How To Get A Motorcycle License In Idaho

Beast Riders is reader-supported. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Almost all the states here have a general rule requiring driver’s licenses. Not even motorcyclists are safe from this rule as they must get a special license to drive on public roads.

Despite this being a crucial document necessary to drive on the road, many people do not know how to get a motorcycle license in Idaho.

Luckily for people like this, this article will go over all the steps they need to follow starting, detailing all the steps from completing applications, submitting documents, and taking the tests that come with the process.

If you are practicing driving a motorcycle and want to get a motorcycle license in the state of Idaho, do yourself a favor and read this article until the end. It will greatly help in all the steps you need to carry out.

Motorcycle License Requirements In Idaho

Do you need a motorcycle license in Idaho? Let's find out

While it would make things quite simple to go into an office and request a license, it would defeat the purpose of having such a document.

You need to carry out specific requirements if you want to be able to earn a motorcycle, and this section will highlight what you need.

Knowing Your Age

The first step in getting a license is knowing your age category. While people 18 years and above may have to provide one set of documents, minors or people below 18 will have to give another.

Here is what I am talking about:

Age 18 And Below

If you are below the age of 18, you will have to provide the following set of documents:

  • Your identity card detailing your full legal name.
  • You will need to provide an application signed by your parents and or legal guardian.
  • You will have to provide a legal document detailing your current place of residency.
  • You will have to provide your Social Security Number.
  • Legal documents detailing your date of birth and current age.

Age 18 And Above

If you are 18 and above, here is the group of documents that you will need to give to the office:

  • Your identity card detailing your full legal name.
  • You will have to provide your Social Security Number.
  • Legal documents detailing your date of birth and current age.
  • You will need to provide an application signed by your parents and or legal guardian.
  • You will have to provide a legal document detailing your current marital status.

Types Of Motorcycle Licenses

The state of Idaho does not have different types of motorcycle licenses. Instead, the state only has one major license that people work towards. You can also settle for a rider’s permit, which is very restrictive.

Standard Motorcycle License

All motorcyclists require this license if they want to ride on public roads. It encompasses all forms of motorcycles and does not restrict any particular motorcycle-based vehicle.

Motorcycle Learner’s Permit

This permit will allow minors to be able to drive a motorcycle, though in a very restrictive manner. Riders with this permit will not be able to ride their motorcycle at night.

They are also barred from driving on the freeway. Additionally, they cannot have passengers on the motorcycle.

How To Apply For Your Idaho Motorcycle License

The above section of the article details the various things you need to get your motorcycle license.

Additionally, by this point, you should also know your main objective, i.e., the license of which there is only one type in Idaho.

You will have to carry out additional tasks depending on your age. This section should explain what I mean.

Step 1: Get A Driver’s License

  • The first step to getting a motorcycle license is to get a driver’s license.
  • You can apply for a driving license at the age of 15.
  • You will have to provide proof of your age, residency, legal presence, social security, and various other documents, including school enrollment, if that is the case.
  • You will then have to enroll in a driver’s ed course.
  • If you are underage, you will have to have a total of 50 hours of driving time corresponding to 6 months with your learner’s permit.
  • Once you have reached this milestone, you can apply for an underage driver’s license.
  • If you are at legal age, you must apply for an unrestricted driver’s license.
  • After application, you will have to carry out a series of tests.
  • Once you have passed the tests, you have to pay a small fee, and the license is yours.

Step 2: Testing For Your Motorcycle License

Now that you have successfully applied for a motorcycle license, you must carry out the various tests that the state asks you.

Here are the tests you must pass to proceed:

1. Vision Test

  • A vision test is fairly straightforward and will have doctors test your vision capabilities.
  • You must have at least 20/40 vision to pass this test.
  • If you fail this test, you must get prescribed glasses or contact lenses.
  • After getting the prescribed equipment, you can take the test again and proceed with the next tests.

2. Motorcycle Written Test

  • The written test checks your knowledge of the motorcycle and all the rules you must follow on public roads.
  • You can find many questions in the test based on content from the Idaho state manual.
  • The test will have 25 questions; you must correctly answer 20 of them if you want to move to the next test.
  • Brushing up on the state manual should help you pass the test, which is why you should do that before you take the test.

3. Motorcycle Road Test

  • The final test you will have to carry out is the road test, which will put all your riding skills and knowledge into action.
  • This test includes basic motorcycle movement checks that you will need to do flawlessly.
  • Stopping normally, turning sharply, stopping quickly, and weaving between cones are all checked in this test.
  • You may also be asked to swerve around obstacles, U-turn the motorcycle, and do all of the above without stalling the motorcycle.

Step 3: Collecting Your Paperwork

  • Once you are done with all the tests, you must go back to the main office.
  • You will be asked to fill out a few applications or collect your documents.
  • Ensure all your documents are accounted for as they contain important information.

Step 4: Go To Your Local Driver’s License Office

  • Now that all of the work has been done, all this is left is for you to pay the fees.
  • You will have to pay a fee for the license and all the tests you have conducted.
  • After you’re done, you will get a temporary license, and your permanent one will be sent to you via mail.

Ways To Get A Motorcycle Endorsement In ID

To get a motorcycle endorsement in the state of Idaho, you will have to pass a written test, a motorcycle skill test, and, of course, apply for the whole procedure.

Here are all the steps in detail:

Step 1: Apply For An Endorsement

Simply go to the DMV and ask to apply for an endorsement. You will have to provide the same documents as mentioned above.

Step 2: Pass The Written Test

Once you have submitted the documents, you can move on to the written test, which will once again check your knowledge of the road and the motorcycle.

Step 3: Pass The Skill Test

If you are above 21, you have to choose from a set of 3 courses. Upon passing this test, you can get your endorsement. If you are below 21, you must pass a training course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How Long Will It Take To Get A Motorcycle License In Idaho?

You will need to take a training course if you are under legal age. Once you have passed this course, you must wait at least two years before getting the endorsement.

If you are above 18, you can simply take the standard method and get it in 1 to 2 weeks.

Q2. How Much Will It Cost To Get A Motorcycle License In Idaho?

The base motorcycle license costs $15 in the state of Idaho. This is divided into a $3 fee for the written test and a $10 test for the driving exam.

This license will last you for at least 180 days, after which you will have to get it renewed, which will cost you additional money.

Q3. Should I Have A License To Ride A Motorcycle In Idaho?

You need to have a motorcycle license, a driving permit, or at the very least, a motorcycle endorsement in the state of Idaho if you want to ride your motorcycle.

If you do not have such documents, you will be committing a crime by riding your motorcycle on public grounds.

You may also be interested in my article: Idaho Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Conclusion

Getting a motorcycle license is worthwhile in any state if you want to legally ride your motorcycle in public.

No one wants to drive on their private property forever, and no one wants to get pulled over, which is why motorcycle licenses are a great help.

Since each state has its own rules and ways to get a motorcycle license, it is easy to see the confusion in how to get a motorcycle license in Idaho.

Hopefully, this article has helped you break away from this confusion and instead helped you figure out the best way to get a motorcycle license in Idaho.

Recent Posts