. To get a motorcycle endorsement or “Motorcycle Only” driver’s license, you’ll need to pass a knowledge test, complete a safety course, and pay a fee.

Adding a motorcycle endorsement to your
Class E driver’s license
requires a valid license, a motorcycle safety course, and a fee.
Obtaining a motorcycle-only driver’s license requires a Learner’s License, a knowledge test, a motorcycle safety course, and a fee.
Cultivating your defensive driving skills, investing in protective equipment, and getting insured is the key to safe and enjoyable biking.

Endorsements for licensed drivers, motorcycle-only licenses for new ones

Under Florida law, electric bicycles, motorized scooters, and autocycles don’t have any licensing requirements—but motorcycles, mopeds, and motor scooters do.

Before getting on a bike with an engine size greater than 50cc, you must have one of two certifications issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV):

If you already own a regular Class E driver’s license, you must add an endorsement to it

If you don’t yet have a driver’s license (or you’re too young to get one), you must apply for a “Motorcycle Only” license

You can add a motorcycle endorsement to your Florida driver’s license in three easy steps

Hold a valid Florida driver’s license. If you already have a valid Class E operator’s driver license and motorcycle endorsement from any state other than Alabama, you can skip steps two and three.

Take a motorcycle safety course. You’ll need to

find a state-authorized sponsor near you

and sign up for a Basic RiderCourse (BRC) or Basic RiderCourse updated (BRCu). They each take 15-20 hours to complete and cost about $230, depending on the sponsor. You’ll receive a course completion card (marked “PASS”) once you’re done.

Pay the endorsement fee. Take your course completion card and the

proper ID

to a

driver license or tax collector office

and tell them you’ve completed the safety course. You’ll need to pay a

$7 endorsement fee

and a $25 license replacement fee to add “Also Motorcycle” (“A-MTRCL Also”) to your license.

Both the BRC and BRCu provide an insured motorcycle, helmet, and student handbook, but the BRCu requires students to bring their own protective gear. Make sure to pack eye protection, full gloves, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt (or jacket), and practical, closed-toe footwear that covers your ankles.

You can get a Florida motorcycle license in four steps

Be at least 16 years old, the minimum

driving age in Florida

. If you’re under 18, you must also have held a Learner’s License for at least one year with no traffic convictions.

Pass the Class E Knowledge Exam

online

or at a

service center

. The test costs $48 and consists of 50 multiple-choice questions on

Florida traffic laws

. You’ll need to score at least 40 correct answers (80%) to pass, which should be a cinch if you’ve studied

the official handbook

and taken a few

practice tests

. Retaking the test costs $10 per attempt.

Take a motorcycle safety course.

Find a state-authorized sponsor

, sign up for a Basic RiderCourse (BRC) or Basic RiderCourse updated (BRCu); and pay the $210-$250 course fee. After 15 hours of instruction, you’ll receive a course completion card marked “PASS”.

Pay the endorsement fee. Take your course completion card and the

proper ID

to a

tax collector or driver's license office

and tell them you’ve completed the safety course. You’ll need to pay the license fees ($7 for an endorsement and $25 for a replacement card) to get a driver’s license marked “Motorcycle Only” (“O-MTRCL Only”).

Needless to say, you can’t operate anything but a motorcycle, moped, or motor scooter with a “Motorcycle Only” license in the Sunshine State. To operate a three-wheeled motorcycle, a three-wheeled vehicle, or a sidecar, you’ll need to take the equivalent course (3-Wheel Basic RiderCourse or Sidecar/Trike Education Program).

MORE:

How to get a Florida learner’s permit

Bikers can protect themselves if they plan ahead

Getting a motorcycle endorsement or license is just the beginning. The key to enjoying a long and successful biking career is investing in protective skills, equipment, and insurance.

Defensive driving takes years to master

The reduced size, road visibility, and protection offered by a motorbike mean that, per mile traveled,

the fatality rate for motorcyclists is 24 times that of other motorists

. The

Florida Rider Training Program

(FRTP) offers a range of training courses designed by the

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

(MSF), including:

Basic Bike Bonding RiderCourse (BBBRC): Lasting five to six hours, this course offers extra practice time to cement your new basic skills.

Ultimate Bike Bonding Ridercourse (UBBRC): This half-day course draws on police-style precision motorcycle operation techniques to teach low-speed maneuvers and tight turns.

Basic RiderCourse 2 (BRC2): Developed for experienced riders with their own motorcycles, this course spends a day refreshing your skills and enhancing your ability to handle road hazards.

Basic RiderCourse 2 updated (BRC2u): The newest version of the BRC2 lasts one day and is increasing in availability across Florida.

Advanced RiderCourse (ARC): This course helps you develop the ability to recognize danger, evaluate risks, and choose the safer option while riding.

Returning Rider Basic RiderCourse (RRBRC): Developed for riders who haven’t been on a bike in some time, this course refreshes your skills while teaching risk management riding.

Besides “hard” motorcycling skills, you should take the time to study how the weather and time of day can affect your riding. Stay cautious in June—when fine weather brings more people on the open road—and low-visibility evening hours, which both claimed the majority of cyclist deaths in 2021.

Helmets save lives

A motorcycle helmet has a 37% chance of saving your life and a 67% chance to prevent a major brain injury.

Florida’s motorcycle helmet laws

make them mandatory for riders under the age of 21, and anybody else who can provide proof of health insurance.

The ultimate motorcycle wardrobe includes:

A helmet built to Department of Transportation (DOT) standards and rigorously tested by a third-party organization like

SNELL

A jacket whose durability, impact resistance, and abrasion resistance complement your riding style. If you’re racing or going high-speed, look for armor pockets and a “Conformité Européene” (CE) certification.

A pair of gloves that protect your hands from the environment, abrasion, and punctures.

A pair of pants to protect your hips, knees, and skin if you slide. Look for a

“CE-EN 17092” tag

and rating (hint: Class AAA and Level 2 are best).

A pair of boots to protect your feet from the intense impact, abrasion, and twisting force that accompanies a motorcycle accident. Motorcycle boots should go above the ankle, provide plenty of padding, and have a thick sole.

Motorcycle insurance absorbs the financial impact of an accident

Florida’s insurance requirements

start with $10,000 of

property damage liability (PDL)

and

personal injury protection (PIP)

insurance. Since it’s a

no-fault state

—meaning you file against your own insurance provider for damages—your personal coverage limits represent everything you can claim after a crash.

However, because motorcyclists suffer worse injuries than car and truck drivers, the potential financial toll of an accident is increased. That’s why we recommend increasing your coverage limits and paying for a

full-coverage policy

As a bonus, unlike

car insurance

Florida motorcycle insurance

is fairly cheap.

MORE:

How to get motorcycle insurance

FAQs

How long does it take to get a motorcycle license in Florida?

Assuming you ran to the DMV on your sixteenth birthday, the fastest you can get your Florida motorcycle driver license is a year and two days. That’s one year to apply for and hold a Learner’s License without any traffic convictions, plus two days to complete a motorcycle safety course. If you’re over 18, you can skip the Learner’s License and get your motorcycle ID in as little as three days.

Can you take the Florida motorcycle test online?

There’s no Florida motorcycle test, but a “Motorcycle Only” license requires passing a written Class E Knowledge Exam, which you can take online. You’ll need to make an in-person follow-up at your local DMV office to present your ID and get your license.

How much is a motorcycle license course in Florida?

Depending on the sponsor, a motorcycle Basics RiderCourse (BRC) or Basics RiderCourse updated (BRCu) costs around $230, give or take $20. Each course takes 15-20 hours to complete and supplies a motorcycle, handbook, and helmet—but you’ll need to bring your own protective equipment for the BRCu.

How much is motorcycle insurance in Florida?

The average cost of motorcycle insurance in Florida is between $530 and $650 per year. A legally-compliant insurance policy includes at least $10,000 each of Property Damage Liability (PDL) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP).