Pennsylvania motorcycle permit test
Pennsylvania caps how many times a rider can even try: a Class M learner's permit can be issued only three times within five years, four permits total, and every single one of those attempts requires passing the knowledge test again from scratch.
- Endorsement
- Class M motorcycle license
- Questions
- 20 best available figure
- Correct to pass
- 16 16 of 20 (80%)
- Rider questions here
- 130 all free, all explained
Honest note: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) does not publish the motorcycle test format anywhere we could confirm, so the 20 question count and pass mark of 16 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 the PAMSP Basic Riding Clinic waives both the knowledge test and the skills test for riders 18 and older, whose permit is stamped valid in place of testing at a Driver License Center; riders under 18 still must pass the skills test even after finishing the course PennDOT, 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.