The Short Answer
In California, an M1 licence covers any two-wheeled motorcycle (and everything an M2 covers); an M2 covers mopeds and motorized bicycles. To get an M1 you pass a vision exam and a multiple-choice motorcycle knowledge test based on the California Motorcycle Handbook — you need 80%, and you get three attempts. What else you need depends almost entirely on your age.
| Your age | What you need |
|---|---|
| 15½ to 17½ | Driver education and driver training certificates (or a Class C licence), the CMSP motorcycle training certificate (DL 389), a parent's signature, the regular driver knowledge test and the motorcycle knowledge test. Hold the permit at least 6 months. |
| 18 to 20 | The DL 389 from a California Motorcyclist Safety Program course, the driver knowledge test and the motorcycle knowledge test. Hold the permit at least 6 months. |
| 21 and over | No permit required. Pass the knowledge test(s), then either bring a DL 389 or pass the DMV motorcycle skills test. |
DMV does not publish the number of questions on the live test, so study the handbook rather than counting on a particular length. Our free California motorcycle practice questions are written from the current handbook, and the practice quiz scores you at the real 80% bar.
Riding on a Motorcycle Permit
The Class M1/M2 instruction permit carries three restrictions, whatever your age:
- No passengers.
- No freeway riding.
- No riding at night.
Riders under 21 must hold the permit for at least six months before the licence. If you are 21 or over you can skip the permit entirely, though many riders take one anyway so they can practise legally before the course or the skills test.
The CMSP Course and the Skills Test
The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) runs CHP-approved training courses. Completing one earns you the Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL 389), which does two things: it is required for anyone under 21, and it waives the DMV motorcycle skills test. The DL 389 is valid for 12 months from the day it is issued, so plan to finish your licensing within that year.
If you are 21 or over and take the DMV skills test instead, you get three attempts, with a $7 fee for each retest. The handbook still encourages everyone to take the course — it is where most new riders learn slow-speed control and emergency braking in a safe space, which are the skills the test checks.
The Handbook Rules That Show Up Most
The knowledge test draws on the whole handbook, but a handful of topics come up again and again:
| Topic | What the handbook says |
|---|---|
| Helmets | Every rider and passenger must wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet (Vehicle Code §27803), certified to FMVSS 218, with the manufacturer's DOT label on the back |
| Following distance | At least two seconds in normal conditions; count it off a fixed marker |
| Looking ahead | Scan at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead |
| SEE strategy | Search, Evaluate, Execute — the handbook's method for handling traffic |
| Lane position and blind spots | Ride where you can be seen; do not ride alongside cars in the next lane if you can avoid it |
| Lane splitting | Explained with its risks: every vehicle needs a full lane, and riding between rows of traffic leaves you exposed to sudden lane changes and opening doors |
| Group riding | Keep the group small, together, and in a staggered formation; pass one at a time |
| Passengers and loads | Only experienced riders should carry them; the extra weight changes balance, acceleration and braking |
| Alcohol | 0.08% BAC is the adult legal limit; the body clears only about one drink per hour |
The handbook defines "one drink" precisely — a 1½-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor, a 5-ounce glass of 12% wine or a 12-ounce 5% beer — and questions sometimes turn on it.
How to Prepare
- Read the current California Motorcycle Handbook once, cover to cover. It is short, and every question is built from it.
- Under 21? You also take the regular driver knowledge test — our California DMV guide covers what that test asks.
- Drill practice sets until you clear 90%. The pass mark is 80%, and a margin covers the few unfamiliar questions every real test has.
- Take the CMSP course seriously, even if you are over 21 and could take the DMV skills test instead. The handbook material makes more sense once you have practised it on a bike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score do you need to pass the California motorcycle permit test?
80%. DMV states the passing score but not the number of questions on the live test.
How many times can I take the motorcycle knowledge test?
You have three attempts to pass the knowledge test(s) on one application.
Can I carry a passenger with a California motorcycle permit?
No. The M1/M2 instruction permit does not allow passengers, freeway riding, or riding at night.
Do I have to take the motorcycle safety course in California?
Yes if you are under 21: you need the DL 389 from a CMSP course. At 21 or over it is optional — you can take the course (which waives the skills test) or pass the DMV skills test instead.
What is the difference between M1 and M2?
An M1 lets you ride any two-wheeled motorcycle and everything in M2. An M2 covers only motorized bicycles, mopeds and bicycles with an attached motor.
How long is the DL 389 certificate valid?
Twelve months from the date it is issued.
Sources
- California DMV — Motorcycle Licenses — M1 and M2, requirements by age, DL 389 waiving the skills test, three knowledge-test attempts, skills-test retest fee.
- California DMV — Instruction Permits — minimum age 15½, driver-education and CMSP requirements, 80% passing score.
- California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665) — licensing table and permit restrictions, DL 389 validity, helmets, following distance, SEE, lane splitting, group riding, passengers, alcohol.
