Oregon motorcycle laws require every rider to hold a motorcycle endorsement, wear a DOT-certified helmet, carry liability insurance at or above the state minimums, and ride a bike that meets Oregon’s equipment standards. The state defines a motorcycle as any self-propelled vehicle with a seat or saddle that travels on no more than three wheels touching the ground.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code 801.365 – Motorcycle Riders follow the same traffic rules as other drivers, plus a set of statutes specific to two wheels. Fines for getting these wrong start at $115 and climb past $440.
Endorsement and Instruction Permit
You cannot ride on any Oregon public road without either a motorcycle endorsement added to your driver license or a motorcycle-only license. The minimum age to apply is 16.2Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Motorcycle Instruction Permit and Endorsement Oregon will not issue an endorsement to anyone who has not completed a department-approved motorcycle rider education course, regardless of age.3Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 807.175 – Motorcycle Education Course The only exemptions are riders who already hold an endorsement from another state and applicants seeking a restricted endorsement limited to three-wheeled motorcycles.
Team Oregon administers the required course. The Basic Course costs $229 and the Intermediate Course costs $199.4Team Oregon. Oregon Motorcycle Endorsement and Training Completing the course satisfies both the education requirement and the riding skills test, so no separate DMV skills evaluation is needed. Adding the endorsement to an existing Oregon license costs $98.5Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Driver Licensing and ID Card Fees
Riding without a valid endorsement is a Class A traffic violation with a presumptive fine of $440. A court will suspend the fine if you complete a motorcycle education course and obtain the endorsement within 120 days of sentencing.6Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 807.010 – Operating Vehicle Without Driving Privileges or in Violation of License Restrictions
Most riders start with an instruction permit. To get one, you pass a vision screening and a motorcycle knowledge test drawn from the Oregon Motorcycle and Moped Manual.7Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Section One – Riding in Oregon The permit lasts one year. Restrictions are tight: daylight only, no passengers, and a supervising rider at least 21 years old with a valid endorsement must be on a separate motorcycle and able to see you.2Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Motorcycle Instruction Permit and Endorsement Solo rides, night rides, and passengers are all off-limits until you hold the full endorsement.
Helmet Law
Oregon has a universal helmet law. Every operator must wear a motorcycle helmet, with no exceptions for age or experience, and passengers face the same requirement.8Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 814.269 – Failure of Motorcycle Operator to Wear Motorcycle Helmet; Penalty Riding without one is a Class D traffic violation carrying a presumptive fine of $115.9Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code 153.019 – Presumptive Fines; Generally
A compliant helmet must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218. Helmets made after May 2013 must carry a DOT certification label on the back showing the manufacturer, model, and the words “FMVSS No. 218 CERTIFIED.”10National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. How to Identify Unsafe Motorcycle Helmets Counterfeit DOT stickers exist, so helmets also bearing SNELL or ANSI certification are stronger indicators of a genuine standard-meeting product.
The helmet responsibility falls on the operator. If you carry a passenger who is not wearing a compliant helmet, you can receive a separate $115 citation for that person.
Required Motorcycle Equipment
Oregon holds motorcycles to specific mechanical standards, and officers write equipment tickets during routine stops. The main requirements:
- At least one rearview mirror giving a clear view of vehicles approaching from at least 200 feet behind on an open road.11Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 815.235 – Operation Without Rearview Mirror; Exemptions; Penalty
- Headlamps lit at all times on a highway. Headlight modulation is allowed during daylight, but low-visibility conditions require a steady beam.12Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 816.050 – Headlights; Rules
- At least one brake light, turn signals, and a white light illuminating the rear plate.13Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 816.320 – Lighting Equipment Required for Motor Vehicles
- A functioning muffler. Modifications that bypass the muffler or produce excessive noise violate state noise regulations.14Oregon Secretary of State. Oregon Administrative Rule 340-035-0030 – Noise Control Regulations for In-Use Motor Vehicles
- Handlebars no higher than the operator’s shoulders while seated. Ape hangers above that height will draw a citation.
Most equipment violations are Class D violations at $115 per noncompliant component.9Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code 153.019 – Presumptive Fines; Generally Multiple issues at a single stop add up quickly.
Lane Use and Lane Splitting
Other drivers cannot squeeze a motorcycle out of its lane. Operating a vehicle in a way that deprives a motorcyclist of full use of a lane is a Class B violation with a $265 fine.15Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 811.385 – Depriving Motorcycle or Moped of Full Lane; Penalty Two motorcycles may share one lane side by side, but a motorcycle cannot pass another type of vehicle within the same lane.16Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 814.240 – Motorcycle or Moped Unlawful Passing
Lane splitting, where a rider moves between rows of traffic, is illegal in Oregon. The legislature considered a lane-filtering bill in 2025 (HB 3542) that would have allowed motorcycles to pass between lanes when traffic slowed below 10 mph on roads with speed limits of 50 mph or higher. It died in committee in June 2025.17BillTrack50. OR HB3542 Until the law changes, riding between lanes in any situation is a Class B violation with a $265 presumptive fine.
You also cannot carry any package or object that keeps you from keeping both hands on the handlebars, and you must sit or stand astride the seat facing forward. Either violation is a Class B traffic violation.18Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 814.200 – Unlawful Operation of Motorcycle or Moped
Carrying a Passenger
You may carry a passenger, but three conditions have to be met:19Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code Chapter 814 – Pedestrians; Passengers; Livestock; Motorized Wheelchairs; Vehicles With Fewer Than Four Wheels – Section: Mopeds and Motorcycles
- The bike must have a permanent, regular seat for the passenger, either behind or beside the operator. If the motorcycle is designed for more than one person, the passenger must use that designated seat.
- The bike must have passenger footrests.
- The passenger cannot sit in any position that interferes with the operator’s control or blocks the operator’s view.
Each violation is a Class B traffic violation with a $265 presumptive fine. Oregon sets no minimum age for motorcycle passengers, though the state motorcycle manual warns that no passenger of any age should sit in front of the operator.
Insurance
Every motorcycle operator must carry liability insurance meeting these minimums:20Oregon Department of Transportation. Insurance Requirements
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash
- Property damage liability: $20,000 per crash
- Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury
Riding uninsured is a Class B violation with a $265 fine and can trigger a license suspension. You may also have to file an SR-22 with the DMV to prove ongoing coverage.
One insurance gap catches many riders off guard. Personal Injury Protection is mandatory on standard Oregon auto policies, but under Oregon’s insurance code, PIP benefits can exclude injuries sustained while operating or riding a motorcycle that is not specifically described in the policy.21Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 742.520 – Personal Injury Protection Benefits for Motor Vehicle Liability Policies; Applicability In practice, your car insurance PIP will generally not pay if you are hurt on a motorcycle. You can add PIP to a motorcycle policy separately, but it is not required.
Registration
Every motorcycle used on Oregon roads must be titled and registered. The two-year registration fee is $88, with title fees added at purchase.22Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Vehicle Title, Registration and Permit Fees Oregon does not require a separate motorcycle-specific inspection at registration, but the equipment standards above still apply on the road.
DUII on a Motorcycle
Oregon’s DUII laws apply to motorcycles the same way they apply to cars. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, and an officer who suspects impairment can require a breath or blood test. A first DUII conviction is a Class A misdemeanor carrying a minimum $1,000 fine, a one-year license suspension, and mandatory participation in a substance abuse program. Refusing a chemical test triggers an automatic license suspension under the implied consent law.