To get a motorcycle license in Arkansas, you pass a written knowledge test and vision screening at an Arkansas State Police testing facility, ride under an instruction permit, then either pass a State Police skills test or complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse before paying $40 at a Department of Finance and Administration Revenue Office for your Class M license.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motorcycle License The license is good for eight years. Testing is handled by one agency, and the card itself is issued by another, so plan on at least two separate visits.
Which License Fits Your Age
Arkansas has two motorcycle license classes. Riders 14 and 15 can qualify for a Class MD certificate, which restricts them to motor-driven cycles with engines of 250cc or less and expires on their 16th birthday.2Arkansas Highway Safety Office. Rules of the Road Learn the Law Series 10 – Motorcycle Safety Class MD holders cannot carry passengers.
At 16, you qualify for a full Class M license covering motorcycles of any engine size. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign the application. There is no upper age limit, and the process is the same at 16 or 60.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motorcycle License
Documents to Bring
Arkansas uses the same document framework for motorcycle licenses as for standard driver’s licenses. Bring these to your testing appointment and again to the Revenue Office:
- Proof of legal presence, such as a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or permanent resident card
- Proof of Social Security number, most easily the card itself
- Proof of identity, such as a current driver’s license, school ID, military ID, or vehicle registration
- Two documents proving Arkansas residency, dated within the last six months (utility bills, bank statements, paycheck stubs, or a current tax return)
Your application must use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or passport. No nicknames.3Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Arkansas Real ID – Section: Requirements
The Written Test and Vision Screening
Both tests happen at an Arkansas State Police testing facility by appointment. Schedule one through the State Police online booking system before you go.4Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Driver Examination – Section: Services and Programs
The knowledge exam is computer-based and covers traffic laws, safe riding techniques, lane positioning, intersection safety, and emergency maneuvers. The State Police publishes a Motorcycle Endorsement Study Guide that tracks the test content closely, and the questions pull directly from that material.5FindLaw. Arkansas Code 27-20-108 – Examination for Special License
The vision screening runs at the same visit. Arkansas requires uncorrected acuity of at least 20/40 for an unrestricted license. Corrected vision of at least 20/70 qualifies for a restricted license. Your field of vision must reach at least 140 degrees with two functional eyes, or 105 degrees with one. Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them.6FindLaw. Arkansas Code 27-16-704 – Examination of Applicant
Riding on an Instruction Permit
Passing both tests earns you a motorcycle instruction permit, valid for 24 months. It lets you practice on public roads while you prepare for the skills test or finish a training course.
Standard Arkansas instruction permits require a licensed driver 21 or older to accompany the permittee, but the law specifically excepts motorcycle permittees from that accompaniment rule.7Justia. Arkansas Code 27-16-802 – Instruction Permits You still need valid insurance and registration on the bike you ride. If your permit expires before you finish the skills test, you have to retake the written and vision exams and start over.
Skills Test or MSF Course
Arkansas gives you two paths for the riding portion of the exam. Both carry equal weight at the Revenue Office.
The State Police Skills Test
A State Police examiner runs the practical exam at a designated testing site. You bring your own street-legal motorcycle with current registration and proof of insurance, and the examiner checks the bike for working lights, signals, and mirrors before you start.8Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Arkansas State Police Drivers Testing 1-2-3 Skills Check List The test covers low-speed balance, controlled stops, swerving to avoid obstacles, smooth gear shifts, and U-turns. Tests are not given in rain, snow, or on wet roads. Bring prescription glasses or contacts if you wear them.
The MSF Basic RiderCourse
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse is a multi-day hands-on training program in a controlled environment. Arkansas waives the State Police skills exam for riders who complete it, and the training provider supplies the motorcycle during the course.9Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Basic RiderCourse Tuition typically runs $295 to $389 depending on the provider and location.
The completion card is valid for 90 days. Wait longer than that to visit the Revenue Office and you lose the waiver, meaning you take the State Police skills test instead.
Finalizing the License at the Revenue Office
Once you have passed the skills test or hold a current MSF completion card, go to an Arkansas Revenue Office. Bring your test result or MSF card, your instruction permit, proof of insurance, and the same identity and residency documents from the original application.
The Class M license fee is $40 for an eight-year term.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motorcycle License The clerk verifies your test results with the State Police electronically and processes payment. You leave with a temporary paper license that is legally valid for riding right away, and the permanent card arrives by mail, typically within two to three weeks.
If you already hold an Arkansas driver’s license, the Class M endorsement is added to your existing card rather than issued as a separate motorcycle-only license.
Insurance, Helmet, and Passenger Rules
Before you ride on public roads, your motorcycle needs liability insurance meeting Arkansas minimums of $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person per accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.10Justia. Arkansas Code 27-22-104 – Insurance Required That 25/50/25 is the legal floor, and many riders carry higher limits along with uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Arkansas requires all motorcycle operators and passengers under 21 to wear a helmet meeting standards set by the Office of Motor Vehicle. Riders 21 and older are not required to wear one. Eye protection, however, is mandatory for every rider and passenger regardless of age. Protective glasses, goggles, or a transparent face shield must be worn on public roads.11Justia. Arkansas Code 27-20-104 – Standard Equipment Required
Children under eight cannot ride as passengers on a motorcycle at any time, on any road, regardless of helmet use.2Arkansas Highway Safety Office. Rules of the Road Learn the Law Series 10 – Motorcycle Safety