DMV will issue a Class M1 or M2 license or endorsement, and you need it even for a learner’s permit. Riding experience does not substitute.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12804.9 – Examination of Applicant2California Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcyclists Guide
At 21 or older, it’s a choice. You can take the CMSP course and use the DL 389 to skip the DMV’s on-road riding test, or you can go to a DMV field office and take the skills test directly, with up to three attempts to pass.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcyclists Guide Many older riders take the course anyway for the structured practice, but the law doesn’t force it.
One boundary to keep in mind at any age: the DL 389 only waives the riding skills test. You still have to pass the written motorcycle knowledge exam and complete the usual identity, fee, photo, and fingerprint requirements. The certificate covers either license class, whether you’re going for a full motorcycle M1 or the lower-powered M2.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Motorcycle Handbook
How to Earn the Certificate
Only training facilities authorized through the CMSP can issue a DL 389. The California Highway Patrol runs the program through a primary contractor, currently Total Control Training, Inc., and approved sites are listed at motorcyclesafetyca.com.4California Highway Patrol. California Motorcyclist Safety
What the Course Looks Like
The CMSP Motorcyclist Training Course pairs classroom instruction with hands-on riding practice, typically over two or more days. Classroom time covers traffic laws, hazard awareness, and riding strategy. Range time puts you on a bike in a controlled lot to practice braking, turning, swerving, and low-speed control under an instructor’s eye. The school supplies motorcycles and helmets, so you don’t need to own a bike to enroll.
Cost
Tuition varies by provider and location. One established CMSP provider charges $425 for riders 21 and older and $395 for riders 20 and younger. Prices around the state fall in that general range.
Passing and Retesting
To earn the certificate, you must pass both the written and the practical riding evaluations given by your training facility. The provider generates and hands you the DL 389 directly. The DMV does not print, email, or otherwise issue this form, and the original paper copy is the only version accepted.
If you fail the skills evaluation, some CMSP providers allow one retest, usually within 30 days and for a retesting fee (around $25, depending on the provider). Fail a second time and you’ll need to repeat the whole course. Retake policies vary, so ask before you enroll.
Bringing the Certificate to the DMV
Once you have the paper certificate, book an appointment at a DMV field office to apply for the license. Walk-ins are allowed, but appointments move faster.
What to Bring
- The original DL 389 from your training provider. Copies are not accepted.
- A completed DL 44 application, which you can start online before the visit.
- Proof of identity and California residency, plus your Social Security number.
- The application fee: $46 for an M1 or M2 license, whether it’s original, a renewal, or an endorsement on a Class C license; $59 to add a motorcycle endorsement to a commercial Class A, B, or C license.5California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees
The Written Test Still Applies
The DL 389 waives the riding skills test, not the written one. You still need to pass the motorcycle knowledge exam, which is multiple choice, drawn from the California Motorcycle Handbook, and scored at 80% or higher to pass.6DMV CA. Motorcycle Learner’s Permit The handbook is free on the DMV website. Tests are not given after 4:30 p.m.
Possible Observation Test
If you’re applying for a motorcycle-only license and don’t already hold another class of California driver’s license, the DMV may also require an observation road test. An examiner watches you ride a short route near the field office from a fixed spot. This can apply even with a valid DL 389.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Motorcycle Handbook If you’re adding a motorcycle endorsement to an existing Class C car license, the observation test typically doesn’t apply.
How Long the Certificate Is Good For
The DL 389 expires 12 months from the date the training provider issued it. Miss that window and the certificate is void; it cannot be renewed or extended. Your options at that point are to retake the CMSP course for a new certificate, or, if you’re 21 or older, take the DMV riding skills test instead.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcyclists Guide
Replacing a Lost DL 389
If you lose the certificate before it expires, don’t return to the school that trained you. They can’t reissue it. Only the CMSP program administrator, Total Control Training, Inc., can produce a replacement. You’ll submit a replacement request form with a photocopy of your driver’s license, either by mail to their Victorville, California office or by scanning and emailing it. Replacements take up to five business days. A replacement does not push back the original 12-month expiration, so plan around that if your deadline is close.
Extra Rules for Riders Under 18
Younger riders have steps beyond the certificate itself. California requires riders under 18 to have written permission from a parent or legal guardian before enrolling in the CMSP course or applying for a permit.7CMSP Motorcycle Training. New Riders
After you get a learner’s permit, you have to hold it for six months before you’re eligible for a full M1 or M2. During those six months, you can’t ride at night, on freeways, or with passengers. The restrictions come off when the full license is issued.7CMSP Motorcycle Training. New Riders