Motorcycle License

Requirements for All Applicants
All first time applicants for a Texas motorcycle license must:

  1. Apply in person at a Texas Driver License office.
  2. Complete the requirements for an original applicant.
  3. Present a completion certificate of the Motorcycle Safety Course (MSB-8 or MSB-8R), approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. This completion certificate waives the driving test if you are 18 years of age or older. 

Learner License
A motorcycle learner license allows a beginning driver to operate a motorcycle with someone in sight that is 21 years of age or older and holds a valid motorcycle license.

To obtain a motorcycle learner license (permit), you must:

  1. Complete the requirements for a learner license.
  2. Present a completion certificate of the Motorcycle Safety Course (MSB-8), approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Under age 18
If the first time or learner license applicant is under Age 18, you must:

  1. Be a minimum of 15 years of age (restricted to only operate a motorcycle that has not more than a 250 cubic centimeter piston displacement). On the 16th birthday of a special restricted Class M license, the 250 cubic centimeter restriction will be removed from the license without completion of an additional motorcycle operator training course.
  2. Complete the requirements for a learner license.
  3. Present the completion certificate of Driver Education. 
  4. Submit a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form.
  5. Obtain parental authorization signature. 
  6. Pass the mandatory motorcycle driving test.


Out-of-State
If you are currently out-of-state and want to add the motorcycle license to your Texas driver license, you must:

  1. Complete the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course, approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. If a military member, a MSF course may be offered on base. If not, you can complete a course through a local college or university.
  2. Submit a copy of the graded written exam or a letter from the instructor stating the exam taken and grade given, and the MSF completion certificate.
  3. Submit the required fee in the form of a check or money order drawn on a U.S. Bank, payable to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
  4. Mail the documents and required fee to:

    Texas Department of Public Safety
    Attn: Records & Issuance Service/Manual Services
    P. O. Box 15999
    Austin, TX 78761-5999