Iowa 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 21 Iowa 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 Iowa 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
How long does the manual say experienced riders seldom try to exceed in a day of riding?
About six hours
Riding a motorcycle is more tiring than driving a car. Experienced riders seldom try to ride more than about six hours a day, and they stop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours.
Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 47
Fines, points & penalties
You already have an Iowa driver's license. How much does it cost to add a motorcycle instruction permit to it?
$2 for each year the license is valid, up to 4 years
Adding the motorcycle instruction permit to an existing license costs $2 for each year the license is valid, for no more than 4 years.
Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 6
Speed limits
In the quick-stop exercise of Iowa's two-wheel skills test, what speed must you reach before the first line?
Between 12 and 18 mph
In the quick stop you accelerate straight up the path and stabilize your speed between 12 and 18 mph by the first line, then stop as fast as you safely can once your front tire crosses the second line.
Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 51
Every Iowa motorcycle number, by topic
Official Iowa 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
5 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | legis.iowa.govQuotea. While under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or other drug or a combination of such substances. b. While having an alcohol concentration of .08 or more. |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for drivers under 21 | legis.iowa.govQuoteA person who is under the age of twenty-one shall not operate a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration, as defined under section 321J.1, of .02 or more. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | legis.iowa.govQuoteOperating a commercial motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration, as defined in section 321J.1, of 0.04 or more. |
| one-year | Drunk driving (DUI)Refusing a chemical test brings a one-year revocation | legis.iowa.govQuoteA person who is under the age of twenty-one shall not operate a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration, as defined under section 321J.1, of .02 or more. |
| six hours | How long does the manual say experienced riders seldom try to exceed in a day of riding?Answer: About six hours | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 47QuoteExperienced riders seldom try to ride more than about six hours a day. |
Fines, points & penalties
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $2, 4 years | You already have an Iowa driver's license. How much does it cost to add a motorcycle instruction permit to it?Answer: $2 for each year the license is valid, up to 4 years | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 6QuoteTo add the motorcycle instruction permit to an existing class, the cost is $2 for each year the license is valid, not to exceed 4 years. |
| $14 | You do not hold any other Iowa license. What is the fee for a motorcycle instruction permit?Answer: $14 | Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division websiteQuote$14 if you are obtaining a motorcycle instruction permit and do not currently have another type of license. |
| 10 points | During the Iowa motorcycle skills test, at what point is your score unsatisfactory and the test stopped?Answer: When you have more than 10 points | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 48QuoteMore than 10 points accumulated is unsatisfactory performance. |
Speed limits
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 12 and 18 mph | In the quick-stop exercise of Iowa's two-wheel skills test, what speed must you reach before the first line?Answer: Between 12 and 18 mph | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 51QuoteStabilize your speed between 12-18 mph by the time you reach the first line. |
Distances & following gaps
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two seconds | Under normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance the manual recommends behind another vehicle?Answer: Two seconds | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 18QuoteNormally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained when following a vehicle. |
| Three seconds | The pavement is slippery and traffic is heavy. What following distance should you open up?Answer: Three seconds or more | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 19Quoteopen up a three-second or more following distance. |
| 12 seconds | When you search ahead with the SEE strategy, how far ahead should you look for hazards that are not yet urgent?Answer: An area about 12 seconds ahead | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 13QuoteSearch your path of travel 12 seconds ahead. |
| one second | In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: At least one second back, in the right side of the lane | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 41Quotethe second rider stays at least one second back and rides in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
6 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $14 | Fee | iowadot.govQuote$2/year when adding to an existing license, or $14 if you are obtaining a motorcycle instruction permit and do not currently have another type of license. |
| 4 years | Motorcycle permitUp to 4 years from your birthday in the year of issue | legis.iowa.govQuoteAn instruction permit issued under this section shall be valid for a period not to exceed four years from the licensee’s birthday anniversary in the year of issuance. A motorcycle instruction permit issued under this section is not renewable. |
| under 18 | Motorcycle permitRiders under 18 must complete an approved motorcycle education course before getting a Class M license or motorcycle endorsement | legis.iowa.govQuoteThe department may issue an instruction permit to an applicant between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years if the applicant meets the requirements of sections 321.184 and 321.186 |
| one four-year | Motorcycle permitThe permit runs one four-year term and cannot be renewed | iowadot.govQuoteA motorcycle instruction permit will be issued for one four-year term with no renewal permitted. |
| age 21 | You are 16 and hold an Iowa motorcycle instruction permit. Which of these people may supervise you without any extra paperwork?Answer: Your sister, over age 21, licensed with a motorcycle endorsement | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 6Quotea member of your immediate family who is licensed and has a motorcycle endorsement and is at least 21 years of age. |
| At least 25 | A 15-year-old Iowa permit holder wants to ride with a family friend who is not a relative. What must be true of that friend?Answer: At least 25, motorcycle-endorsed, with the parent's written permission | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 6QuoteYou may drive with another licensed adult who is at least 25 years of age and has your parent’s/guardian’s written permission |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Three times | Compared with riders without helmets, how much more likely are helmeted riders to survive head injuries in a crash?Answer: Three times more likely | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 8Quotehelmeted 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% | What does the front brake provide when you brake?Answer: 70% or more of your total stopping power | Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), page 15QuoteThe 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 Iowa 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 21 of them for Iowa, 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 Iowa Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th revision), Iowa statutes or DOT 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.