DMV

What's the Passing Score on North Dakota's Motorcycle Permit Test?

20 of 25 questions correct — 80% — passes North Dakota's motorcycle knowledge test.

The same length, the same bar

North Dakota's motorcycle exam matches the car permit test exactly — 25 questions, 80% — a rare case where the two tracks line up completely.

That doesn't mean the content overlaps, though: expect motorcycle-specific material on protective gear, braking technique, and cornering that a car permit test never touches.

A cushion worth building before test day

Aim to consistently clear 90% in practice rather than treating 80% as a target to just barely reach, since real testing conditions tend to shave a few points off whatever you're hitting in relaxed home practice.

Checking your results broken down by topic, not just as one overall percentage, catches a specific weak spot an aggregate score would otherwise hide until it costs you on the real attempt.

A hazard worth studying separately

North Dakota's open prairie terrain lets sustained crosswinds build to a genuinely hazardous strength, a real road-hazard topic covered in the state's own manual.

A rider who only studies national riding fundamentals and skips this state-specific material risks losing points on a section that's easy to prepare for in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Dakota's motorcycle test passing score the same as the car permit test?

Yes — both require 80% across 25 questions, a rare case where the two tracks match exactly.

How many of the 25 motorcycle questions can I miss and still pass?

At most 5, keeping you at 20 correct (80%).

Are North Dakota's prairie winds actually tested on the exam?

Yes — sustained crosswinds are a genuine road-hazard topic covered in the North Dakota Motorcycle Manual.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-24