Alabama motorcycle permit test numbers to know
Distances, speeds, limits, fines and deadlines are the questions people miss most, because they have to be memorized. Here are 19 Alabama numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 13 number questions in our Alabama bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.
Free and unlimited. Your answers count toward your readiness and mistake review.
Numbers flashcards
13 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.
Each deck starts with 20 free cards. Swipe right if you knew it, left to see it again.
See 3 of the cards
Alcohol & drugs
Under Alabama law, a rider aged 21 or older may not ride with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above what level?
.08%
Under Alabama law it is unlawful to drive or ride with a BAC of .08% or more, and riders under 21 are over the limit at .02%.
Distances & following gaps
Alabama limits how high motorcycle handlebars may be. They may be no more than how far above the part of the seat the operator sits on?
15 inches
No one may operate a motorcycle whose handlebars are more than 15 inches above the operator's part of the seat.
Ages, permits & the test
A 14-year-old's Alabama Class M license carries Restriction 'B'. What does that restriction mean?
Cycles of 5 horsepower or less, for ages 14 and 15 only
Restriction B limits a young rider to motor-driven cycles of 5 horsepower or less and applies only at ages 14 and 15.
Every Alabama motorcycle number, by topic
Official Alabama laws come first in each group, then the numbers from our handbook questions. Tap a source to read the exact words it comes from.
Alcohol & drugs
7 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | alea.govQuoteUnder Alabama law, it is unlawful to drive with a concentration of .08 percent or more alcohol in the blood, or while under the influence of alcohol. |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for drivers under 21 | alea.govQuoteCommercial vehicle operators whose blood alcohol content is .04% or more. • Persons under 21 years of age whose blood alcohol content is .02% or more. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | alea.govQuoteCommercial vehicle operators whose blood alcohol content is .04% or more. • Persons under 21 years of age whose blood alcohol content is .02% or more. |
| $600 to $2,100, one year, 90-day | Drunk driving (DUI)Fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail, or both, plus a 90-day license suspension | alea.govQuotePenalty for a first conviction is a fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail or by both fine and imprisonment. In addition, the driver license will be suspended for 90 days. |
| under 21 | Drunk driving (DUI)The limit is.02 for drivers under 21 (and school bus and daycare drivers) and.04 for commercial drivers | alea.govQuoteCommercial vehicle operators whose blood alcohol content is .04% or more. • Persons under 21 years of age whose blood alcohol content is .02% or more. |
| .08% | Under Alabama law, a rider aged 21 or older may not ride with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above what level?Answer: .08% | Alabama Driver Manual, page 35QuoteUnder Alabama law, it is unlawful to drive with a concentration of .08 percent or more alcohol in the blood |
| two hours | On a long ride, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to fight fatigue?Answer: At least every two hours | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 48QuoteStop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Distances & following gaps
5 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 15 inches | Alabama limits how high motorcycle handlebars may be. They may be no more than how far above the part of the seat the operator sits on?Answer: 15 inches | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 4QuoteNo person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars more than fifteen (15) inches in height above the portion of the seat occupied by the operator. |
| Two seconds | Under normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance you should keep behind another vehicle?Answer: Two seconds | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 19QuoteNormally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained when following a vehicle. |
| Three seconds | The pavement is slippery and you cannot see through the van ahead of you. What following distance should you open up?Answer: Three seconds or more | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 20Quoteopen up a three-second or more following distance. |
| 12 seconds | How far ahead should you look when searching for hazards that are further out?Answer: To an area it would take about 12 seconds to reach | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 23Quotelooking ahead to an area it would take about 12 seconds to reach. |
| one second | In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: In the right side of the lane, at least one second back | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 42Quotethe second rider stays at least one second back and rides in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | Fee | alea.govQuoteThe fee for each knowledge test is $5.00, no checks accepted. |
| ages 14 | A 14-year-old's Alabama Class M license carries Restriction 'B'. What does that restriction mean?Answer: Cycles of 5 horsepower or less, for ages 14 and 15 only | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 3Quote(motor-driven cycle - 5 horsepower or smaller - for ages 14 and 15 only) will then apply. |
| Four years | Once a 14-year-old is licensed in Alabama to ride a motor-driven cycle, how long is that license valid for that class of vehicle?Answer: Four years | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 3QuoteOnce a 14-year-old is licensed to operate a motor-driven cycle, the license is valid for a four-year period for that class vehicle. |
| at least 45 | You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. What should you do?Answer: Move far enough away to cross it at an angle of at least 45 degrees | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 35Quotemove far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45˚. |
Time limits & deadlines
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| five months | More than half of all motorcycle crashes involve riders with how much experience on their motorcycle?Answer: Less than five months | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 12QuoteMore than half of all crashes involve riders with less than five months |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Three times | Compared with riders who wear no helmet, how much more likely are helmeted riders to survive head injuries in a crash?Answer: Three times more likely | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 9Quotehelmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets |
Other numbers
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | Which statement about the front brake is correct?Answer: It can provide 70% or more of your total stopping power | Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 16QuoteThe front brake is more powerful and can provide 70% or more of your total stopping power. |
Memory tips
How to study them (our advice, not official rules):
- Learn the number with its unit and its place. “15 feet from a hydrant” sticks; “15” on its own gets mixed up with 15 mph.
- Say the answer before you look. Recalling the number yourself is harder than spotting it among four options, and it is what makes it stick.
- Come back to the ones you miss. The quiz above brings missed questions back more often. Short rounds over several days beat one long session.
Questions about the numbers
What numbers do I need to know for the Alabama motorcycle permit test?
Mostly distances (how close you may park to a hydrant or crosswalk, when to signal, when to dim your high beams), speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, and the ages, hours and deadlines for your permit and license. This page lists 19 of them for Alabama, each with its source.
Why focus on numbers?
A California DMV study of its own knowledge test found that many of the hardest questions “are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.” Numbers are easy to mix up under pressure, so they are worth drilling on their own.
Where do these numbers come from?
Each one is quoted from the Alabama Motorcycle Operator Manual (with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), Alabama statutes or ALEA pages. Our build checks that every number on this page appears word for word in the quote it cites.
Is the numbers drill free?
Yes. The table and the numbers quiz are free and unlimited, and so are the first 20 flashcards.