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Tennessee Motorcycle Permit Practice Test

Without a car license you also take the regular knowledge test. Practice with 1,000+ questions for the Tennessee motorcycle knowledge test, written from the Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual.

  • 30questions
  • 24to pass (80%)
  • $0full test here
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  • 8 topics from the Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual
  • Answers explained, with the page to read
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Sample question

Tennessee motorcycle test

Gear and pre-ride checks

Does a DOT-compliant helmet keep you from seeing far enough to the sides?

Practice Gear and pre-ride checks

Preparing to Ride · Earning Your License or Endorsement · T-CLOCS Pre-Ride Checklist

  • If an answer seems off, report it right there and we look into it.
  • There’s no timer on our full test: take the time a careful rider would.
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Tennessee motorcycle test topics

How practice rounds are picked

Tennessee Motorcycle Operator ManualMarch 2023checked Only part of this manual prints page numbers, so page numbers here are the PDF's own (as a PDF viewer shows them); tap one to open the official PDF at that page.

Open the PDFTennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

How the Tennessee motorcycle test works

  1. Tests at a Driver Services Center

    With a Tennessee Class D or graduated license, the motorcycle exam is a vision screening, the motorcycle rules-of-the-road knowledge test, a pre-trip inspection and a road skills test, all at a full-service Driver Services Center. Without a car license you also take the regular knowledge test.

  2. A rider course can replace the tests

    Finish a Tennessee Motorcycle Rider Education Program (MREP) course and, if you already hold a Tennessee license, you skip both motorcycle tests. A Motorcycle Safety Foundation course from another state waives only the skills test. Course certificates are good for one year.

  3. Licenses by engine size

    A Class M license covers motorcycles over 125 cc from age 16. Scooters of 51 to 125 cc need Class M-Limited, and motorized bicycles of 50 cc or less need no motorcycle license, only a valid driver license.

Source: Tennessee Department of Safety: Motorcycle License

Compare the pass mark in every state.

Riding in Tennessee

  • Does Tennessee require motorcycle helmets?

    Yes, for every rider and passenger of any age. Riders 21 and older may wear a helmet that meets federal standard 218 without all of its labeling tests, if it carries an ASTM, CPSC or Snell label. The only exception is a parade at 30 mph or less for riders 18 and older. p. 23

  • Is lane splitting legal in Tennessee?

    No. Tennessee law forbids riding between lanes or rows of vehicles and passing in the same lane as the vehicle being overtaken. Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane, and no more than two may ride side by side in one lane. p. 25

  • What equipment does a Tennessee motorcycle need?

    A headlight that is on whenever you ride, a mirror on the left handlebar, footrests for rider and passenger, a red taillight and stop light, and a working muffler (straight pipes are illegal). Without a DOT windshield, rider and passenger need impact-resistant eye protection or a face shield. p. 24

  • Is there a minimum age for motorcycle passengers in Tennessee?

    No age limit, but the passenger needs a seat made for one and must be able to reach the footrests or footpegs; carrying a child whose feet can't reach them is a misdemeanor, except in a sidecar. p. 24

  • What happens after a DUI on a motorcycle in Tennessee?

    A first conviction means at least 48 hours in jail (seven days at 0.20% or more) and a one-year license revocation; later convictions bring longer revocations and possible vehicle seizure. Refusing a test after arrest costs your license for 12 months, and riders under 21 are convicted of underage impaired driving at 0.02%. p. 19

Rules from the Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual

From the March 2023 edition.

Gear and pre-ride checks

Practice Gear and pre-ride checks
  • p. 80
    Earning Your License

    Licensing tests measure the basic skills needed to ride safely in traffic, more objectively than judging yourself: people often overestimate their own abilities, and friends and relatives find it hard to be honest about your skills.

  • p. 81
    On-Motorcycle Skill Test

    On-motorcycle tests check basic control and crash-avoidance skills; examiners may score safe speeds for maneuvers, choosing the correct path and staying within boundaries, and completing normal and quick stops, turns and swerves.

Tennessee license and motorcycle laws

Practice Tennessee license and motorcycle laws
  • p. 4
    Motorcycle License Requirements

    In Tennessee a Class M motorcycle license covers any two- or three-wheel vehicle over 125 cc and is open to riders 16 or older; the exam has a vision screening, a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test.

  • p. 4
    Motor-Driven Cycle (Scooter)

    Tennessee's Class M-Limited license is for motor-driven cycles (scooters) of 51 to 125 cc or up to five brake horsepower; one issued at age 15 is valid only from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. and within 7 miles of home.

Control and lane position

Practice Control and lane position
  • p. 46
    Body Position

    Sit comfortably so you can work all the controls and steer effectively, far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent on the handgrips, so you can press on the handlebars without reaching too far.

  • p. 48
    Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS)

    ABS prevents wheel lock-up and skids in panic stops; it acts when too much pressure is applied to either the front or the rear brake control, releasing and reapplying brake pressure more than 15 times a second while the controls stay applied.

Intersections and being seen

Practice Intersections and being seen
  • p. 58
    Increasing Conspicuity

    Drivers who crash with motorcycles often say they never saw them; even when a driver does see you, smaller vehicles appear farther away than they are, so drivers commonly pull out thinking they have plenty of time.

  • p. 59
    Headlight

    During the day, a motorcycle with its headlight on is twice as likely to be noticed.

Sharing the road

Practice Sharing the road
  • p. 14
    Distracted Driving

    Tennessee's 2019 hands-free law makes it illegal while driving to hold a phone or mobile device with any part of the body, to write, send or read text messages, to reach for a device so you're out of your seated position, or to watch or record video on one.

  • p. 26
    Reckless Driving

    In Tennessee riding a motorcycle with the front tire raised (a wheelie) in willful disregard of safety, on a public road or a place the public uses, is reckless driving, except for riders 18 or older in a parade at no more than 30 mph.

Alcohol, drugs and DUI law

Practice Alcohol, drugs and DUI law
  • p. 16
    What Is Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)?

    In Tennessee a BAC of .08 is always illegal; it means about eight drops of alcohol for every 10,000 drops of blood. BAC depends on body weight, time spent drinking and how much is drunk.

  • p. 16
    Relationship of Alcohol to Traffic Crashes

    At a BAC of .10 a driver is seven times more likely to cause a crash than when sober, 25 times at .15 and 50 times at .17; everyone at .10 is too impaired to drive, and skills, judgment and vision are impaired from as low as .03–.04.

Tennessee motorcycle license questions and answers

11 questions

The knowledge test

How many questions are on the Tennessee motorcycle knowledge test?

The Department of Safety's manual and motorcycle page don't print the size or passing score. State law does say at least a quarter of the knowledge test must cover alcohol and drugs. Our practice exam has 30 questions with 24 to pass, and the alcohol and DUI chapter carries extra weight. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 15

What does this Tennessee motorcycle practice test cover?

The Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual: the state's own pages on licenses, the learner permit, distracted riding, alcohol and DUI law, equipment and lane laws and sharing the road with trucks, cyclists and pedestrians, followed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation chapters on gear, control, lane position, intersections, crash avoidance, passengers, group riding, fitness to ride and three-wheelers. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 4

Do I need a car license before the Tennessee motorcycle test?

No, but without a Tennessee Class D or graduated (PD) license you take the regular rules-of-the-road knowledge test as well, studied from the Comprehensive Driver License Manual. Applicants under 18 also show proof of school attendance.

What score do I need to pass the Tennessee motorcycle permit test?

You need 24 of the 30 questions right (80%). Always confirm the current test with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Compare every state

How many questions can I miss on the Tennessee motorcycle permit test?

You can miss up to 6 of the 30 questions: you need 24 right (80%) to pass.

Getting your license

Can a rider course replace the Tennessee motorcycle tests?

Yes. A Tennessee MREP course replaces both the motorcycle knowledge and road skills tests for riders who already hold a regular license; an MSF course taken elsewhere replaces only the skills test. Certificates and wallet cards are valid for one year, and neither course replaces the regular knowledge test for someone without a car license.

Can a 15-year-old ride a motorcycle in Tennessee?

Yes, with the Class PDPM motorcycle learner permit: a motorcycle of 650 cc or less, no passengers, no interstates, daylight only and within 20 miles of home. The permit lasts a year, and at 16 it can be exchanged for a full license without more tests. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 5

What is a Tennessee Class M-Limited license?

The license for motor-driven cycles (scooters) of 51 to 125 cc. Issued at 15, it allows riding only from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. within seven miles of home, and it expires on the 16th birthday. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 4

Do I need a motorcycle license for a moped under 50 cc in Tennessee?

No. A motorized bicycle of 50 cc or less needs no motorcycle class, title or registration; anyone with a valid driver license may ride one. A helmet is still required at any age. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual p. 4

What should I bring to the Tennessee motorcycle road skills test?

A street-legal motorcycle (off-road machines and ATVs aren't allowed) and a helmet with a DOT, ASTM, CPSC or Snell label. A rider without a valid license must come with a licensed driver aged 21 or older, or the test won't go ahead.

How much does a Tennessee motorcycle permit and license cost?

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security lists the current fees for the motorcycle permit, tests and license on its official fee page. County Clerk offices that issue licenses may add their own fee.

Sources: Tennessee Department of Safety: Motorcycle License · Tennessee DMV: Driver License Fees