How Many Questions Are on the New Mexico Motorcycle Permit Test?
New Mexico's motorcycle knowledge test has 25 questions, requiring 20 correct (80%) to pass — notably stricter than the 72% required on the state's car permit test.
What the test covers
The 25 questions are drawn from the New Mexico Motorcycle Operator Manual, covering topics like protective gear, braking technique, cornering, and sharing the road with other vehicles.
An applicant must pass both this written test and a separate on-cycle skills test to earn a motorcycle license.
A stricter bar than the car permit test
New Mexico's permit test passes at just 72%, but the motorcycle test requires a full 80% — a real jump in the margin for error between the two.
That means only 5 questions of room on the motorcycle exam, compared to 7 on the car permit test at the same 25-question length.
How our practice tests are structured
dmvwrittenexam.com's New Mexico motorcycle bank covers both nationally-consistent riding fundamentals and New Mexico-specific rules like its under-18 helmet requirement.
Each question includes an explanation and a source reference, so you learn why an answer is correct instead of just memorizing a letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on New Mexico's motorcycle knowledge test?
25 questions, requiring 80% (20 correct) to pass.
Is the motorcycle test's passing score the same as the car permit test?
No — the car permit test passes at 72%, while the motorcycle test requires 80%.
What else must a New Mexico motorcycle applicant pass?
A separate on-cycle skills test, in addition to the written knowledge test.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free New Mexico motorcycle practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-23