To get a Washington motorcycle endorsement, you need a valid Washington driver license and then either a completion certificate from an approved motorcycle safety course or passing scores on the Department of Licensing’s knowledge and skills tests. Adding the endorsement costs a $25 application fee plus $2 for each year left on your license, so the total runs between $27 and $41.1Washington State Department of Licensing. Driver Licensing Fees A standard driver license by itself does not cover motorcycles, and riding without the endorsement is a traffic infraction under state law.2Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 46.20.500 – Special Endorsement, Penalties, Exceptions
Who Qualifies
You must already hold a valid Washington driver license before the DOL will add a motorcycle endorsement. If you’re moving in from another state, convert your out-of-state license to a Washington one first, then start the endorsement process.
Riders aged 16 and 17 have two extra requirements. A parent or guardian has to sign a consent form in person at a DOL licensing office.3Washington State Department of Licensing. Get a 2-Wheel Motorcycle Permit or Endorsement And anyone under 18 must complete an approved motorcycle safety education course before receiving either an instruction permit or a full endorsement — the independent testing route is not open to minors.4Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 46.20.510 – Motorcycle Endorsement
The Two Ways to Qualify
Adult riders choose between two paths.
Approved Safety Course
This is the faster and more common option. Complete an approved motorcycle rider education course, and as long as your endorsement hasn’t been revoked, canceled, or suspended in the past five years, the DOL waives both the knowledge and the skills exams.5Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 46.20.515 – Motorcycle Endorsement, Special Motor Vehicle Endorsement You bring your course completion certificate, pay the fee, and leave endorsed. The DOL maintains a list of approved schools across the state offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses for both two-wheel and three-wheel motorcycles.6Washington State Department of Licensing. Types of Motorcycle Training Courses Course prices and schedules vary by school, so check directly.
Independent Knowledge and Skills Tests
If you’d rather not sit through a course, you can take the DOL’s knowledge and skills tests separately at a licensing office or approved testing site. The knowledge exam has 25 questions covering Washington traffic laws, defensive riding, lane positioning, and hazard awareness; you need 20 correct to pass. Study the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, which the DOL publishes online for free.
The skills test puts you on a motorcycle in a controlled area to perform maneuvers such as controlled braking, tight turns, and swerves. If you fail, you can retake it, but you’ll schedule a new appointment. Fail rates and the hassle of two separate visits are the main reasons most people pick the course route.
Instruction Permit
Not ready to commit to a full endorsement? Pass the DOL’s knowledge exam and you can get a motorcycle instruction permit that’s valid for 180 days. Permit holders cannot carry passengers and cannot ride at night. If the 180 days run out before you finish qualifying, the DOL may issue one additional 180-day permit, but that’s the limit — after the second permit expires, you cannot get another for five years.4Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 46.20.510 – Motorcycle Endorsement Treat the permit window as a deadline.
Two-Wheel vs. Three-Wheel
Washington issues two separate endorsements with their own permit and testing paths.7Washington State Department of Licensing. Motorcycle Endorsements The two-wheel endorsement covers standard motorcycles and scooters. The three-wheel endorsement covers trikes and similar vehicles.
The direction of coverage matters. A full two-wheel endorsement covers both two- and three-wheel motorcycles. A three-wheel endorsement does not let you ride a standard two-wheeler. If you specifically want to ride a trike, take the three-wheel course and test — the handling is different enough that training on a two-wheeler doesn’t transfer cleanly.
Fees and How to Apply
The fee to add a new motorcycle endorsement to your existing license is a $25 application fee plus $2 for each year remaining on your license, for a total of $27 to $41.1Washington State Department of Licensing. Driver Licensing Fees
You can apply through the DOL’s License eXpress online portal or in person at a licensing office. If you completed a safety course, confirm the school submitted your completion to the DOL electronically before your visit. At the office, a technician verifies your test scores or course certificate, takes payment, and updates your record. You can print a temporary paper license to carry while the permanent card is produced; the new card usually arrives by mail in two to four weeks. Keep the temporary printout with you any time you ride until it shows up.
Moving to Washington With an Endorsement
If you already hold a motorcycle endorsement from another state, convert your out-of-state driver license to a Washington license first, then add the endorsement. The DOL handles transfers case by case. Bring your current out-of-state license and any course completion certificates you have, and be ready to take a knowledge test on Washington-specific rules. Don’t let the out-of-state endorsement lapse before transferring — an expired credential complicates the process.
What Applies Once You’re Endorsed
Washington is a universal helmet state. Every rider and passenger must wear a DOT-certified helmet on any public road. State law defines a compliant helmet as one with a hard outer shell, interior padding, and a chin or neck strap, carrying the manufacturer’s DOT certification label under federal standard FMVSS 218.8Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 46.37.530 – Motorcycle Headgear, Passengers, Equipment Novelty helmets without DOT certification do not satisfy the rule even if they look the part.
You also need liability insurance. The minimum limits are $25,000 for one person’s injuries or death, $50,000 for total injuries or death per accident, and $10,000 for property damage.9Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Washington State’s Mandatory Auto/Motorcycle Insurance Law A $60,000 surety bond or a certificate of deposit filed with the DOL can stand in for a policy. Given how exposed motorcycle riders are in a crash, underinsured motorist coverage is worth thinking about beyond the legal floor.