How to Apply for a New Motorcycle License in Oklahoma
Your Oklahoma motorcycle license will require a slightly different application process than a standard driver’s license, and for good reason. There are many additional safety precautions that must be taken with this type of vehicle, and so it stands to reason that there are special endorsements that must be obtained in order to legally operate one in Oklahoma. These endorsements are meant to supplement a standard driver’s license and prove that you are knowledgeable and prepared to ride a motorcycle in the state.
Using your Oklahoma motorbike license for the first time can be quite exciting, and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for making sure that you are adequately prepared to do so safely and confidently. They do this by requiring a number of different tests, safety training courses and more to ensure that you are ready for whatever your motorcycling could have in store. This article will go over these DPS documents, and teach you how to begin riding a motorcycle on Oklahoma roads as soon as possible.
What is an Oklahoma motorcycle endorsement?
Getting a motorcycle endorsement in Oklahoma is one of the more common methods of legally operating a motorcycle in the state. This is because unlike standalone licenses, endorsements are documents which are added onto existing drivers licenses in order to expand the legal driving rights of the operator. You will still receive a permit by going down the path of an endorsement, but this document will allow you to ride motorcycles and drive other vehicles, as opposed to being limited to motorcycles alone. However, standalone licenses can give you the opportunity to ride a motorcycle in Oklahoma, even if you cannot get an endorsement without owning a standard driver’s license.
Motorcycle Permit Requirements in Oklahoma
Many factors, such as the Oklahoma motorcycle permit age, are relevant when considering who is able to receive motorcycle documents from the DPS. If you are 14-16 years of age, you are in the primary age range to receive a permit in Oklahoma. However, you will also need to get a permit if you are older than 16. This document is necessary in order to get your official license and must be held for at least 30 days before you may take the Oklahoma skills exam.
Required Documents
With an Oklahoma motorcycle permit, residents of the state can begin their motorcycle driving legally. However, the OK DPS does require a few different documents from applicants, in order to make sure that only the most qualified individuals are to be trusted with motorcycle driving privileges. These documents can include:
- A form of primary and secondary identification, such as a birth certificate and a Social Security card.
- Your Social Security Number.
- If you are younger than 18 years of age, a certificate of completion from a Motorcycle Basic
- Riders course, school enrollment information and a present parent or guardian.
- Any information on a legal name change, if applicable.
Oklahoma Motorcycle Permit Rules and Restrictions
In order to learn your motorcycle permit restrictions in Oklahoma, it is important that you understand exactly what a permit can and cannot do. To start, you will be unable to get your permit without first passing the DPS knowledge test, which is a basic introduction to the information that you will need while operating a motorcycle in the state. However, if you have successfully passed that motorcycle permit test, there are still many other requirements that must be met for your permit to stay active. These can include:
- Not being allowed to drive a motorcycle that is over 300 cubic centimeters of piston displacement.
- Only being allowed to ride between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
- Needing to follow all speed limits, and be accompanied by a licensed driver who is 21 years of age or older.
How to Get a Motorcycle Permit in Oklahoma
You can do quite a lot with a motorcycle learners permit in Oklahoma, and the process for getting one is much easier than you might imagine. This will require taking all of the above documentation to the nearest DPS location, undergoing the vision exam and other exams as necessary and finally receiving the permit document for immediate use. This document may be provided immediately if all of your information is in order, or via mail if your application requires processing time.
Oklahoma Motorcycle License Requirements
Although the Oklahoma motorcycle license age is not at all different from the DPS’ permit age, applicants between the ages of 14-16 must still have the above listed restrictions on their driving privileges. In addition, official licenses will require you to take a driving skills test, unless you have decided to take the optional safety education course outlined below. Regardless of your age, you will need to maintain your permit for at least 30 days before being allowed to change it into an official license.
How to Get a Motorcycle License in Oklahoma
If you are asking, “How long does it take to get a motorcycle license in Oklahoma?” then the DPS makes it incredibly easy to find your answer. Once you have applied with the DPS for the first time when getting your permit, they will already have much of your relevant information. Therefore, it is very important that you provide them with updated information upon applying for your license, in case any of your personal details have changed. Otherwise, after holding your permit for the minimum 30 days, you are free to apply for a license in person at any time. Please keep in mind that there may be some processing time before your license is sent in the mail, and that applicants younger than 17 years of age will have a restricted license until their 17th birthday.
Getting an Oklahoma Motorcycle License as a New Resident
DMV motorcycle documents in Oklahoma are very important to get, but you may not need to get them immediately if you are a new resident of the state. If you already have a license from another state, you may be able to get that license transferred to the Oklahoma DPS without needing to take the written or driving tests.
By forfeiting your existing motorcycle driver’s license, presenting all of the necessary DPS documents and taking the required vision exam, you will be able to get a new license in Oklahoma. You will receive a temporary license while waiting for your new document in the mail, and you will not need to worry about going through the potentially long process without being able to drive your motorcycle.
Required Motorcycle Classes in Oklahoma
Motorcycle classes in Oklahoma are extremely popular, as they can provide a great way to learn more about riding a motorcycle in a safe and controlled environment. There are dozens of training programs spread out across the state of Oklahoma, but the program endorsed by the OK DPS is the Basic RiderCourse from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. If this program is taken and passed, the OK DPS will not require their written or driving tests to be taken in order to get your final license.
As the most comprehensive Oklahoma motorcycle safety course designed for beginners, this program covers a wide range of introductory-level material that you should know before getting on the road. Some topics covered by the program include:
- The basics of operating a motorcycle.
- How to mentally prepare for a ride to prioritize safety.
- More advanced maneuvers, such as swerving and immediate stopping.
- Rules of the road, and what signs to look out for.
Oklahoma DMV Motorcycle Test Details
Passing your Oklahoma DMV motorcycle test can be one of the most involved parts of getting a license to operate a motorcycle in the state. There are many different relevant topics to an Oklahoma driver who is interested in motorcycles, which can be studied from the OK Motorcycle Operator Manual. However, while both of the following tests are significant, it is critical to remember that they can both be waived if you choose to take a safety education course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
Motorcycle Written Test
The Oklahoma DPS motorcycle written test is a multiple-choice exam that covers the basic information that would be taught from a driver education course. This test is designed to test your knowledge of driving motorcycles before giving out your permit, so that the DPS is sure that you have a base-level understanding of the state’s laws. Some of the topics covered can include:
- Identifying road signs and paint markings.
- How to properly pass a truck or car.
- Whether or not to share a lane, where in the lane to drive and much more.
Motorcycle Driving Test
Having to pass the Oklahoma motorcycle driving test is a different beast entirely. If you would prefer not to go through a safety education course that could take a few days of instruction, you may always choose to take a driving test. This involves driving alongside a DPS instructor, and demonstrating your ability to park, turn, swerve, stop and many other motorcycle maneuvers.
Do you need a motorcycle license to drive a scooter in Oklahoma?
Getting a bike license in Oklahoma is extremely useful, in that it can actually be used for a number of different vehicles. However, the OK DPS only requires a standard driver’s license to be obtained in order to operate a scooter/moped in the state.
These vehicles appear to be smaller versions of motorcycles, and are characterized by their inability to go over 30 miles per hour. Despite this lower speed than most other motorcycles, however, you will still be required to wear a DPS-approved helmet while riding, and you must have your driver’s license on your person at all times.
Oklahoma Motorcycle License Costs
There are many different motorcycle license cost amounts in Oklahoma, and you will be responsible for paying the OK DPS for any of these fees that are applicable to your motorcycle documents. The fees that are most applicable to motorcycle drivers in Oklahoma include:
- The $4 application fee, on top of the $4 Class D application fee (if applicable).
- The $4 retest fee, with an additional $4 fee for every test that is failed.
- The $25 duplicate license/permit fee.
Oklahoma Motorbike License Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Applying for a Motorcycle Endorsement from OK.gov
- Applying for a Motorcycle License (Over the Age of 16) from OK.gov
- Oklahoma Driver License/ID Card Fees from OK.gov