What You Need to Do to Ride a Motorcycle in Georgia
To ride a motorcycle legally in Georgia, you need a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license. This is not a separate license—it is an addition to your existing driver's license that permits you to operate a motorcycle on public roads. Georgia requires you to pass a written test, a vision test, and a riding skills test before the endorsement is issued.
You have two main paths: take the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program course (which waives the riding test), or go directly to a Department of Driver Services office and pass all three tests on your own. Most riders choose the course because it covers the skills you will actually need and removes the pressure of the riding test at the DDS office.
Key Takeaways
- Georgia requires a motorcycle endorsement added to your driver's license, obtained through either a safety course or direct testing at a DDS office.
- The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program course costs around $20 and includes classroom instruction, a written test waiver, and a riding skills test that counts toward your endorsement.
- If you test directly at DDS without taking the course, you must pass a written test, vision test, and riding skills test in one visit.
- You must be at least 16 years old to ride a motorcycle in Georgia, though riders under 18 have restrictions on engine size and riding hours.
- Bring your current driver's license, proof of residency, and a street-legal motorcycle or the course's training bike to your test or course date.
Taking the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Course
The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program is run by the Georgia Department of Driver Services in partnership with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The course is offered at multiple locations across the state and costs approximately $20 for the classroom and riding portions combined. You attend a classroom session where you learn motorcycle operation, safety rules, and Georgia traffic laws specific to motorcycles, then take a written test as part of the course.
After passing the classroom portion, you move to the riding skills test, which takes place on a closed course with training motorcycles provided by the program. An instructor watches you perform basic maneuvers—starting, stopping, turning, and emergency braking—to confirm you can control the bike safely. If you pass, the course issues you a completion certificate that you take to any Department of Driver Services office to add the endorsement to your license.
To find a course near you, visit the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program website or call the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Courses fill up, especially in spring and summer, so register early. The entire process from course completion to endorsement typically takes one to two weeks.
Testing Directly at a Department of Driver Services Office
If you choose not to take the safety course, you can test directly at a DDS office. You will need to pass three separate tests: a written knowledge test about motorcycle laws and safe riding, a vision screening, and a riding skills test on a closed course at the DDS facility.
The written test covers Georgia motorcycle laws, hazard recognition, and safe riding practices. You must bring your own street-legal motorcycle to the DDS office for the riding test, or some offices allow you to use a motorcycle you have borrowed. The riding test follows the same format as the safety course test—an examiner watches you perform basic maneuvers to confirm control and safety awareness.
This route is faster if you already have strong riding skills, but it is riskier because you must pass all three tests in one visit. If you fail the riding test, you must reschedule and return. Many riders find the safety course less stressful because the instruction prepares you specifically for what the test will ask.
Age Requirements and Restrictions for Young Riders
Georgia allows riders as young as 16 to obtain a motorcycle endorsement. However, riders under 18 face restrictions on engine size and riding hours. A rider aged 16 or 17 cannot operate a motorcycle with an engine larger than 50 cubic centimeters (cc) and cannot ride between midnight and 5 a.m., except when traveling to or from work or a school-sponsored event.
These restrictions lift on your 18th birthday. If you are under 16, you cannot ride a motorcycle on public roads in Georgia, though you may ride on private property with the owner's permission.
Documents and Fees You Will Need
Bring your current Georgia driver's license to either the safety course or the DDS office. You will also need proof of your current address—a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days works. If you are testing at DDS without taking the course, bring your own motorcycle or arrange to use one at the facility.
The endorsement fee is $20 when you add it to your license at the DDS office. If you take the safety course, that course fee is separate (around $20) and does not include the endorsement fee. The total cost is typically $40 or less.
What Happens After You Pass
Once you pass the riding test—either through the safety course or at DDS—you receive a certificate or passing notice. Take this to any Department of Driver Services office with your driver's license and proof of address. The office will add the motorcycle endorsement to your license on the spot. Your new license will show the "M" endorsement, which permits you to operate any motorcycle on Georgia public roads (subject to age restrictions if you are under 18).
Your endorsement is valid as long as your driver's license is valid. When you renew your driver's license, the endorsement renews with it at no additional cost.
Preparing for the Riding Skills Test
Whether you take the safety course or test at DDS, the riding skills test follows a standard format. You will be asked to demonstrate starting the motorcycle, riding in a straight line, making left and right turns, stopping smoothly, and performing an emergency stop. The examiner is looking for smooth throttle control, proper braking, and the ability to keep the motorcycle upright and stable.
If you are taking the safety course, the classroom instruction covers these maneuvers in detail, and you practice them multiple times before the test. If you are testing directly at DDS, practice these skills beforehand on a quiet road or parking lot. Wear full protective gear—helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots—to the test; some facilities require it, and it is always the safer choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a motorcycle endorsement if I do not have a driver's license yet?
No. You must have a valid Georgia driver's license before you can add a motorcycle endorsement. If you do not have a driver's license, you will need to obtain one first through the standard licensing process.
What if I fail the riding skills test?
You can retake the test. If you failed at a DDS office, you reschedule and return with your motorcycle. If you failed the safety course test, you may retake it through the course or test at DDS instead. There is no limit on retakes, though you may need to pay a retest fee at DDS.
Do I need to take a written test if I take the safety course?
The safety course includes a written test as part of the classroom instruction, and passing it is required to move to the riding portion. You do not take a separate written test at DDS if you have the course completion certificate.
Can I ride a motorcycle with a learner's permit?
Georgia does not issue a separate motorcycle learner's permit. You must have the full motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license to ride on public roads. You can practice on private property without an endorsement.
How long does the endorsement process take from start to finish?
If you take the safety course, the entire process typically takes two to four weeks from course registration to endorsement on your license. If you test directly at DDS, it can be completed in one visit, though scheduling the test may take a week or two depending on office availability.