Alaska motorcycle permit test
Alaska is one of the few states that licenses motorcycles as their own class, M1, M2 or M3, rather than bolting an endorsement onto a regular license, and its DMV page openly leaves the knowledge test's exact question count unpublished.
- Endorsement
- Class M1 motorcycle license (Alaska licenses motorcycles as a class, not an add-on endorsement)
- Questions
- 25 best available figure
- Correct to pass
- 20 20 of 25 (80%), a format the DMV page does not spell out
- Rider questions here
- 130 all free, all explained
Honest note: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles does not publish the motorcycle test format anywhere we could confirm, so the 25 question count and pass mark of 20 are the best available figures rather than verified facts. The riding knowledge below is the same either way. Confirm the format with the agency before your appointment.
The rider course rule. Completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course waives the road (skills) test; the certificate only counts toward that waiver for the calendar year it was earned or the year before, and the written knowledge test still has to be passed separately. Alaska DMV, Motorcycle License page, checked 2026-08-28.
Rider drills
Riding technique does not change at a state line, so these drills are the same wherever you ride. What changes is the paperwork above.
Controls and basic operation
Clutch, throttle, both brakes, the friction zone and starting on a hill.
Gear and the pre ride check
Helmets, eye protection, what to wear, and the checks before you set off.
Lane position and being seen
The three lane positions, following distance and staying out of blind spots.
Surface hazards
Gravel, paint, metal, rail crossings and everything that matters more on two wheels.
Cornering, braking and swerving
Countersteering, entry speed, braking in a curve and choosing swerve over brake.
Passengers, groups and impairment
Carrying a passenger or cargo, staggered formation, alcohol, fatigue and weather.