Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RI DMV)
Rhode Island motorcycle permit test
How the Rhode Island motorcycle endorsement works, plus free rider practice on the same questions used nationwide.
- Full rider practice test25 question practice run drawn from 130, pass with 20
- Cornering, braking and swerving19 questions, every answer explained
- Lane position and being seen22 questions, every answer explained
- Surface hazards21 questions, every answer explained
- Gear and the pre ride check22 questions, every answer explained
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 below.
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.
The format on file, and what is confirmed
Rhode Island has removed the motorcycle permit and the DMV written test from its licensing path entirely: the CCRI safety course is not an alternative to testing, it is the only testing that exists, and since March 2022 that course even splits into separate two wheel and three wheel certificates.
Format not published by the agency
Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RI DMV) 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.
Does a course skip the test?
Rhode Island issues no standalone motorcycle permit and runs no separate DMV knowledge exam for motorcycles; completing the CCRI run motorcycle safety course is the only route to adding the M endorsement, and the course's own exam stands in for a state test
RI Division of Motor Vehicles, checked 2026-08-28.