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100+ Free TX Motorcycle Permit Test Practice Questions

Pass your Texas DPS Motorcycle Class M License Knowledge Test exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Question 1
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At highway speeds, the most effective way to make a motorcycle lean for a curve is to:

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: TX Motorcycle Permit Test Exam

20

Multiple-Choice Questions

Texas DPS

80% (16/20)

Passing Score

Texas DPS

$33 / $16

Class M License Fee (new / endorsement add)

Texas DPS 2026

Required

MSB-Approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course

Texas DPS / TDLR

Transp Code 661.003

Helmet Required (21+ exempt with insurance or course)

Texas Transportation Code

HB 4122

Lane Splitting & Filtering Prohibited (Sept 1, 2023)

Texas Legislature

The Texas DPS motorcycle Class M knowledge test has 20 multiple-choice questions, and applicants must answer at least 16 correctly (80%) to pass. The Class M license fee is $33 for a new license or $16 to add Class M to a current Texas license. Texas requires every Class M applicant to complete an MSB-approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course at a TDLR-licensed school. Helmets are required for all riders under Transportation Code 661.003, but riders 21 and older are exempt if they have completed a motorcycle operator training course or carry qualifying health insurance. Lane splitting and lane filtering are illegal in Texas (HB 4122, effective September 1, 2023). The BAC limit is 0.08% for adults and any detectable amount for riders under 21 under the zero-tolerance law.

Sample TX Motorcycle Permit Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your TX Motorcycle Permit Test exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Texas license class is required to legally operate a motorcycle on a public street or highway?
A.Class C
B.Class M
C.Class B
D.Class A
Explanation: A Texas Class M license is the endorsement required to operate a motorcycle. It can be issued as a stand-alone Class M license or added to an existing Class A, B, or C Texas driver license. You may not operate a motorcycle on a public road in Texas without a Class M endorsement.
2How many questions are on the Texas DPS motorcycle Class M knowledge test?
A.10 questions
B.20 questions
C.30 questions
D.46 questions
Explanation: The Texas DPS motorcycle knowledge test contains 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Texas Motorcycle Operator Manual. Applicants must answer at least 16 correctly to pass, a score of 80%.
3What is the passing score on the Texas DPS motorcycle knowledge test?
A.70% (14 of 20 correct)
B.75% (15 of 20 correct)
C.80% (16 of 20 correct)
D.85% (17 of 20 correct)
Explanation: Applicants must answer at least 16 of 20 questions correctly to pass, an 80% score. The Texas Motorcycle Operator Manual is the source for every test question, so reading the current edition is essential preparation.
4Texas requires every applicant for a Class M license to complete which course?
A.A defensive driving course
B.An MSB-approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course at a TDLR-licensed school
C.A first-aid certification course
D.An online-only handbook quiz
Explanation: Texas DPS requires every Class M license applicant to complete a Motorcycle Safety Bureau (MSB) approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course offered by a school licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The completion certificate (MSB-8 for minors, MSB-R for adults) is valid for 24 months.
5How long is the MSB-8 or MSB-R motorcycle course completion certificate valid for license-application purposes?
A.6 months
B.12 months
C.24 months
D.Indefinitely
Explanation: The MSB-8 (under 18) or MSB-R (18 and older) certificate of completion is valid for 24 months from the date issued. You must apply for your Class M license within that window or the certificate expires and you must repeat the course.
6Under Texas Transportation Code 661.003, who is generally required to wear protective headgear while operating or riding on a motorcycle?
A.Only riders under 18 years old
B.Every operator and passenger on a public street or highway
C.Only riders without insurance
D.Only riders on highways above 35 mph
Explanation: Transportation Code 661.003 makes it an offense to operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle on a public street or highway without protective headgear that meets DPS safety standards. The exemption for riders 21 and older with completed training or qualifying insurance does not change the general rule that everyone must wear a helmet.
7A Texas rider 21 or older may legally ride without a helmet only if they:
A.Have a current Class M license
B.Have either completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course under Chapter 662 OR are covered by a qualifying health insurance plan
C.Ride on a road posted at 35 mph or less
D.Have at least five years of riding experience
Explanation: Under Transportation Code 661.003, a rider 21 or older is exempt from the helmet requirement if they have successfully completed an approved motorcycle operator training and safety course under Chapter 662, or are covered by a qualifying health insurance plan that pays medical benefits for motorcycle-crash injuries. Either condition alone satisfies the exemption.
8Is lane splitting (riding between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction) legal in Texas?
A.Yes, at any speed
B.Yes, but only when traffic is stopped
C.No — it is prohibited statewide
D.Only on toll roads
Explanation: Lane splitting is illegal in Texas. House Bill 4122, effective September 1, 2023, prohibits a motorcycle operator from riding between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction or passing another motor vehicle while in the same lane as the vehicle being passed. Motorcyclists must stay within a single lane.
9Texas law requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear eye protection unless the motorcycle has:
A.A speedometer
B.A windscreen
C.Saddlebags
D.A passenger backrest
Explanation: Texas requires operators and passengers to wear protective eye gear — safety glasses, goggles, or a full-face shield on a DOT-compliant helmet — unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen that protects the rider. Sunglasses alone usually do not meet the requirement.
10What is the legal BAC (blood alcohol concentration) limit for a Texas motorcyclist age 21 or older?
A.0.05%
B.0.08%
C.0.10%
D.0.04%
Explanation: Texas's legal BAC limit for drivers and motorcyclists 21 and older is 0.08%. Operating a motor vehicle at or above 0.08% BAC is DWI (Driving While Intoxicated). You can also be charged below 0.08% if alcohol or drugs impair your normal mental or physical faculties.

About the TX Motorcycle Permit Test Exam

The Texas DPS motorcycle Class M knowledge test is the written exam you must pass to earn a Class M license in Texas. It contains 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Texas Motorcycle Operator Manual published jointly by DPS and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Topics include the T-CLOCS pre-ride inspection, motorcycle controls (throttle, clutch, both brakes), body position, counter-steering, the Slow-Look-Press-Roll cornering technique, swerving, the 2-second following distance, the three lane positions, hand signals, staggered group formation, the SIPDE and MSF SEE mental strategies, hazards such as Hill Country curves, deer, sudden Gulf thunderstorms, fire-ant mounds on rural shoulders, West Texas dust storms, and painted-line slipperiness, and night riding. The test also covers Texas-specific laws including the helmet requirement under Transportation Code 661.003 (with the 21-and-older exemption for riders who have either completed a motorcycle operator training course or carry qualifying health insurance), mandatory eye protection, the lane-splitting and lane-filtering prohibition added by HB 4122 effective September 1, 2023, passenger rules, and the 0.08% adult / any-detectable-amount under-21 BAC limits. Texas requires every applicant for a Class M license to complete an MSB-approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course offered by a TDLR-licensed school; the MSB-8 or MSB-R completion certificate is valid for 24 months and lets DPS waive the motorcycle skills test (knowledge test is still required for many applicants). Applicants must answer at least 16 of 20 questions correctly to pass (80%).

Questions

20 scored questions

Time Limit

No strict time limit at most Texas DPS field offices

Passing Score

80% (16 of 20 questions correct)

Exam Fee

$33 for a new Class M license or $16 to add Class M to a current Texas license (Texas Department of Public Safety)

TX Motorcycle Permit Test Exam Content Outline

Section 1

Motorcycle Controls and Pre-Ride Inspection

T-CLOCS pre-ride inspection, throttle and clutch coordination, using both brakes, gear shifting, and DOT-approved helmet, eye protection, jacket, gloves, and over-the-ankle boots

Section 2

Riding Technique and Cornering

Neutral body position, counter-steering at speed, Slow-Look-Press-Roll for turns, swerving as separate steering inputs, the 2-second minimum following distance, and total braking distance

Section 3

Lane Position, Hand Signals and Sharing the Road

The three lane positions (left, center, right), staggered group formation, blind spots, hand signals, and sharing the road with cars and large trucks

Section 4

Texas-Specific Laws

Helmet law (Transportation Code 661.003) with the 21-and-older insurance-or-course exemption, mandatory eye protection, lane splitting and filtering prohibition (HB 4122), passenger seat and footrest rules, and 0.08% adult / zero-tolerance under-21 BAC limits

Section 5

Hazards, Night Riding and Mental Strategy

Hill Country curves, deer at dawn and dusk, sudden Gulf thunderstorms, fire-ant mounds on rural shoulders, West Texas dust storms, painted-line and tar-snake slipperiness, the SIPDE and MSF SEE strategies, and night conspicuity

How to Pass the TX Motorcycle Permit Test Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80% (16 of 20 questions correct)
  • Exam length: 20 questions
  • Time limit: No strict time limit at most Texas DPS field offices
  • Exam fee: $33 for a new Class M license or $16 to add Class M to a current Texas license

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TX Motorcycle Permit Test Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the current Texas Motorcycle Operator Manual from DPS and TDLR — every test question is based on it
2Memorize the Texas-specific numbers: 20 test questions, 80% pass (16/20), $33 new Class M or $16 endorsement, MSB course required for all applicants, 24-month certificate validity
3Learn the key acronyms cold: T-CLOCS (Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, Stands), SIPDE (Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute), MSF SEE (Search, Evaluate, Execute), and Slow-Look-Press-Roll for turns
4Understand Texas's distinctive laws: helmet required under Transp Code 661.003 with the 21+ insurance-or-course exemption, lane splitting illegal (HB 4122), mandatory eye protection, 0.08% adult / zero-tolerance under-21 BAC
5Take timed practice tests until you consistently score 90% or higher, giving yourself a comfortable buffer above the 80% pass mark

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Texas motorcycle permit test?

The Texas DPS motorcycle Class M knowledge test has 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Texas Motorcycle Operator Manual. The same test is used for any applicant seeking a Class M license endorsement.

What score do I need to pass the Texas motorcycle permit test?

Applicants must answer at least 16 of 20 questions correctly, an 80% passing score. If you fail, your application allows up to three attempts before you must reapply. Most Texas DPS field offices do not enforce a strict time limit on the test.

Is a motorcycle safety course required in Texas?

Yes — Texas requires every applicant for a Class M license to complete an MSB-approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course at a TDLR-licensed school. The MSB-8 (under 18) or MSB-R (18 and older) completion certificate is valid for 24 months and allows DPS to waive the motorcycle skills test. The knowledge test is still required for most applicants.

Is lane splitting legal in Texas?

No — lane splitting and lane filtering are both illegal in Texas. House Bill 4122, effective September 1, 2023, prohibits a motorcycle from operating between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction or passing a motor vehicle while in the same lane as the vehicle being passed. Motorcyclists must stay within a single lane.

What does Texas's helmet law require?

Texas Transportation Code 661.003 requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear DOT-compliant protective headgear. A rider 21 or older is exempt if they have either successfully completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course under Chapter 662 or are covered by a qualifying health insurance plan. A peace officer cannot stop a rider solely to inspect for helmet-law compliance.

How much does the Texas Class M license cost?

The fee is $33 for a new Texas Class M license and $16 to add Class M to a current Texas Class A, B, or C license. Minors under 18 pay $16 for the Class M license. The MSB-approved Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course is paid separately to the TDLR-licensed school.

What is the BAC limit for motorcyclists in Texas?

Texas's BAC limit is 0.08% for riders 21 and older. Riders under 21 face a zero-tolerance law — any detectable amount of alcohol while operating a motorcycle is illegal. Texas's implied-consent law means operating a motor vehicle in public is automatic consent to breath or blood testing on lawful arrest for DWI.