Florida gives you two ways to ride legally: add a motorcycle endorsement to a Class E license, or get a Motorcycle Only license. Either way, new riders must pass a Basic RiderCourse with a sponsor authorized by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department (FLHSMV). Nobody under 16 can be licensed to operate a motorcycle in the state. The sections below sort out the path for your age and license.
Pick the situation that matches yours
A teen who wants a motorcycle license needs a learner's license first, a full year of clean driving history on it, the knowledge test and the rider course.
Your steps
- Get a learner's license: applicants must be at least 15 and a parental consent form is required.
- Hold the learner's license for one year with no traffic convictions; you must be at least 16 to apply for the Motorcycle Only license.
- Enroll in the Basic RiderCourse with an authorized sponsor, which requires a learner's license for students aged 16 and up, and pass it.
- Pass the knowledge test, the same one used for a regular Class E license.
- Visit a driver license or tax collector office with proper ID, and pay the fees. The license is restricted to motorcycles only.
What to bring
- Your learner's license
- Basic RiderCourse completion card if the sponsor has not already reported your pass
- Proper ID and documents the office requires
- Eye protection, gloves, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, and sturdy over-the-ankle footwear for the course
- Payment for the fees
An adult starting from zero can also choose the Motorcycle Only license, which needs a learner's license, the knowledge test and the course.
Your steps
- Apply for a learner's license at a driver license or tax collector office.
- Sign up for a Basic RiderCourse (BRC or BRCu) from an authorized sponsor; the sponsor provides the motorcycle and helmet.
- Pass the course. The sponsor submits your results to the department electronically.
- Pass the knowledge test, which matches the Class E test.
- Return to an office with proper ID, pay the fees and receive a license marked Motorcycles Only.
- If you later want to drive a car, that needs a separate Class E license, so decide up front which one you actually want.
What to bring
- Proper ID and the documents FLHSMV lists for your residency status
- Learner's license
- Riding gear: eye protection, full-coverage gloves, long pants, long sleeves, sturdy ankle-covering boots
- Payment for course and license fees
This is the common route: the course, then a short office visit to add the endorsement to the license you carry.
Your steps
- Confirm your Class E license is valid.
- Complete the Basic RiderCourse (BRC or BRCu), a 15-hour program on a sponsor's motorcycle with the helmet and handbook provided.
- Wait for the sponsor to report your pass to the department; your completion card shows the PASS status.
- Visit a driver license or tax collector office within one year of passing, tell them you completed the course, and show proper ID.
- Pay the endorsement fee and leave with the endorsement added.
What to bring
- Your Class E license
- BRC or BRCu completion card
- Proper ID
- Payment: FLHSMV lists a $7.00 endorsement fee, plus other charges that may apply
Florida generally honors motorcycle endorsements from other states, so most new residents do not repeat the course.
Your steps
- Get a Florida license within 30 days of establishing residency, in person at an office that provides driver license services.
- Choose your residency status on the FLHSMV new-resident page to see exactly which documents to bring.
- Present your out-of-state license with its motorcycle endorsement; Florida accepts endorsements from many states, Canada and the US military.
- If your license came from Alabama, also bring a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse completion card that is under one year old, since that state is the exception.
- Complete the vision test every applicant takes, then pay the fees.
What to bring
- Valid out-of-state license showing the motorcycle endorsement
- The residency and identity documents shown on FLHSMV's new-resident page
- For Alabama licenses: an MSF BRC card dated within the past year
- Payment for fees
Documents, costs and tips
Documents
- Proper ID, with the exact list depending on your residency status; FLHSMV shows it after you pick your status on its new-resident page.
- A course completion card from an authorized sponsor, or confirmation that the sponsor submitted your result.
- Learner's license (Motorcycle Only path) or Class E license (endorsement path).
- Parental consent form for a learner's license applicant under 18.
Costs
- Endorsement fee: $7.00, according to FLHSMV, in addition to the regular license fee.
- County tax collector offices add $6.25 per driver license transaction.
- The rider course has its own price set by each sponsor, so compare sponsors.
- We could not confirm the current license fee for a new Motorcycle Only license; check with FLHSMV or your local office.
Florida tips
- Do not let the course card sit: after one year the card and its PASS status are invalid and you must retake the course.
- Eye protection is required for operators. Helmets are required, except for riders over 21 who carry a policy with at least $10,000 in medical benefits for motorcycle crash injuries.
- Taking a three-wheel course adds an S restriction limiting you to three-wheel motorcycles or sidecars.
- Mopeds and scooters of 50cc or less need a rider at least 16 with a Class E or Motorcycle Only license.
- Rules and fees change, so confirm with FLHSMV before you book.
Common questions
Do I have to take a course to get the endorsement?
New riders do. FLHSMV requires passing the Basic RiderCourse (BRC or BRCu) with an authorized sponsor before the endorsement can be added, though endorsements from most other states are recognized without it.
How long do I have to get the endorsement after passing the course?
One year. After that, your completion card and PASS status are invalid and you have to retake the course.
Does the endorsement expire?
FLHSMV says endorsements do not expire on their own, but your license still renews on its normal schedule. Renewing a Class E license with the endorsement is listed at $48 plus $7 for the endorsement, so check for current amounts.
Can a 15-year-old ride a motorcycle in Florida?
No. No one under 16 may operate, or be licensed to operate, motorcycles, mopeds, motor-driven cycles, motorized scooters or electric helper-motor bicycles on Florida roads, per FLHSMV.
What is the difference between the endorsement and a Motorcycle Only license?
The endorsement is added to a Class E license. A Motorcycle Only license covers motorcycles alone, and it requires the same knowledge test as a Class E license plus the rider course.
Check the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles motorcycle page (https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/motorcycle-rider-education-endorsements/) before you go, since fees, forms and rules can change.