How To Get an Ohio Motorcycle License
To get an Ohio motorcycle license you’ll need to take a rider skills course, pass a skills test, and pay a licensing fee that’s determined by your age.
Written by Matt Nightingale
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
To get a motorcycle license in
Ohio
, you’ll need to pass a motorcycle rider skills course, present proof of course completion to the deputy registrar, and pay a small motorcycle license fee.Ohio’s winding roads and natural beauty make it a motorcyclist’s paradise. Luckily, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has laid out an easy-to-follow process for anybody who wants to hit the Buckeye State’s open roads on a steel horse.
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Do you need a license to operate a motorcycle in Ohio?
If you want to drive a motorized two-wheeled vehicle with an engine larger than 50 ccs in the state of Ohio, you will need to obtain either:
- A stand-alone motorcycle or motor scooter license
- A motorcycle or motor scooter endorsement for your regular Class D Ohio driver’s license
You must be at least 15 and a half years of age to apply for a license or endorsement to operate a motorcycle or motor scooter in Ohio.
MORE: Ohio driver's license requirements
How to add a motorcycle endorsement to your Ohio driver’s license
Obtaining a motorcycle or motor scooter license is fairly straightforward in Ohio. If you already have your traditional Class D driver’s license, all you have to do is:
- Pass a traffic knowledge test.
- Complete a motorcycle safety course.
- Provide proof of successful course completion at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
- Pay the motorcycle license fee.
A motorcycle or motor scooter endorsement will be added to your regular driver’s license upon completion of these steps. Let’s flesh the process out a bit.
The first thing you’ll need to do is visit your local BMV exam station and pass a vision test and motorcycle knowledge test. Once you have passed these tests, you will be issued a Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card—or TIPIC. This card is the permit that allows you to practice your motorcycle or motor scooter skills with a trained instructor.
After you have obtained your TIPIC, you will need to complete a
Motorcycle Ohio rider training course
. There are three courses to choose from:- Basic Rider Skills (BRS)
- Basic Rider Skills - Returning Rider (BRS-RR)
- Basic Rider Skills (BRS-2)
The Basic Rider Skills course includes four hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of riding instruction. The Returning Rider course provides a refresher course for experienced riders looking to improve their skills, while the Basic Rider Skills 2 course only provides riding instruction. Each rider skills course carries a $50 registration fee, and you can find a list of private training sites on the
Motorcycle Ohio website
.At the end of the rider training course, you will take the Ohio BMV motorcycle test, which consists of a written knowledge test and a road test. Students who pass these tests will be issued a waiver card.
You have 60 days to present your waiver card to the Ohio BMV. If you do not present it within 60 days, you may be forced to retake the Ohio motorcycle skills test. Once you present your waiver car, simply pay the motorcycle license fee and an endorsement will be added to your license.
Ohio’s motorcycle license fees vary according to your age:
Age 16: $25.75
Age 17: $24.50
Age 18: $23.25
Age 19: $22.00
Age 20: $ 20.75
Age 21 and up: $24.50
You cannot apply for a motorcycle or motor scooter endorsement if you do not have a Class D license. You’ll have to apply for a stand-alone motorcycle or motor scooter license.
MORE:
Ohio helmet law
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How to get a motorcycle-only license in Ohio
If you don’t have your Class-D driver’s license you can still get an Ohio motorcycle-only license which allows you to operate a motorcycle or motor scooter, but not a four-wheel motor vehicle. The process of obtaining a motorcycle-only license is different for applicants under 18 years of age than it is for applicants who are over 18.
The minimum age to apply for a motorcycle license in Ohio is 15 and a half years old. If you are under 16, you are required to have your TIPIC for at least six months before you are allowed to have a motorcycle-only license.
All applicants under 18 must complete a driver’s education course, as well as the Motorcycle Ohio Basic Rider’s Course. Under-18 applicants must also submit a Fifty Hour Affidavit affirming that they have received 50 hours of driving instruction including 10 hours of night-time driving.
Once the above steps have been completed, you can
schedule a motorcycle skills
test with any exam station. Note that you must pass this exam before your TIPIC expires, and it is your responsibility to supply a street-legal motorcycle for the skills test.Once you pass the Ohio motorcycle skills test, you’ll need to verify your Social Security Number with the deputy registrar agency and pay the appropriate motorcycle license fee—again, motorcycle license fees vary by age in Ohio.
Applicants under 18 years of age will need a parent or legal guardian present to co-sign the license application and verify the applicant’s identification.
If you’re over 18, the process is much more streamlined:
- Arrive at your scheduled test time with your valid TIPIC and a street-legal motorcycle
- Upon passing your skills test, return to the deputy registrar agency and verify your Social Security number.
- Pay the motorcycle license fee.
Applicants over 18 also have the option to take Motorcycle Ohio’s Basic Rider Course instead of the skills test. You will be issued a waiver card upon completion of the course, which you must present to the deputy registrar within 60 days. Then you’ll just need to pay your motorcycle license fee, after which you will be issued an Ohio motorcycle-only license.
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FAQs
Does Ohio require a motorcycle license?
Yes—anyone operating a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine larger than 50 ccs is required to have either a stand-alone motorcycle or motor scooter license, or a motorcycle or motor scooter endorsement on their Class-D license.
How much is a motorcycle license in Ohio?
An Ohio motorcycle license costs between $20.75 and $25.75 depending on your age.
