Ever wondered, can I ride a bike with a car license? Well, you might have given it a bit of thought but avoided it to make sure you don’t end up with a ticket.
Some people have to ditch their cars and go with motorbikes because of various reasons. Traffic conditions are one of the main issues that most people have to deal with, but you will have to go for another license for your bike, irrespective of the reason.
In the past, the law allowed people to ride up to 125cc bikes with a car license. But that rule has changed over time. You need to go for the CBT test even if you already are a full car license holder.
Can I Ride a Bike with a Car License?
So, can you ride a bike with a car license? If you are looking for a short and crisp answer, then it’s a no. There are no bikes that you can ride with your car license. You need to have the right kind of entitlement to don your helmet and leathers and hit the road.
But there is an exception for you if you have gained your license before February of 2001. In such a scenario, you can ride a 50cc moped with your Feb 2001 car license. Your moped doesn’t need to have a top speed of over 30 miles an hour. For riding a proper bike, you will need to have your CBT as well as other tests.
With a full car license, you can always ride a motorcycle up to 125cc, as we mentioned above but not without your CBT and other tests. After that, you can ride anything you want up to 125cc with L plates, and you will have 2 years before you will have to go for the CBT again. So, there you have the answer to your question, “can I ride a bike with a car license.”
Does Category “A” Mean You Are Allowed to Ride A Bike?
You might be thinking about whether Category A is enough to ride a bike? Yes, it does mean that you can ride a motorbike and have a passenger on the back. It also means you can also ride on the motorways. When you have a category AM license, you can only ride mopeds. A1 category allows you to ride a motorcycle up to 125cc, while the A2 category places a 33 HP limit.
So, you need to go with the right kind of license if you are looking to ride a motorbike for a particular reason. There are different categories of bike licenses, and you need to go with the right kind of category to fulfill your purpose.
Can You Register a Motorcycle Without a License?
You might be thinking, can you register your motorcycle without having a license? This is something different from the question “can I ride a bike with a car license.” It’s the matter of owning a bike. Technically, you don’t need a motorcycle license to own a bike, but you will need it for motorcycle insurance.
Most insurance companies out there need you to have a license for getting coverage. So you will find it pretty difficult to register your bike without having a license. You cannot register your bike without having your license.
Can You Drive Moped or Scooters on a Motorcycle License?
If you have passed your driving test after 1st February 2001, you ride a moped up to 50cc without any L plates. You can easily ride your moped for as long as your driving license lasts. Different states have different rules and regulations.
But more or less, you need to have a moped or a scooter that is under 50cc. And it has a max speed limit of under 45 miles an hour to ride it on your motorcycle license. And most of the states mentioned that you need to clear a compulsory basic training test to ride and get an endorsement on your motorcycle license. Some states require you to renew the endorsement, while others don’t.
Penalties for Driving a Motorcycle Without a License?
First of all, you need to understand that most states require you to have a license or an endorsement to operate your motorcycle legally. And in most cases, you are also required to have motorcycle licenses for driving your scooters and mopeds as well but not above a certain engine size.
Some states only penalize you for driving without your license. Others may also inflict jail time on you. If you ride without your motorcycle in California, you are subject to a fine of $1000 and 6 months of prison.
Other states might have a very lax penalty system in this regard, but it’s never a good idea for you to ride around without your license. And if you are thinking the same question, “can I ride a bike with a car license” and that your car license will save you, then that will not happen.
How Much Age is Mandatory to Get A Motorcycle License in the Different US States?
Different states have different laws in place when it comes to bike riding. This section will answer your question of “can I ride a bike with a car license.”
Alabama, Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, New York, N. Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming
If you have a license issued after 1st January 2016, you need to have a Class M, and you must also have a written test or complete an operator course. Riders under 17 have operating restrictions.
Alaska
All riders over 16 need a license to ride a bike. Learners permit mandatory for all riders over 14, but they need to ride under the supervision and not ride bikes over 50cc. Operators who are under 18 must have a 6-month instruction permit.
Arizona, Connecticut, and Missouri
Riders over 15 years and 6 months of age may have issues with a permit, but they need to pass a written test and a driver’s license test. If you already have a license, you will have to clear the written test only.
Arkansas, Colorado, and Maine
You need licenses for motorcycles, but you must be over 16 and must also have a certificate issued by the state police. You will also need registration of the title and your road and written tests.
California, Nevada, and Tennessee
Riders with an instruction permit and age 15 years and 6 months can ride motorcycles. But they must have completed the operator’s test or the driver’s education course. For the license, you need to be at least 17 years and 6 months.
Delaware, Montana, and Washington
No one is authorized to ride a bike without a proper license. The rider must also pass the examination to operate the vehicle safely. A course must also be taken, which is hosted by the Department of Transportation.
Florida, Idaho, and Washington
At least 21 years of age, every first-time rider needs to provide complete proof for the motorcycle safety operation course.
Hawaii
Instruction Permit is needed at the age of 15 years and 6 months, but you cannot ride in the darkness. After completing the safety education course, you don’t need to have an instruction permit as well.
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, S. Carolina, Virginia, and Puerto Rico
Licenses are not issued to anyone under age 18, and there is a 12-month instruction permit as well. But riding is only allowed under the supervision of a person who holds a license and is at least 21 years of age, and has at least 1 year of riding experience.
Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, and Rhode Island
With a valid intermediate driver’s license, if you are 18 or over, you can go for an instructional permit for your motorcycle, which is valid for at least a year. But you will have to pass a roadside test. The license that is needed to operate a bike needs to be renewed every 8 years.
Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Utah
You don’t need a separate driver’s license for riding your bike, but you need to have an endorsement on your current driver’s license to ride a bike. You can get this endorsement by passing a roadside test and a knowledge test.
Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont
You need to pass the vision test before you obtain the learner’s permit, and you are allowed to ride under the supervision of a person who is 21 or older and is a registered bike operator. After that, you will have to complete the motorcycle safety course, and after 24 months, you will be endorsed with Class M on your driver’s license.
New Hampshire, N. Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and S. Dakota
A learner’s permit must be issued to you if you are 16 or 17 or older. After completing the safety operation course and tests, you will be provided with your special license. But for that, you need to be 18 or older and must complete all the requirements. There is a Class D endorsement as well for non-commercial operation, moped operation, and motorbike operation.
FAQ
What bike can I ride on a car license?
You can ride a bike up to 125cc on your car license, but you need to have cleared your CBT for that before you start riding on the road.
Does a car license cover a motorbike?
Yes, it does, but you need to have your compulsory basic training test cleared before you get on the road with your bike, as we have mentioned above.
Can I ride a 250cc motorcycle on a car license?
No, a 250cc motorcycle will require a full motorcycle license or a category A motorcycle license for riding.
What CC is an A2 license?
An A2 license is a restricted license that you can gain after passing the road test and a 400cc scooter or motorcycle.
Conclusion
Thinking about riding on your car license? You need to have your CBT test cleared first, and that answers your question if “can I ride a bike with a car license.”
You either need to have a permit (if you’re underage), an endorsement, or a full license if you are looking to ride your bike without any restrictions or penalties. The rules and regulations are different in different states, so consult them before you even think about putting your helmet on.