Arkansas 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 22 Arkansas numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 16 number questions in our Arkansas 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
16 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
What is the lowest alcohol concentration at which an Arkansas rider under 21 can be arrested for Underage Driving Under the Influence?
0.02%
In Arkansas you cannot buy or drink alcohol under 21, and a rider under 21 can be arrested for Underage Driving Under the Influence at an alcohol concentration of just 0.02%.
Fines, points & penalties
What does Arkansas charge for each written (knowledge) examination, including the motorcycle exam?
$5.00 per written exam
Under Act 1289 of 2015, Arkansas charges $5.00 for each written examination, and there is no limit on how many exam fees can be charged.
Distances & following gaps
Under normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance you should keep behind another vehicle?
Two seconds
Keep at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead: when its rear passes a fixed marker, count 'one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two' before you reach it.
Every Arkansas motorcycle number, by topic
Official Arkansas 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
8 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | media.ark.orgQuoteYou will be arrested for driving while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more in the breath (grams/210 liters) or blood (grams/100 milliliters, the same as 0.08%). |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for underage drivers | media.ark.orgQuoteYou can be arrested for Underage Driving Under the Influence if your alcohol concentration is 0.02%breath or blood alcohol concentration. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | media.ark.orgQuoteIt is illegal to operate a CMV if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .04% or more. |
| $150 to $1,000, one year | Drunk driving (DUI)Fine of $150 to $1,000 plus court costs and up to one year in jail (study guide) | media.ark.orgQuoteIf you are found guilty of an alcohol violation and it is your first conviction, you will be fined from $150 to $1000, in addition to court costs. You could also be sentenced to one (1) year in jail |
| 180-day | Drunk driving (DUI)First refusal: 180-day license suspension | dfa.arkansas.govQuoteSuspension periods for DWI/BWI Refused To Test offenses are as follows: 1 st offense Refused To Test = 180-day suspension. |
| 0.02% | What is the lowest alcohol concentration at which an Arkansas rider under 21 can be arrested for Underage Driving Under the Influence?Answer: 0.02% | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, page 87QuoteYou can be arrested for Underage Driving Under the Influence if your alcohol concentration is 0.02%breath or blood alcohol concentration. |
| 0.08% | Apart from cases involving a crash or a serious traffic offense, at what alcohol concentration will an Arkansas rider be arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI)?Answer: 0.08% or more | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, page 86QuoteYou will be arrested for driving while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more in the breath (grams/210 liters) or 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 | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 44QuoteTake frequent rest breaks — Stop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Fines, points & penalties
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | What does Arkansas charge for each written (knowledge) examination, including the motorcycle exam?Answer: $5.00 per written exam | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, page 13QuoteTHIS ACT REQUIRES A $5.00 FEE FOR EACH WRITTEN EXAMINATION. THERE SHALL BE NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF EXAMS CHARGED AT THE TIME OF LICENSE. |
Distances & following gaps
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two seconds | Under normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance you should keep behind another vehicle?Answer: Two seconds | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 15QuoteNormally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained when following a vehicle. |
| Three seconds | The pavement is slippery and you can't see past the van ahead. What following distance should you open up?Answer: Three seconds or more | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 16QuoteIf the pavement is slippery, if you cannot see through the vehicle ahead, or if traffic is heavy and someone may squeeze in front of you, open up a three-second or more following distance. |
| 12 seconds | As part of the SEE strategy, how far ahead should you search for hazards?Answer: An area it would take about 12 seconds to reach | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 19Quotelooking 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: At least one second behind the leader, in the right side of the lane | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 38QuoteThe group leader rides in the left side of the lane, and the second rider stays at least one second back and rides in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
5 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One year | After you pass the Arkansas motorcycle knowledge exam, how long does that passing result stay valid?Answer: One year | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, page 16QuoteThe knowledge exam will be valid for (one) year. |
| Five days | Under Arkansas State Police scheduling rules, how long must you wait to reschedule after failing a non-commercial knowledge exam?Answer: Five days | Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Driver Services websiteQuoteAll failed NCL knowledge exams must wait five (5) days before rescheduling. |
| 16 years | What is the minimum age for an Arkansas Class M license, the state's unrestricted motorcycle license?Answer: 16 years old | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, page 16QuoteThis license is a non-restricted motorcycle license issued to persons sixteen (16) years of age or older to operate a motorcycle on public roadways. |
| 90 days | An Arkansas Class M applicant wants to skip the on-motorcycle skills exam. What lets them do that?Answer: An MSF Riders Course certificate returned within 90 days | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, page 16QuoteThe motorcycle skill exam can be waived with the successful completion of a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Riders Course. The certificate received must be returned to an Arkansas State Police Examiner within ninety (90) days of course completion. |
| At least 45 | To leave a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path, at what angle should you cross it?Answer: At least 45 degrees | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 31Quotemove far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45˚. |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| under 21 | HelmetsMotorcycle riders and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet | media.ark.orgQuoteA universal helmet law is recognized as the single most effective way for states to save lives in motorcycle crashes, but Arkansas does not have a Helmet law for those over age 21. |
| Three times | Compared with riders not wearing helmets, how much more likely are helmeted riders to survive head injuries in a crash?Answer: Three times more likely | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 5QuoteNo matter what the speed, helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets |
| under 21 | Which motorcycle riders does Arkansas law require to wear a helmet?Answer: Riders and passengers under 21 | Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Driver Services websiteQuoteA universal helmet law is recognized as the single most effective way for states to save lives in motorcycle crashes, but Arkansas does not have a Helmet law for those over age 21. |
Other numbers
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | How much of a motorcycle's total stopping power can the front brake provide?Answer: 70% or more | Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), page 12QuoteThe 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 Arkansas 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 22 of them for Arkansas, 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 Motorcycle Operator Manual (MSF, with Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles), Arkansas statutes or DFA 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.