Pennsylvania Motorcycle Permit Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The Class M learner's permit costs $12, is valid for one year, and requires passing the motorcycle knowledge test (PennDOT). You can apply for a permit up to three times in five years, with a limit of four permits, and must pass the knowledge test each time. PennDOT does not publish the number of questions or the passing score; this portal's practice set has 25 questions, which is our own design.

Passing the knowledge test earns the Class M learner's permit, the first step toward a Pennsylvania motorcycle license.

New riders in Pennsylvania preparing for the permit knowledge test, including teenagers starting with a permit.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

PennDOT lets you apply for a permit no more than three times in a five-year period, with a limit of four permits, and you must pass the knowledge test each time; the official pages gave no waiting period or retest fee.

PennDOT does not publish a passing score for the motorcycle knowledge test, so this guide does not state one. The practice set here is a study tool, not a prediction of your result. Format: PennDOT does not publish the test length or passing score; this portal's practice set has 25 multiple-choice questions. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

The Class M learner's permit costs $12, is valid for one year, and requires passing the motorcycle knowledge test (PennDOT). You can apply for a permit up to three times in five years, with a limit of four permits, and must pass the knowledge test each time. PennDOT does not publish the number of questions or the passing score; this portal's practice set has 25 questions, which is our own design. Multiple-choice knowledge test given in person at a Driver License Center, based on PUB 147 · PennDOT does not publish the question count or passing score. PennDOT does not publish a passing score for the motorcycle knowledge test, so this guide does not state one. The practice set here is a study tool, not a prediction of your result.

• Protective Gear, Motorcycle Familiarity and Pre-Ride Responsibilities14%
• Basic Vehicle Control: Body Position, Shifting, Braking and Turning9%
• Lane Position, Following Distance and Sharing the Lane Space14%
• SEE, Intersections and Increasing Conspicuity18%
• Crash Avoidance, Dangerous Surfaces and Mechanical Problems20%
• Carrying Passengers and Cargo and Group Riding10%
• Alcohol, Other Drugs and Fatigue10%
• Earning Your Class M License: Permit Rules and Pennsylvania Law5%

The content outline spreads questions across 8 areas: Protective Gear, Motorcycle Familiarity and Pre-Ride Responsibilities (14.0%); Basic Vehicle Control: Body Position, Shifting, Braking and Turning (9.0%); Lane Position, Following Distance and Sharing the Lane Space (14.0%); SEE, Intersections and Increasing Conspicuity (18.0%); Crash Avoidance, Dangerous Surfaces and Mechanical Problems (20.0%); Carrying Passengers and Cargo and Group Riding (10.0%); Alcohol, Other Drugs and Fatigue (10.0%); Earning Your Class M License: Permit Rules and Pennsylvania Law (5.0%).

PennDOT's page sets no general minimum age. If you are under 18 you need the permit for six months and 65 hours of practice before the skills test, and the Basic Rider Course counts as 15 hours of that practice.

$12 for the Class M learner's permit (valid one year). No separate knowledge test fee was listed; rider course fees are separate.

This guide does not cover moving from the permit to a Class M license; check PennDOT for the skills test and permit rules.

Start with the heaviest areas of the content outline: Crash Avoidance, Dangerous Surfaces and Mechanical Problems (20.0%); SEE, Intersections and Increasing Conspicuity (18.0%); Protective Gear, Motorcycle Familiarity and Pre-Ride Responsibilities (14.0%). Then work through the remaining areas, and finish with timed full-length practice runs of 25 questions in one sitting.

Content outlines, fees and passing standards change; this guide follows the materials listed under Verification as of October 2026. Check PennDOT before you register.