What's the Passing Score on the New Mexico Motorcycle Permit Test?
20 of 25 questions correct — 80% — passes New Mexico's motorcycle knowledge test.
Five questions, not seven
Both the motorcycle and car permit tests run 25 questions, but the motorcycle exam's 80% threshold leaves room for only 5 misses, compared to 7 on the car test's more forgiving 72%.
Don't assume New Mexico's famously lenient car-permit bar carries over here — it doesn't.
Building margin before the road test looms
Aim to consistently clear 90% in practice, since the written test is only the first of two hurdles — an on-cycle skills test still follows.
Checking your results by topic instead of just an overall percentage catches a weak spot before the road test exposes it.
Two details worth knowing cold
New Mexico's under-18 helmet law also covers ATVs under the same statute — a detail easy to miss if you assume the rule is motorcycle-only.
Arroyos, the low dips that cut across New Mexico's high-desert highways, can flood suddenly during summer monsoon season — a real hazard the exam expects you to recognize, not just a scenic detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Mexico's motorcycle test passing score the same as the car permit test?
No — the motorcycle test requires 80%, while the car permit test passes at 72%.
How many of the 25 motorcycle questions can I miss and still pass?
At most 5, keeping you at 20 correct (80%).
What score should I aim for on practice tests?
Aim for 90% or higher consistently before your appointment. That buffer above the 80% minimum accounts for first-attempt nerves.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free New Mexico motorcycle practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-23