A Class M license is required to legally operate a motorcycle in Georgia. A “motorcycle” is defined by law as any “motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.” O.C.G.A. § 40-15-1(5). Mopeds and tractors are excluded from this definition. See id.
To obtain a Class M license, you must:
Be at least 17 years of age (although for persons under age 18, additional licensing requirements apply);
Pass required licensing tests or obtain a License Test Waiver based on the completion of a State-approved rider safety course; and
Pass a vision test.
To take the licensing test, you can apply directly at one of several DDS Customer Service Centers located throughout the State. The licensing exam involves both a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test, which is taken on your own motorcycle. Passing a vision test is also necessary.
Questions on the knowledge test are derived from information contained in the DDS Motorcycle Operations Manual, which is available online here. Essentially, the knowledge test requires you to demonstrate that you understand Georgia’s Rules of the Road and safe motorcycle riding practices.
The driver skills test consists of a series of exercises designed to demonstrate basic skills in operating a motorcycle. The test is designed for single-track vehicles (motorcycles) and multi-track vehicles (motorcycles with sidecars, and three-wheeled vehicles). The DDS Motorcycle Operations Manual identifies the specific exercises that must be successfully completed to pass the driver skills test.
As an alternative to taking the knowledge test and skills test, an applicant can complete State-approved motorcycle safety education course. The State offers these courses through the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program, and you can register for a course online here. By successfully completing a State-approved safety course, you can obtain a License Test Waiver that will enable you to bypass the knowledge test and the on-cycle skills test.
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