California Motorcycle License
M1 or M2, permit or course: find your exact route
A California motorcycle license is a Class M1 or M2 license that lets you ride two-wheel vehicles on public roads. It can be a license of its own or added to your car license. Riders under 21 must take a safety course and hold a permit for six months, while riders 21 and older can choose the course or a DMV skills test.
By California DMV Appointments Editorial TeamUpdated November 2026Source: California DMV (dmv.ca.gov)
Under 21? Course + 6-month permit required
Complete the California Motorcyclist Safety Program course, then hold your motorcycle permit for at least six months before DMV issues the license.
Which Class Do I Need?
Pick what you’ll ride. We’ll show the license class that covers it.
Covers any two-wheel motorcycle, plus everything an M2 license covers.
How Do You Get a Motorcycle License in California?
Your age decides most of the route. Answer three questions and the card lays out each step, the fee and the time limits, with links to DMV’s official pages.
Under 21, the course is required, so the DMV skills test isn’t an option.
- The application and fee stay valid for 12 months.
- You get three tries at each test on one application.
- Permit riders can’t ride at night, on freeways or with a passenger.
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M1 vs M2 License: Which Class Do You Need?
An M1 covers everything an M2 does and more, so most riders go for M1. Pick M2 only if you’ll never ride anything bigger than a moped or motorized bicycle.
Class M1
- Any two-wheel motorcycle
- Motor-driven cycles and motorized scooters
- Every vehicle listed under Class M2
Class M2
- Motorized bicycles
- Mopeds
- Bicycles with an attached motor
Driving a car too? A motorcycle class can sit on the same card as your Class C, as our California driver’s license guide shows.
What Is the CMSP Motorcycle Course?
The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) runs the Basic Rider Course for the California Highway Patrol. Finishing it earns you a DL 389 certificate, which DMV accepts in place of its own riding test.
- Required under 21. DMV says every rider under 21 must complete the course to get a motorcycle license or add a motorcycle class.
- Optional at 21+. You can take it to skip the DMV skills test, or take the DMV test instead.
- Use the DL 389 within 12 months. It counts only if you bring it to DMV within 12 months of the date it was issued. Riders under 21 hand it in when they apply for the permit.
- Lost the certificate? Contact the training site that issued it for a duplicate.
Riders 21 and older: two ways in
| CMSP course | DMV skills test | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | A CMSP training site | A DMV office, by appointment |
| You bring to DMV | DL 389 certificate | Proof of insurance |
| DMV riding test | Waived within 12 months | Required |
| Knowledge test | Required | Required |
| Permit first | Not required | Not required |
Under 21, there’s no choice. The course and a six-month permit are both required, and the DL 389 replaces the DMV riding test.
What Can You Do With a California Motorcycle Permit?
A motorcycle instruction permit lets you practice on public roads, with three firm limits under the California Vehicle Code.
No riding after dark
Permit riding is for daylight hours only.
No freeways
Stay off every freeway until you hold the license.
No passengers
You ride alone while you’re on a permit.
- 15½Youngest age for a motorcycle permit. Under 18, a parent or guardian signs the application.
- 6 moRiders under 21 hold the permit at least this long before the license.
- 12 moYour application and fee stay valid this long.
- 21+No permit is required before the license.
Tap the chart to open it full size.
What’s on the California Motorcycle Skills Test?
Riders 21 and older who skip the course take DMV’s motorcycle skills test. It needs an appointment, which you can make online or by calling 1-800-777-0133. Booking tips are in our driving test appointment guide.
Pre-trip inspection
Show that the motorcycle and its equipment are ready to ride.
Track paths
Ride the marked paths on the test course.
Slow riding
Keep balance and control at low speed.
Gear shifting
Shift smoothly as you ride the course.
Already Licensed, Moving or Visiting?
These situations change what you pay or how soon you need a California motorcycle class.
Adding M1 or M2 to a car license
DMV’s fee for adding a motorcycle class to a Class C license matches the original M1/M2 fee. You still take the motorcycle knowledge test and show your riding skills.
New California residents
Once you become a resident, DMV says you must get a California motorcycle license within 10 days.
Visitors
Visitors over 18 with a valid motorcycle license from another state or country may ride in California.
Name changed?
Your identity document must show your current legal name. Update it with Social Security first, then bring the name-change papers to DMV.
California Motorcycle License FAQs
What is the difference between an M1 and M2 license in California?
An M1 covers any two-wheel motorcycle, motor-driven cycles and motorized scooters, plus everything in M2. An M2 covers only motorized bicycles, mopeds and bicycles with an attached motor.
Do I need to take the CMSP course to get a motorcycle license?
Yes, if you’re under 21. Riders 21 and older can take the course or pass DMV’s motorcycle skills test instead.
How long do I need a motorcycle permit before getting my license?
Riders under 21 must hold the motorcycle instruction permit for at least six months. Riders 21 and older don’t need a permit first.
What can’t you do with a motorcycle permit in California?
You can’t ride at night, on a freeway or with a passenger while you hold a motorcycle instruction permit.
How much is a California motorcycle license?
DMV’s application fee is $46 for an original M1 or M2 license, and the same $46 to add a motorcycle class to a Class C license.
Does the DL 389 certificate replace the DMV riding test?
Yes. The CMSP completion certificate waives DMV’s skills test if you use it within 12 months of the date it was issued, though DMV may still give an observation test.
How long is the temporary motorcycle license good for?
DMV issues a temporary license valid for 60 days. The card arrives by mail.
How soon do new residents need a California motorcycle license?
Within 10 days of becoming a California resident, according to DMV.