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How to Get Your Nebraska 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 Nebraska DMV directly.

  1. Apply for a Class M license at 17

    Apply at a DMV office; you must be at least 17 years old for a Class M motorcycle license.

  2. Consider an approved motorcycle safety course

    Completing an approved motorcycle safety course within the past 24 months waives both the written knowledge test and the skills test.

    • Safety course completion certificate (if applicable)

  3. Otherwise, pass the written test, safety course, and skills test

    Without a qualifying waiver, pass the 25-question written test (80%, 20 correct), a motorcycle safety course, and a separate skills test.

  4. Decide on helmet use if 21 or older

    A rider 21 or older who completes a certified safety course and wears eye protection can legally ride without a helmet, effective May 1, 2024; a rider under 21 must still wear one.

Notes

  • Nebraska repealed its universal motorcycle helmet law effective May 1, 2024 — a genuinely recent change, not a long-standing rule.
  • Many rural Nebraska roads are unpaved gravel, a real traction hazard worth planning for on two wheels.
  • Exact fees and DMV scheduling change over time — confirm the current process on the official Nebraska DMV website before you ride.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-24