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How to Get Your Connecticut Motorcycle License

The actual step-by-step process, from application to full license — not just what's on the exam. Confirm anything time-sensitive (fees, forms) with CT DMV directly.

  1. Apply for a motorcycle learner's permit at 16

    Apply at a Connecticut DMV location; pass the motorcycle knowledge test and a vision test. If under 18, complete an approved motorcycle safety course and provide parental consent.

    • Motorcycle safety course completion certificate (if under 18)
    • Parental consent (if under 18)

  2. Pass the written knowledge test

    Pass the 25-question motorcycle knowledge test (80%, 20 correct) — the same length as the state's regular car permit test.

  3. Ride within permit restrictions

    Ride only during daylight hours, with no passengers, and not on any limited-access or interstate highway.

  4. Wear required protective gear

    Any learner's permit holder must wear a helmet regardless of age; as of a 2025 law, every operator and passenger under 21 must wear one too.

  5. Apply for the full license at 18

    Pass the motorcycle skills evaluation at 18 to receive a full, unrestricted motorcycle license.

Notes

  • A 2025 law raised Connecticut's mandatory helmet age to 21 — check that any study material reflects this current rule, not an older age line.
  • Older, narrower Connecticut town roads bring tight lanes and roadside stone walls, a hazard worth extra caution around.
  • Exact fees and DMV scheduling change over time — confirm the current process on the official Connecticut DMV website before you ride.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-22