More often than not, that depends on:

• If and where you receive motorcycle training, and,
• If and where you need or plan to take the motorcycle road test.

Most states (all but South Carolina) will waive the motorcycle driving test if you enroll in a state-approved motorcycle course. (Usually this course is sponsored by or modeled after the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, but not always.) You may or may not have the option of taking the course (requirements are sometimes age based), so be sure to contact your local DMV office for details.

If you enroll in a motorcycle course and are able to opt out of the DMV road test because of it, the question then becomes whether or not you need to provide your own motorcycle for the course. The only way to know for sure is to contact the course administrators, but know that many courses provide motorcycles for students. For example, both the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program and the Illinois Motorcycle Rider Course provide bikes for students.

Taking the DMV Motorcycle Riding Test

If you aren’t required to take a motorcycle safety course and you opt not to, then you’ll need to take the DMV-administered motorcycle test (unless you live in Alabama; no road test is required there).

At this point, you’ll need to contact your DMV about whether you’ll need to provide your own motorcycle. Just as they do with the tests for a regular drivers license, most states do require applicants to provide their own bikes for the test for a motorcycle license. While you’re on the phone, be sure to ask about appointment requirements, too.

Keep in mind that taking a practice test or two (like you did before the written test) will refresh your understanding of motorcycle safety and rules, and therefore increase your chances of passing the test.