
Two-wheel and three-wheel motorcycles.Those who hold an M1 license can legally operate the following vehicles on California roads: California M1 Motorcycle LicenseĪ California M1 motorcycle license is the standard motorcycle endorsement that most riders get. The license you need depends on the exact type of motorcycle you intend to ride. Technically, two classes are motorcycle licenses, and the third class refers to a standard California Class C driver’s license. Classes of California Motorcycle LicensesĬalifornia offers three different classes of motorcycle licenses. Below we offer a broad overview of each type of license, requirements to obtain each license, steps to take to get a California motorcycle license, and California insurance requirements for those who own or ride a motorcycle. Motorcycle riders can obtain three types of licenses in California. Your driver’s license will suffice if you want to ride a moped or motorized scooter in California, but if you want to cruise around on anything that goes faster than 30 miles per hour, you need a motorcycle license to be legal. If you have bought or are thinking about buying a motorcycle, you cannot legally jump on for a ride, even if you have a driver’s license. If any questions arise related to the information contained in the translated website, please refer to the English version.Southern California’s pleasant climate and picturesque landscapes make riding a motorcycle a popular pastime, and many choose to commute to and from work on a motorcycle too. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. The web pages currently in English on the DMV website are the official and accurate source for the program information and services the DMV provides. The DMV is unable to guarantee the accuracy of any translation provided by Google™ Translate and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information or changes in the formatting of the pages resulting from the use of the translation application tool.



Google™ Translate is a free third-party service, which is not controlled by the DMV. This translation application tool is provided for purposes of information and convenience only. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website uses Google™ Translate to provide automatic translation of its web pages.
