How to get a Connecticut Motorcycle License
Ready to take your motorcycle on the open road? This article will take you through the steps to get your Connecticut motorcycle license with an extra emphasis on safe driving.
The Rules
Under Connecticut DMV guidelines, anyone who drives a motorcycle must have a Class M motorcycle license or motorcycle instruction permit.
Applicants must be 16 years of age, have a valid driver's license, pay a $40 testing fee, complete a certificate of parental consent form if under eighteen, pass a vision exam, pass a sixteen question law test, and pay a $15 motorcycle permit fee. The final step is to pass the motorcycle skills test where you will demonstrate your competency in motorcycle operation.
Like most states, Connecticut will waive your skills test and issue you a license if you complete an approved basic motorcycle rider safety course. These courses last anywhere from two to six weeks and include classroom instruction as well as driver training in a controlled, off-street environment. When you successfully complete this course, you will be eligible for your motorcycle driver's license without having to take your state's road test. Please note that the certificate is valid for only ninety days and the knowledge test is still required.
Prepare for the Written Exam
The Connecticut DMV requires that all applicants must pass a written motorcycle knowledge test on traffic signs, motor vehicle laws and safe driving techniques. If you fail the test(s), the $40 testing fee is not refunded. A re-exam is allowed any day after the initial failure.
All motorcyclists are encouraged to study for this written test so you don't take a chance on standing in line at the DMV Office only to go home empty-handed. Online practice tests are available that provide real sample questions from the Connecticut DMV Motorcycle Exam. Take the Connecticut motorcycle sample test now and test your driving knowledge.
Paperwork
Before you head to the Connecticut DMV Office, make sure you have the following required documents to get your motorcycle license.
- Motorcycle permit
- Drivers license
- Motorcycle that you will be using for the road test
- Motorcycle registration
- Connecticut Insurance Card for the motorcycle
- Appointment confirmation letter that you received in the mail
- If applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, you must present a certificate of successful completion of a basic motorcycle training courses. You must also bring a parent, legal guardian, spouse over 18 years of age or a completed Certificate of Parental Consent (form 2-D), with a notarized seal
On the Road
After successful completion of the road test, you will surrender your current drivers license and motorcycle permit, and will be issued a new license with a motorcycle endorsement (M). There is no additional fee for this. Please note that any person 16 or 17 years of age who has been issued a motorcycle endorsement may not transport any passenger on a motorcycle for the first six months after obtaining the endorsement, three months if 18 years of age or older.
If you fail the road test, you can retake the test by appointment anytime after two weeks of the initial failure. The fee for a retest is $40.
Remember... the safe operation of a motorcycle requires practiced skill, knowledge, and a respectful understanding of the limitations imposed by the operator, the machine, and the environment.
Motorcycle License Resources
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Connecticut Motorcycle Manual Connecticut DMV Connecticut Motorcycle Practice Test |
