October 12, 2016 motorcycle

Washington – Endorsement

To ride a motorcycle in Washington State, you must have a 2-wheel motorcycle or 3-wheel sidecar/trike:

  • Endorsement on your driver license.

or

  • Motorcycle instruction permit to learn how to ride on public roadways.

 

If you have a… You…
2-wheel motorcycle or scooter that:

  • Is larger than 50cc
  • or
  • Can go faster than 30 mph
 Need a 2-wheel endorsement
2-wheel motorcycle or scooter that:

  • Is 50cc or smaller
  • and
  • Has a maximum speed of 30 mph
 Don’t need an endorsement

Motorcycle endorsement codes – We add these codes to your driver license to show that you’ve successfully tested and are allowed to:

  • 3 = ride all 2-wheel motorcycles.
  • 5 = ride all 3-wheel trikes/sidecars.
  • 7 = ride all 2-wheels and 3-wheels.

If you ride without the proper endorsement or permit, your motorcycle, scooter, or trike may be impounded.