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- 4 topics from the New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section)
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New Mexico Motorcycle Permit Practice Test
New Mexico law requires helmets for motorcycle drivers and passengers under 18, and the manual recommends them for everyone. Practice with 860+ questions for the New Mexico motorcycle knowledge test, written from the New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section).
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Sample question
New Mexico motorcycle test
Gear, controls and braking
Hazards are on both sides of you. Which lane position is usually best?
Practice Gear, controls and braking
Motorcycles
- A rule you miss returns in later rounds until you answer it right twice running.
- Seven passed full tests in a row punch every spot on your pass card.
Correct!
With trouble on both sides, the middle of the lane usually leaves you the most room.
Practice Gear, controls and brakingNew Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section)Version 11.19.19 (November 2019)checked Page numbers are the printed ones. About page numbers
How the New Mexico motorcycle test works
Driver Manual plus the national manual
New Mexico has no separate motorcycle manual. Questions come from the motorcycle section of the New Mexico Driver Manual, and general riding skills from the national Motorcycle Operator Manual (Motorcycle Safety Foundation), which the Driver Manual points riders to. New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section) p. 35–40
Helmets under 18
New Mexico law requires helmets for motorcycle drivers and passengers under 18, and the manual recommends them for everyone. New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section) p. 37
An endorsement by engine size
The MVD’s 2009–2010 motorcycle laws booklet lists three motorcycle endorsements by engine size: Z under 50 cc, Y from 50 to 99 cc and W at 100 cc or more.
Source: New Mexico’s Motorcycle Laws 2009–2010 (UNM / NMDOT, posted by MVD)
New Mexico riding laws
Do you have to wear a motorcycle helmet in New Mexico?
Only if you’re under 18, as a rider or a passenger. The manual recommends that every rider and passenger wear a DOT-compliant helmet that fits snugly and is securely fastened. p. 37
What motorcycle endorsements does New Mexico have?
The MVD’s 2009–2010 motorcycle laws booklet lists Z (engines under 50 cc), Y (50 to 99 cc) and W (100 cc or more), and a Class M license for people who drive only motorcycles. Check with the MVD for current rules.
Is lane sharing allowed for motorcycles in New Mexico?
The manual says cars and motorcycles each need a full lane and lane sharing is usually prohibited; riding between rows of cars leaves you open to opening doors and sudden turns. p. 36
Do I need a motorcycle endorsement for a moped in New Mexico?
No. Any valid driver's license or permit, of any class, lets you ride a moped. New Mexico defines a moped as a two- or three-wheeler with an automatic transmission, an engine under 50 cc and a top speed of no more than 30 mph on level ground.
Do I need a supervising driver on a New Mexico motorcycle instruction permit?
No. A car permit holder must drive with a licensed adult of 21 or older beside them, but that rule doesn't apply on a motorcycle. You must keep the permit with you, and you may not carry any passenger while riding on it.
Do teens need a license to ride an off-highway motorcycle in New Mexico?
Not when riding off-road, but riders under 18 must be watched by a parent unless they have an off-highway vehicle safety permit and are either 13 or older with a motorcycle license, or 15 or older with a driver's license, provisional license or instruction permit.
Sources: New Mexico’s Motorcycle Laws 2009–2010 (UNM / NMDOT, posted by MVD) · New Mexico MVD: Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 2 Non-Commercial License · New Mexico MVD: Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 3 Instructional Permit
Rules from the New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section)
From the Version 11.19.19 (November 2019) edition.
Gear, controls and braking
- p. 35Braking
A motorcycle has two brakes, one for each wheel; use both at the same time.
- p. 35Passing, braking, parked cars, lane sharing and lane position
Using both brakes in a turn is possible with the right technique but must be done very carefully: when leaning, some traction goes to cornering, leaving less for stopping, so too much brake can cause a skid.
- p. 36Lane Positions
New Mexico's manual says your lane position can help you see better, protect your lane, communicate your intentions, avoid others' blind spots, avoid wind blast and surface hazards, and keep an escape route.
Traffic and being seen
Intersections and hazards
New Mexico motorcycle license questions and answers
7 questionsThe knowledge test
How many questions are on the New Mexico motorcycle test?
The New Mexico MVD doesn’t publish the number. Our practice exam uses 25 questions with 20 to pass (80%), drawn from the motorcycle section of the New Mexico Driver Manual and the national Motorcycle Operator Manual. New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section) p. 35–40
Is there a New Mexico motorcycle manual?
Not a separate one. Riders study the motorcycle section of the New Mexico Driver Manual (version 11.19.19), which refers them to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for training and safety; we add general riding skills from the MSF’s national Motorcycle Operator Manual, marked as such. The MVD also posts a 2009–2010 booklet of New Mexico motorcycle laws. New Mexico Driver Manual (Motorcycles section) p. 35–40
Can a 13-year-old get a motorcycle license in New Mexico?
Yes. From 13, finishing the MSF Basic Rider Course through the New Mexico Motorcycle Safety Program and passing the written motorcycle test earns a Class M license with a Y or Z endorsement, so engines under 100 cc. The course replaces only the road test, and a first-time licensee under 18 may not carry a passenger.
What changes at 15 for a New Mexico motorcycle endorsement?
At 15, the Basic Rider Course can earn any endorsement (W, Y or Z), on a Class M license or added to your Class D provisional license. The course waives the road test for the size of motorcycle you trained on, and you also skip the written motorcycle test if you already hold a Class D permit or license.
Do adults have to take a rider course in New Mexico?
No. Riders 18 and older can skip the Basic Rider Course, but then must pass the written motorcycle test and a road test on a motorcycle of the right engine size for the W, Y or Z endorsement they want. Passing the course instead waives both tests.
What score do I need to pass the New Mexico motorcycle permit test?
You need 20 of the 25 questions right (80%). Always confirm the current test with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division. Compare every state
How many questions can I miss on the New Mexico motorcycle permit test?
You can miss up to 5 of the 25 questions: you need 20 right (80%) to pass.
Source: New Mexico MVD: Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 2 Non-Commercial License