What's the Passing Score on the Idaho Motorcycle Permit Test?
20 of 25 questions correct — 80% — passes Idaho's motorcycle knowledge test, a lower bar than the state's demanding 85% car permit threshold.
A gentler bar than the car permit test
Idaho's car permit test sets an unusually strict 85% threshold, but the motorcycle exam settles for the more typical 80% — five percentage points of extra room.
Don't let that relative ease fool you into skimping on study; the motorcycle manual covers entirely different material.
Building margin ahead of the skills test that follows
Aim to consistently clear 90% in practice, since the written test is only the first of two hurdles — a skills test covering pre-ride inspection, on-cycle maneuvering, and a road component still follows.
Checking your results by topic instead of just an overall percentage catches a weak spot before the skills test exposes it.
The under-21 course most riders forget about
An applicant under 21 must complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course before earning an endorsement — a requirement that doesn't apply to an older first-time applicant.
Idaho's helmet law also only reaches age 18, not 21, so don't import a helmet-age assumption from a state that draws that line differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Idaho's motorcycle test passing score the same as the car permit test?
No — the motorcycle test requires 80%, while the car permit test requires a stricter 85%.
How many of the 25 motorcycle questions can I miss and still pass?
At most 5, keeping you at 20 correct (80%).
Is an MSF course required to pass the knowledge test?
Only for an applicant under 21 — it's a separate licensing requirement, not a knowledge-test prerequisite.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Idaho motorcycle practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-23