Texas Motorcycle Permit Requirements: Safety Course and DPS Steps

To ride legally in Texas, you need a Class M license or a Class M endorsement added to your existing driver license, and the Texas motorcycle license requirements start with completing a DPS-approved motorcycle safety course before you apply in person at a Department of Public Safety office. A regular Class A, B, or C license does not cover motorcycles, no matter how long you’ve been driving cars.¹ DPS will not issue the Class M authorization until your safety course is done.²

One narrow exception: if you’re moving to Texas with a valid out-of-state license that already carries motorcycle authorization, you don’t have to retake the safety course. You still transfer your license at a DPS office and meet the standard identity and residency rules.²

Who Can Apply

Adults 18 and Older

If you’re 18 or older, the path is short. Complete a DPS-approved motorcycle safety course, meet REAL ID identity requirements, and bring your documents to a DPS office. You don’t need to hold a regular driver license first, though most applicants already have one and simply add the motorcycle authorization.³

Applicants Under 18

Minors face more requirements. You must already hold a Class C provisional license, or a Class C learner license paired with a completed 24-hour driver education course. On top of that, you need the motorcycle safety course, a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form (or a high school diploma or GED), and a parent or legal guardian present at the DPS office.³

Minors also take a road skills exam at the DPS office. Bring your own motorcycle to ride, plus a car and a licensed driver to follow the route. Adult applicants skip this on-road test because the safety course already includes a skills evaluation.

The Motorcycle Safety Course

Every first-time motorcycle applicant in Texas must complete a DPS-approved course before applying.² DPS runs the motorcycle operator training and safety program under Chapter 662 of the Transportation Code, with certified providers at community colleges, riding schools, and other training facilities across the state.

Most courses follow the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse: about 15 hours over two days, split between roughly 5 hours of classroom or online instruction and 10 hours of hands-on riding.⁴ It ends with a written knowledge test and a riding evaluation covering things like a cone weave, U-turn, quick stop, and swerve.

When you pass, the provider gives you a completion certificate: Form MSB-8 for adults, or MSB-9/MSB-8R for minors.³ Keep the original. It stays valid for 24 months, so you have two years to finish the application at DPS. Costs vary by provider, so check with schools in your area.

The Motorcycle Learner Permit

If you’re not ready to test into a full Class M license, Texas offers a motorcycle learner permit shown as a “J” restriction on your license. You can practice riding, but only while a licensed motorcycle operator 21 or older stays within sight.⁵ The supervising rider doesn’t have to be on your bike, but they need to be close enough to see you.

You may also see an “I” restriction, which limits you to motorcycles with engines no larger than 250cc, or a “P1” restriction tied to graduated licensing provisions for minors.⁵

What to Bring to DPS

Proof of identity: an original or certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or another document meeting REAL ID requirements.
Social Security verification: your Social Security card, a W-2, or another document showing your full SSN.
Two documents proving Texas residency, at least one showing you’ve lived in Texas for 30 days or more. A utility bill dated within 180 days, a current lease, a Texas voter registration card, a bank statement, or a vehicle registration all qualify, along with many others on the DPS approved list.⁶
Your original safety course certificate (MSB-8, MSB-9, or MSB-8R), issued within the past 24 months.
Application Form DL-14A, available on the DPS website or at the office.

Applicants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who needs valid identification of their own. Minors should also bring their Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form, high school diploma, or GED.

At the DPS Office

Schedule your appointment through the DPS online portal. Walk-ins face long waits or can be turned away. When you arrive, a DPS employee reviews your documents, verifies your identity, and collects the fee.

Fees depend on what you’re doing. Adding motorcycle authorization to an existing license runs $15. If your Class A, B, or C license is up for renewal at the same time, the combined license fee goes up by $11 for the motorcycle endorsement. A standalone Class M license renewal costs $43.⁷

Every applicant takes a vision exam. If you hold a valid safety course certificate, DPS waives the written motorcycle knowledge test.³ Without that certificate, you’ll sit for the knowledge exam at the office. Minors still take the on-road skills test regardless of course completion.

After the checks are done, the clerk photographs you and captures your thumbprints. You’ll leave with a temporary paper license valid for 60 days while your permanent card is manufactured and mailed.⁸ Review the temporary before walking out. Most riders get the permanent card within two to three weeks.

Helmet Law

Every motorcycle rider and passenger in Texas must wear a helmet that meets DPS safety standards, with one conditional exception. If you’re 21 or older, you can ride without a helmet only if you’ve completed a motorcycle safety course or carry health insurance that covers injuries from motorcycle collisions.⁹ You need to be able to show proof of one of those qualifications if asked, though officers cannot pull you over solely to check.

Riders under 21 have no exemption. The helmet is mandatory every time. Violating the helmet law is a misdemeanor with a fine between $10 and $50.⁹

Insurance You Need Before You Ride

Texas requires every motorcycle to carry minimum liability insurance. The state minimums are $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in a single collision, and $25,000 for property damage, commonly written as 30/60/25 coverage.¹⁰ These are the same minimums that apply to cars and trucks.¹¹

Those numbers are a legal floor, not a recommendation. Motorcyclists are more exposed in a crash than car drivers, so many riders carry higher limits, along with collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Riding Without a Class M Endorsement

Operating a motorcycle without the proper Class M license or endorsement is a traffic violation that carries a fine, and officers have authority to impound your bike at your expense. If you’re also uninsured or riding on a suspended license, the penalties stack: fines climb and jail time becomes possible for repeated or compounded violations. Getting the endorsement first costs less than dealing with the consequences of skipping it.

1
Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.085 – Type of Vehicle Authorized
2
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.148 – Application for Class M License or Authorization to Operate Motorcycle
3
Department of Public Safety. Motorcycle License
4
Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Basic RiderCourse
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Department of Public Safety. Driver License Endorsements and Restrictions
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Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards
7
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.421 – License Fees; Examination Fees
8
Department of Public Safety. Section 3 Issuing A Temporary Permit
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State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 661.003 – Offenses Relating to Not Wearing Protective Headgear
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Texas Department of Insurance. Do I Need Insurance for a Motorcycle or Moped?
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State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 601.072