In order to earn a motorcycle license, you must visit your local Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) drivers license office to complete both a written exam and a motorcycle skills test.

Written Motorcycle Test

The written exam to earn a Texas motorcycle license is a multiple-choice and true/false test covering various aspects of motorcycle laws and safe riding procedures. Some of the topics that may be included on the test include:

• Passing parked cars.
• Approaching blind intersections.
• Riding on slippery surfaces.
• Safely carrying passengers.
• The consequences of riding while under influence of drugs or alcohol.

Your local drivers license office has several different versions of the practice test given at random, so it is hard to predict exactly which questions you will encounter.

The best way to prepare for the written exam is to carefully study the motorcycle operator manual prepared by the TX DPS. This manual explains all of the material that will be covered on the exam and provides practice test questions to help you study. If you need additional assistance, there are also a number of third party websites offering practice test questions. However, many of these sites do charge a small fee for access to their study materials.

Skills Motorcycle Test

In order to complete the motorcycle riding skills test, you must provide your own motorcycle as well as a passenger vehicle with a licensed driver to follow you during the test. Both the motorcycle and the passenger vehicle must be properly insured and able to pass a short safety inspection before the driving test begins. No appointment is needed for the test, but you may want to call ahead to confirm the office hours of the location you plan to visit.

The best way to prepare for the skills part of the motorcycle test is to practice riding under the supervision of an experienced motorcyclist.

However, if you are 15 to 17 years old with a motorcycle permit, you are required to take the Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course before earning your license. This motorcycle safety course is similar in format to the drivers ed or driver training class you take to you earn your regular driver license.

If you are 18 or older, the course is not mandatory, but if you complete the course you can earn a waiver releasing you from the road test as well as possible discounts on insurance premiums for motorcycles.