Modern transportation, such as cars and motorcycles, make traveling easier. While it can take a long while to learn how to drive, it certainly pays off in the end. However, there is one thing that you should do before you’re fully eligible to drive on the road, and that is get a drivers’ license.

The process for getting licenses to differ from car to motorcycle. This article will shed some light on how to get a motorcycle license, specifically in Pennsylvania. Since Pennsylvania has many open roads, riding a motorcycle here gives you a feeling of freedom. Of course, you still need to get a license to ride your motorcycle on these open roads. How can you get a motorcycle license in Pennsylvania? Read on below.

The First Steps

First, you must apply for a Class M learner’s permit. Once your application is approved, the next step is to pass a basic motorcycle knowledge test. Upon completion, you are prompted to take a motorcycle skills test. Once that’s done, you’re now granted your Class M learner’s permit.

Of course, that doesn’t stop there. Read on further below for details regarding the steps you will take.

The Class M Learner’s Permit

The Class M learner’s permit is pretty much the same as the student’s permit when learning to drive cars, but it also comes with certain restrictions. These restrictions are:

  • The permit holder cannot be allowed to carry passengers other than an instructor who is properly licensed to operate a motorcycle.
  • The permit holder is only allowed to ride a motorcycle under the supervision of an individual who holds a Class M license unless the permit holder is licensed to operate another class of vehicle.
  • The permit holder can only ride between sunrise and sunset.

The Class M learner’s permit is only valid for 1 year. The applicant must also pass the basic knowledge test every time they apply for a learner’s permit. The learner’s permit can only be applied for a total of three times in 5 years, which allows for a total of four permit periods every 5 years. It’s certainly a long process before you can reapply, so you have to make sure you pass everything on the first try. The cost of the Class M learner’s permit is $10.00.

The Motorcycle Basic Knowledge Test

To conduct the Motorcycle Basic Knowledge Test, you must first schedule an appointment. In this test, applicants will be required to demonstrate their motorcycle riding competence in a variety of environments. These environments range from enclosed parking lots to the actual street. This test can also be only taken at an official Pennsylvania Drivers’ License Center.

If you feel that you’re not quite ready for the actual test itself yet, a good option for you to take is to sign up for the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course. If you enroll in the program, not only will you be fully prepared for riding, but there’s also a possibility of exemption from taking the motorcycle skills test at a Pennsylvania Drivers License Center.

By the end of the course, an evaluation is given to all course participants by a certified Rider Coach. When you pass this evaluation, the Drivers’ License Center skills test is waived, and you will be promptly awarded your Class M license.

There’s also another exception for applicants who are below 18 years of age. They must

  • Hold their Class M learner’s permit for at least 6 months prior to applying for the license
  • Complete 65 hours of supervised motorcycle riding practice
  • Enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course

The Cost for Applying for a License

When it comes to getting a motorcycle license in Pennsylvania, the prices may vary. Below is a breakdown of how much applying for a license in Pennsylvania cost.

If you’re from out of state, you are required to transfer your motorcycle-riding credentials to be able to drive in Pennsylvania. For transferring out-of-state motorcycle credentials, a PA Class M License costs $35 for 2 years. For 4 years, it costs $50.50.

For local PA residents, a 2-year motorcycle license costs $45.50. This applies to applicants at least 65 years of age. On the other hand, the standard motorcycle license costs $50.50 for 4 years.

Conclusion

Applying for a motorcycle license in Pennsylvania seems like a long process, but it’s shorter than most people think. Once you get a motorcycle license in Pennsylvania, there’s nothing coming between you and the open road as you ride your motorcycle through it.

Owning a motorcycle license is one thing, but owning a motorcycle is another. If you’re looking for some of the best beginner motorcycles in the US and Canada, Beginner Riders has got your back! We offer a wide range of selections that are waiting for you to be discovered. Contact us today and allow us to help you!