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Pennsylvania Motorcycle Permit Practice Test
Start at a Driver License Center with the permit application, a vision screening and the motorcycle knowledge test. Practice with 630+ questions for the Pennsylvania motorcycle knowledge test, written from the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual.
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Sample question
Pennsylvania motorcycle test
Passengers and group riding
Carrying a passenger, what will you probably need to change in the tires?
Practice Passengers and group riding
Ride Within Your Abilities
- Seven passed full tests in a row punch every spot on your pass card.
- A rule you miss returns in later rounds until you answer it right twice running.
Correct!
You'll probably need a few more pounds of pressure with a passenger; the owner's manual gives the settings.
Practice Passengers and group riding- Gear and pre-ride checks
- Control and lane position
- Intersections and being seen
- Crash avoidance and hazards
- Passengers and group riding
- Alcohol, drugs and fatigue
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator ManualPUB 147 (11-24)checked Page numbers are the printed ones. About page numbers
How the Pennsylvania motorcycle test works
Permit first
Start at a Driver License Center with the permit application, a vision screening and the motorcycle knowledge test. The learner's permit lasts a year and allows riding from sunrise to sunset only, with no passengers except an instructor.
Skills test or a free course
With your permit, either take the skills test at a Driver License Center or join the state's free rider training; passing the course's own skills test gets you the license without a second test.
Riders under 18
Riders under 18 hold the permit for six months, log 65 hours of practice and must complete the basic rider course, whose hours count toward the 65, before the skills test.
Riding in Pennsylvania
Do Pennsylvania motorcycle riders have to wear a helmet?
Yes, unless you're over 21 and have either held a motorcycle license for two years or completed an approved safety course; a passenger over 21 riding with an exempt rider is exempt too. Permit holders must always wear one, and eye protection is required.
Can I wear earphones while riding a motorcycle in Pennsylvania?
Yes, as long as they don't stop you hearing emergency vehicles and other road sounds.
What is the legal alcohol limit for Pennsylvania motorcycle riders?
A blood alcohol level of .08% or higher counts as riding under the influence, and refusing a chemical test brings a one-year suspension of its own. Even below the limit, a few drinks impair riding. p. 37
Sources: PennDOT: Motorcycle Helmet Law FAQs
Rules from the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual
From the PUB 147 (11-24) edition.
Gear and pre-ride checks
- p. 5The Right Motorcycle For You
At minimum a street-legal motorcycle should have a headlight, taillight and brake light, front and rear brakes, turn signals, a horn and two mirrors; it should fit you, with your feet reaching the ground and the controls easy to operate.
- p. 7Check Your Motorcycle
Before mounting, check the tires and wheels (tread, wheels, air pressure), oil and fluid levels (hydraulic fluids and coolant at least weekly, and look under the motorcycle for oil or gas leaks), and the condition, operation and routing of levers, cables and throttle.
- p. 39Earning Your License
A Pennsylvania rider under 18 must hold the permit for at least 6 months, have a signed certificate of 65 hours of skill-building before the road test, and successfully complete the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program's basic course before receiving the Class M license.
Control and lane position
- p. 12Following Another Vehicle
To gauge following distance, pick a marker such as a pavement marking or lamppost; when the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead passes it, count "one-thousand-one" up to "one-thousand-four"; reaching the marker before "four" means you are too close.
- p. 13Following
Pennsylvania's manual says to open up a following distance of five seconds or more when your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop, when the pavement is slippery, when you can't see through the vehicle ahead, or when traffic is heavy and someone may squeeze in.
Crash avoidance and hazards
- p. 30Drivetrain Problems
A chain that slips or breaks while riding can lock the rear wheel and cause a skid, which proper maintenance avoids.
Passengers and group riding
- p. 31Equipment
Pennsylvania law requires a motorcycle carrying a passenger (other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab) to have passenger footrests and handholds.
- p. 32Riding With Passengers
With a passenger the motorcycle responds more slowly, and the heavier the passenger, the longer it takes to slow, speed up or turn, especially on a light motorcycle.
- p. 32Carrying Loads
Most motorcycles aren't built for much cargo. Keep loads low (fastened securely or in saddlebags), since piling them against a sissybar raises the center of gravity.
- p. 33Group Riding
Keep a riding group small: small groups are easier for drivers to get around, aren't split as easily by traffic or red lights, and riders won't keep hurrying to catch up; a group of more than four or five riders should split into two or more smaller groups.
Alcohol, drugs and fatigue
- p. 35Why This Information Is Important
Studies show 40–45% of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking, and only a third of them were over the legal limit, so a few drinks are enough to impair riding; in crashes involving substance abuse, injuries occur in 90% of motorcycle crashes but 33% of car crashes.
- p. 37Penalties for Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
In Pennsylvania you are under the influence at a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher; a first conviction, or acceptance into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program, could mean losing your license, jail, fines, and alcohol and drug treatment and/or Alcohol Highway Safety School.
Pennsylvania motorcycle license questions and answers
14 questionsThe knowledge test
How many questions are on the Pennsylvania motorcycle knowledge test?
PennDOT's manual and pages don't print the size or passing score. The questions come from the Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147); our practice exam has 20 questions with 16 to pass, and the sample questions at the back of the manual are good extra practice. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 39
What does this Pennsylvania motorcycle practice test cover?
The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147): gear and pre-ride checks, basic control, lane position and following distance, intersections and being seen, crash avoidance, passengers and cargo, group riding, alcohol and fatigue, and earning your license. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 3
Where do I take the Pennsylvania motorcycle knowledge test?
At a PennDOT Driver License Center: bring the motorcycle learner's permit application (DL-5) and fee, and you'll have a vision screening and the knowledge test. Pass, and your Class M learner's permit is issued.
What score do I need to pass the Pennsylvania motorcycle permit test?
You need 16 of the 20 questions right (80%). Always confirm the current test with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Compare every state
How many questions can I miss on the Pennsylvania motorcycle permit test?
You can miss up to 4 of the 20 questions: you need 16 right (80%) to pass.
Getting your license
What can't you do on a Pennsylvania motorcycle learner's permit?
Ride after sunset or before sunrise, or carry a passenger other than a licensed instructor. If you don't already hold another class of license, you may ride only under the supervision of a licensed motorcycle rider. You must wear a helmet.
Can a Pennsylvania rider course replace the PennDOT skills test?
Yes. The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program's courses are free to Pennsylvania residents with a Class M permit or license; pass a licensing course and its skills test, and you're issued your motorcycle license.
What do riders under 18 need for a Pennsylvania motorcycle license?
Hold the learner's permit for at least six months, complete 65 hours of supervised riding and pass the state's basic rider course, which counts as 15 of those hours. A parent or guardian certification form (DL-180C) is needed for the skills test.
What is on the PennDOT motorcycle skills test?
A pre-ride inspection, then left circles, right circles and figure eights. Bring your permit, your driver's license if you have one, and the motorcycle's inspection, registration and insurance; if you hold no other license, a licensed motorcycle rider must come with you.
How long does a Pennsylvania motorcycle learner's permit last?
One year, and it can't be renewed. After it expires you reapply with a new vision screening and knowledge test, no more than three times in five years.
What do the 8 and 9 restrictions on a Pennsylvania motorcycle license mean?
An 8 appears if you took the skills test on a motorcycle of 5 brake horsepower or less, and limits you to such machines; a 9 appears if you tested on one with more than two wheels, and bars two-wheelers. To remove either, get a restriction removal permit at a Driver License Center. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 39
How much does a Pennsylvania motorcycle permit and license cost?
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) lists the current fees for the motorcycle permit, tests and license on its official fee page.
Which Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program course should I take?
New riders take the 17-hour Beginner Riding Clinic, which lends you a motorcycle and helmet. Experienced riders can do the one-day Intermediate Riding Clinic on their own bike. Both lead to a license for permit holders. The 3-Wheel Riding Clinic licenses you for three-wheelers only (restriction 9), and the Advanced Riding Clinic isn't a licensing course.
What if I fail the Pennsylvania motorcycle skills test three times?
Your permit can't be used for another try: you apply again in person with a new permit application, the fee, a vision screening and the knowledge test. You also can't apply for a new permit before your current one has expired.
Sources: PennDOT: Motorcycle Permit Process FAQs · PennDOT: Get a Class M (Motorcycle) License · Pennsylvania PennDOT: Payments and Fees