Different Types of Vehicles

When looking at different types of motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, you will see the term “cc” along with a number: 250cc, 500cc, 750cc. The “cc” is an abbreviation for cubic centimeter, the volume of fuel mixed with air that powers motorcycles. Road-legal motorcycles, scooters, and even mopeds can have engines ranging from 50cc to more than 2,000cc. A motorcycle with a higher cc will weigh more and therefore have more power and be able to move more weight at faster speeds.

Motorcycles

Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider, is controlled by handlebars, and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor and moped (with engine size not exceeding 50cc), is defined as a motorcycle. Georgia law places all types of motorcycles (including scooters, motorbikes and mini-bikes with engine size 51cc or greater) into one classification. All are considered motor-driven cycles. A Class M License or a Class M Instructional Permit (MP) is required to legally operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle in Georgia.

Mopeds

A moped is defined as any motor driven cycle with an engine not exceeding 50cc (3.05 cubic inches). Mopeds are exempt from the provisions relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles.

Rules to operate mopeds on Georgia roads and highways:

  1. Must be at least 15 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license, instructional permit or limited permit.
  2. Must wear protective headgear (U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant motorcycle helmet).
  3. No tag is required.
  4. Must obey the same traffic laws governing drivers of motor vehicles.
  5. May not use limited access highways or other roadways where the minimum speed limit is above 35 mph.

1.2 – Required Motorcycle License Tests

Safe riding requires knowledge and skill. Licensing tests are the best measurement of the basic skills necessary to operate safely in traffic. Assessing your own skills is not enough. People often over-estimate their own abilities. It’s even harder for friends and relatives to be totally honest about your skills. Licensing exams are designed to be scored more objectively.

There are two ways to earn a motorcycle license. You can take a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Course where you will receive professional training in motorcycle handling (motorcycles are provided) as well as earn a License Test Waiver (if you successfully complete the course).

The License Test Waiver will allow you to bypass the knowledge test and the on-cycle skills test at a DDS Customer Service Center. See the section on the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program in this manual.

The other method is to apply directly at a DDS Customer Service Center. To earn your license, you must pass a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test (on your own motorcycle). You must also pass a vision test. If the vision test was administered and passed during the year in conjunction with another license issuance, this vision test may be waived.

Knowledge Test – you will need to take and successfully pass the Knowledge test. Knowledge test questions are based on information, practices and ideas from this manual. They require that you know and understand road rules and safe riding practices. NOTE: This requirement is waived for applicants who have successfully completed a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program License Test Waiver rider education course.

Rider Skills Test – you will need to take and successfully pass an on-cycle skills test, which consists of a series of exercises designed to demonstrate your basic skills in operating a motorcycle. NOTE: This requirement is waived for applicants who have successfully completed a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program 90-Day License Test Waiver rider education course.

You must furnish a motorcycle for the test and pass a safety inspection of the motorcycle by the DDS license examiner before the on-cycle skills test is given.

Basic vehicle control and crash-avoidance skills are included to determine your ability to handle normal and hazardous traffic situations.

The on-cycle skills test is designed for single-track vehicles (motorcycles) and multi-track vehicles (motorcycles with sidecars, and three-wheeled vehicles). Motorcycles with sidecars and three-wheeled vehicles maneuver differently than a two-wheeled single-track motorcycle. Vehicles outside of test standards may be required to use a car test route. Please be mindful on-cycle testing cannot be completed in an autocycle (i.e. three-wheel car-like vehicles).

Motorcycle Safety Courses

All riders are also encouraged to attend a rider education course which provides knowledge and hands-on training before receiving a motorcycle operator’s license.

Under the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (see section "1.1 How to obtain your class M motorcycle license), you may earn a License Test Waiver for your Class M Motorcycle License in the Basic RiderCourse and Basic RiderCourse 2. A 90-day license test waiver is provided to successful graduates.

Check out the rider education courses at The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program.

You can also view rider education courses online at the DDS website.

1.3 – The Rider Skills Test

Safe motorcycle riding depends largely on your knowledge and skills. The skills for motorcycling require a lot of practice. If you have just learned to handle a motorcycle and have very little riding experience, then the most important part of learning to ride is still ahead.

You may wish to take a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program rider education course that offers a License Test Waiver. For more information about locations and schedules, visit the DDS website.

The Rider Skills Test (RST) is used for both two-wheeled (RST-2W) and three-wheeled vehicles (RST-3W). The following pages highlight the testing patterns for both the two-wheel and three-wheel test.

Both tests consist of four riding evaluations that measure your control of the motorcycle and your hazard-response skills. The final two exercises involve speeds of about 15-20 miles per hour.

You will be scored on time/distance standards as well as path violations. The test may be ended early for point accumulation, committing an unsafe act, or failure to understand or follow instructions.

When you report for your test:

  • You must have a DOT compliant helmet, eye protection and closed toe footwear.
  • For safety, it is suggested that you wear long sleeves, long pants and gloves.
  • You must furnish a street-legal motor-driven cycle for the test and pass a safety inspection of the motorcycle by the DDS license examiner before the riding test is given.

PLEASE NOTE: You have the right to cancel the test at any time. Inform the DDS driver examiner that you do not wish to continue the test. The examiner will explain the conditions for rescheduling the test.

The DDS license examiner also has the right to stop the test if you (a) fail to demonstrate basic control skills, (b) accumulate more than the maximum number of penalty points allowed, (c) commit any unsafe act (d) fail to understand or follow directions, or (e) fall from or drop the motorcycle.

Finally, all testing may be suspended due to inclement weather, equipment failure or other circumstances beyond the control of you or the examiner.