Motorcycle Laws in Kansas: Licensing, Helmets & Insurance

Motorcycle laws in Kansas require anyone riding on public roads to hold a Class M driver’s license, carry liability insurance at the state minimums, and follow equipment, helmet, and lane rules that differ from the rules for cars. Riders and passengers under 18 must wear a DOT-compliant helmet, and every operator needs eye protection unless the bike has a qualifying windscreen. Break these rules and you face fines, license points, and, for DUI, mandatory jail time.

Licensing Requirements

You need a Class M license, or at least a motorcycle instruction permit, before you can ride legally.

Anyone 17 or older can apply for a permit by passing a written knowledge test at a Kansas Department of Revenue driver’s license exam station. The permit does not let you ride alone. You must be accompanied by someone at least 21 years old who holds a valid Class M license, has at least one year of riding experience, and is riding a separate motorcycle in your general proximity.¹

For the full Class M license, you can either schedule a skills test at your local exam station or complete a state-approved motorcycle safety course, which counts in place of the skills test.² One catch: if you take the skills test on a three-wheeled motorcycle, your license will be restricted to three-wheeled bikes. Testing on a two-wheeled motorcycle covers both.

Helmet and Eye Protection Rules

Kansas does not require adult riders to wear helmets. Every rider and passenger under 18, however, must wear a helmet that meets the minimum guidelines set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.³ Parents and guardians can be cited for letting a minor ride without one.

Eye protection is a different rule and it applies to adults. Every operator must wear shatterproof, impact-resistant glasses, goggles, or a transparent face shield. The only exception is a windscreen at least 10 inches tall, measured from the center of the handlebars. Passengers under 18 need eye protection even when the bike has that windscreen.³

Insurance Minimums

Every motorcycle on Kansas roads must carry liability insurance meeting the state minimums: $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person, $50,000 per accident involving two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.⁴

Kansas is a no-fault state, and auto policies typically include personal injury protection (PIP) covering medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. Motorcycles get a carve-out. Owners can reject PIP in writing, and once you do, your insurer does not have to include it at renewal unless you ask for it again in writing. Rejecting PIP does not make your motorcycle uninsured for registration purposes.⁴ Dropping PIP lowers your premium, but any post-crash medical bills fall to your health insurance or your wallet.

Riding without required liability coverage can trigger fines, registration suspension, and personal liability for damages you cause.

Required Equipment on Your Bike

Kansas spreads its motorcycle equipment rules across several sections of Chapter 8. Your bike needs:

At least one headlamp mounted between 24 and 54 inches off the ground. Federally compliant headlamp modulation is allowed.⁵
At least one rear stop lamp that activates when you brake.⁶
At least one red rear reflector, either built into the tail lamp or mounted separately.⁷
A left-side mirror. Motorcycles are exempt from the additional inside or right-side mirror cars and trucks must carry.⁸
A horn, muffler, and tires meeting the same standards as other motor vehicles under K.S.A. 8-1738, 8-1739, and 8-1742.⁹

Lane Rules for Motorcyclists

Motorcycles are entitled to full use of a traffic lane, and no other vehicle may crowd into that space.¹⁰ In exchange, riders face specific restrictions:

Lane splitting is illegal. You cannot ride between lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles, even in stopped or slow-moving traffic.¹⁰
You cannot pass another vehicle within the same lane that vehicle occupies.¹⁰
Two motorcycles may ride side by side in a single lane. No more than two.¹⁰

Carrying a Passenger

A motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, must have a passenger seat and footrests.¹¹ Kansas sets no minimum age for passengers. The under-18 helmet and eye protection rules apply to passengers the same as to operators.³

Penalties for Violations

Traffic infractions on a motorcycle work the same as in a car: fines, license points, and likely higher insurance premiums. Riding without a valid Class M license adds administrative penalties on top of the fine.

DUI carries the harshest consequences. A first-time conviction is a Class B nonperson misdemeanor, with at least 48 consecutive hours in jail (up to six months) or 100 hours of community service at the court’s discretion, plus a fine between $750 and $1,000. Second and later convictions bring longer mandatory jail time, extended license suspensions, ignition interlock requirements, and court-ordered substance use disorder treatment.¹²

1
Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-239 – Instruction Permits
2
Kansas Department of Revenue. How to Get a Motorcycle License in Kansas
3
Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1598 – Operation of Motorcycles and Equipment Required
4
Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 40-3107 – Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Policies
5
Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1801 – Headlamps and Modulation Systems
6
Justia Law. Kansas Code 8-1804 – Stop Lamps and Turn Signals
7
Justia Law. Kansas Code 8-1803 – Reflectors
8
Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-1740 – Mirrors
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Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-1810 – Other Equipment for Motorcycles
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Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 8-1595 – Roadways Laned for Traffic
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Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-1597 – Equipment on Motorcycles for Passengers
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Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-1567 – Driving Under the Influence and Penalties