California 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 20 California numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
11 questions a round from the 11 number questions in our California 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
11 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
In California, it is illegal for a rider under 21 to ride with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:
0.01% or higher
California has zero tolerance for riders under 21: a BAC of 0.01% or above is illegal.
Speed limits
In California, what is the maximum speed for a motorcycle towing a trailer?
55 mph
A motorcycle towing a trailer must not exceed 55 mph in California, must stay in the right lane (or the right two lanes on a four-lane highway) except to pass, and may not use carpool lanes.
Distances & following gaps
Under normal conditions, what following distance does the California Motorcycle Handbook recommend?
At least two seconds
Normally keep a two-second following distance, counted from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed marker.
Every California motorcycle number, by topic
Official California 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
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuoteIt is unlawful for a person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. |
| 0.01% | BAC limit for drivers under 21 | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuoteit is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or greater, as measured by a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test, to drive a vehicle. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuoteIt is unlawful for a person who has 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in Section 15210. |
| 96 hours to 6 months · $390 to $1,000 · six-month | Drunk driving (DUI)96 hours to 6 months in county jail, a fine of $390 to $1,000, and a six-month license suspension that ends only after proof of insurance and completion of a DUI program | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuotethat person shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 96 hours, at least 48 hours of which shall be continuous, nor more than six months, and by a fine of not less than three hundred ninety dollars ($390), nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). |
| one year | Drunk driving (DUI)DMV suspends the driving privilege for one year | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuoteSuspend the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of one year. |
| 0.01% | In California, it is illegal for a rider under 21 to ride with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:Answer: 0.01% or higher | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 48QuoteIn California, it is illegal for a person under 21 years old to drive with a BAC of 0.01% or above |
| 0.08% | In California, it is illegal for a rider 21 or older to ride with a BAC of:Answer: 0.08% or higher | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 48QuoteIt is illegal for a person 21 years old or older to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or above. |
| two hours | To avoid fatigue on a long trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle?Answer: At least every two hours | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 48QuoteTake frequent rest breaks. Stop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Speed limits
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 55 mph | In California, what is the maximum speed for a motorcycle towing a trailer?Answer: 55 mph | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 42QuoteMotorcycles towing trailers: • Must not exceed 55 mph. • Must remain in the right lane unless it is a four lane highway, then the right two lanes, except when passing. |
Distances & following gaps
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| two seconds | Under normal conditions, what following distance does the California Motorcycle Handbook recommend?Answer: At least two seconds | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 23QuoteNormally, you should maintain a two-second following distance. |
| One second | In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: One second behind the leader, in the right portion of the lane | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 44QuoteThe leader rides in the left portion of the lane while the second rider stays one second behind in the right portion of the lane. |
| 100 feet | In California, when should you signal a left or right turn on a motorcycle?Answer: During the last 100 feet before the turn | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 30QuoteSignal your left or right turn during the last 100 feet before reaching the turning point. |
Ages, permits & the test
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $46 | Fee | dmv.ca.govQuoteLicense Class Class C Application – Original – Renewal – Adding a motorcycle license (Class M1/M2) Fee $46 |
| under 18 | Motorcycle permitUnder 18 also needs a Class C license or driver education and training, and a parent's signature | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuoteIf age 15 years and 6 months or older, but under the age of 18 years, the applicant shall meet all of the following requirements: |
| 24 months | Motorcycle permitUp to 24 months from the date of application | leginfo.legislature.ca.govQuoteAn instruction permit issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period not exceeding 24 months from the date of application. |
| 12 months | Motorcycle permitThe DL 389 completion certificate waives the DMV skills test within 12 months of issue | dmv.ca.govQuoteUpon successful completion of the course, you will be given a Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL 389) that may be used to waive the motorcycle skills test at DMV within 12 months of the date of issuance. |
| 21 years | In California, which motorcycle applicants must complete a California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) course before getting an instruction permit?Answer: Applicants under 21 years old | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 11QuoteMotorcycle applicants under 21 years old are required to complete a CMSP training course before receiving a motorcycle instruction permit. |
| 12 months | How long is a California Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL 389) valid after it is issued?Answer: 12 months from the issue date | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 11QuoteNOTE: The DL 389 is valid for 12 months from the issue date. |
| At least 45 | You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. At what angle should you cross it?Answer: At least 45 degrees, with a quick sharp turn | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 38Quotemove far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees. Then, make a quick, sharp turn. |
| 10 days | In California, a motorcycle rider is in a collision causing more than $1,000 in property damage. Within how many days must the SR1 report be made to DMV?Answer: 10 days | California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), page 49QuoteYou must make this report within 10 days on the Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR1). |
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 California 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 20 of them for California, 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 California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665), California statutes or DMV 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.
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