Arizona is one of the places in the United States where there are many natural sightseeings, and this state has many canyons that you can visit with your motorcycle. You can plan your motorcycle cross-country trips and enjoy riding with your motorcycle buddies. But to do that, you need to have a valid motorcycle license in the state of Arizona.
So how do you get a motorcycle license in Arizona? As a general rule, you need to be over 16 to get an Arizona motorcycle license, and anyone under 18 needs a valid instruction permit for at least six months. You will also need to finish an MVD motorcycle driver’s education program and pass the knowledge and skills motorcycle test.
If you want to learn more details about getting your motorcycle license in Arizona, you will find all the information in this article. Stay with us to find out more.
Table of Contents
Arizona Motorcycle License Requirements
You will need to complete a couple of required steps in Arizona to get a Class M motorcycle license. You can also get a motorcycle permit in Arizona, and while it is much easier and faster to get a motorcycle permit than a license, you need to know that a permit has some restrictions that a license doesn’t.
Here are the requirements that you need to complete to get a motorcycle license:
- Be at least 16 years old.
- For anyone under 18, you need to have a valid instruction permit for a minimum of six months. Otherwise, you must complete an MVD motorcycle driver’s education program. Instead of a driver’s education program, You can have your parent or guardian certify that shows that you have completed a minimum of 30 riding hours in preparation.
- You have to complete a written basic knowledge test.
- You need to complete a skills test to show they can ride a motorcycle safely.
You also need to pay the licensing fee in order to get your license, and this fee varies depending on your age:
- 16 to 39 years old: $25
- 40 to 44 years old: $20
- 45 to 49 years old: $15
- 50 years old and up: $10
However, if you decide to go for only an instruction permit, it only costs 7$, and a motorcycle endorsement without a driver’s license has the same price of 7$.
How to Get a Motorcycle License in Arizona?
You need to get your driver’s license before you can obtain a motorcycle license, regardless of your age in the state of Arizona. There is a chance that you will need to have a driving permit first before you can get an Arizona motorcycle license. You will not need to get a driving permit before getting a motorcycle license if you are over 18.
If you want to know the Best Motorcycle Routes in Arizona, click here.
Get Your Arizona Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
You need to be a minimum of 15.5 years old to get the instruction permit. You will need to complete the vision test and written test. You will also need to complete a driving test if you don’t have a driver’s license or an existing permit.
You must pay a 7$ fee to get an instruction permit. This permit is valid for seven months, and it can be renewed only once in 24 months. You can take an approved MVD motorcycle training course or get 30 hours of riding time in this period.
If you only have a motorcycle permit without an Arizona motorcycle driver’s license, you will have some limitations, and you won’t be allowed to ride in the evening or the nighttime, and you will only need to be allowed to ride during the daytime. You are also not allowed to ride in places with not enough light to see 500 feet in front of you.
You need to be cautious and not to ride on interstate highways and freeways, and you are not allowed to ride passengers, so remember that as well. The final thing you need to have in mind is that you need to drive under the visual supervision of a licensed driver as long as you don’t get an Arizona motorcycle license.
Here is a nice video showing the possible questions that may appear on the knowledge test for getting a motorcycle permit:
Complete the Arizona Motorcycle License Application
Anyone over 18 years of age has some benefits, like skipping some of the steps to get a license in Arizona written previously. You can fill out the application for getting a motorcycle license immediately, and you can do it on the Arizona Department of Transportation website. These are the following steps that you will need to take to obtain your motorcycle endorsement:
Class D licenses: This is a regular driver’s license. If you are over 18 and possess a valid driver’s license, you just need to take a motorcycle test, complete a training course and pay a motorcycle endorsement fee.
Age 16 to 18: You will need a motorcycle permit and have it for a minimum of six months before you can apply for your motorcycle license. After doing so, you will have to complete a training course, or your parents will need to certify 30 riding hours.
Over 18: Anyone over 18 needs to pass the written test for a standard driver’s license and finish a motorcycle operator test in order to apply for the first instruction permit or motorcycle license.
For getting a motorcycle endorsement, everyone, regardless of the category mentioned above, needs to complete a motorcycle training course and finish a skills test.
Note: The Department of Transportation (DOT) needs to approve the training course.
MVD of Arizona doesn’t offer the training course, which means that you will need to take the class with one of the local companies like:
You can skip the training requirement if you are under 18, and the way to do that is to get a certification from your parents or guardians, where it says that you have practiced 30 riding hours or more.
Everyone who applies for a motorcycle license (regardless of their age) has to finish a motorcycle driver education program approved by a Motor Vehicle Department (MVD). Also, make sure that you are in perfect riding shape because you will need to complete a skills test and a motorcycle training course as well.
Finish the Arizona Motorcycle License Writing Test
You need to pass the Arizona motorcycle license writing exam in order to get a valid Arizona motorcycle license. After paying the test fee, you have three months to pass the written test. Also, remember that you have three chances to pass this test in this period. To prepare yourself for this test the best way possible, you need to study and prepare for it, and the best way to do that is to study the Motorcycle Operator Manual.
Note: This test can be written in English and Spanish, and you can ask for help with reading the test.
Finish the Arizona Motorcycle License Riding Test
To get a motorcycle license in Arizona, you need to complete a motorcycle skills test. This test is designed for you to show your motorcycle maneuver abilities, and it usually takes around 10-15 minutes. This test is performed in an off-street, closed environment so that you don’t endanger anyone.
This test can be avoided if you possess a valid out-of-state license, and the state where you previously took the test has a similar one. You can look for skills test instructions, and these are the ones provided by the state of Arizona, which means that practicing these will prepare you the best for the upcoming test.
Here is an excellent video showing the riding maneuvers that you may need to perform on the riding test for getting a motorcycle license:
Arizona Motorcycle License FAQ
What Is the Minimum Age for Getting a Motorcycle License in Arizona?
You need to be at least 16 years old to get a motorcycle license in the state of Arizona. You can only get an instruction permit when you are 15.5 years old.
What Is the Price of a Motorcycle License in Arizona?
The motorcycle endorsement costs only 7$, but you need to pay more because you need a driver’s license.
Class D license, which is a standard driver’s license and its cost depends on the age of a driver,
16 to 39 years old: $25
40 to 44 years old: $20
45 to 49 years old: $15
50 years old and up: $10
Are There any Differences between an Arizona Motorcycle License and a Three-Wheel License?
You will get a specific endorsement for a three-wheeled vehicle, and a three-wheel license can only be used for riding three-wheeled vehicles, which means that you are not allowed to ride two-wheeled vehicles. If you, however, possess a standard motorcycle license in the state of Arizona, you can ride both two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles.
Final Thoughts
Finally, we have come to the end of the process of getting your Arizona motorcycle license which means that now you are legally ready to explore and enjoy the beauties of Arizona.
In the process of getting your Arizona motorcycle licenses, you should focus most on your motorcycle skills and study the motorcycle handbook to get familiar with all the possible questions and their answer that can be in your written knowledge exam.
After you complete all the steps mentioned above, including paying the fees, passing the written knowledge test, and passing the skills test, you will get your Arizona motorcycle license.
I hope you enjoyed this article and got all the information and details that you will need in the process of getting your motorcycle license.