Kentucky 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 23 Kentucky numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.

Numbers quiz

12 questions a round from the 12 number questions in our Kentucky bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.

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Numbers flashcards

12 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.

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See 3 of the cards

Alcohol & drugs
According to the manual, what share of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking?
40% to 45%
Studies show 40% to 45% of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking, and only a third of them were above the legal limit.
Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 31
Distances & following gaps
What minimum following distance does the Kentucky manual say you should normally keep behind the vehicle ahead?
Four seconds
Kentucky's manual says to keep a minimum of four seconds behind the vehicle ahead, counted from a fixed marker.
Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 12
Ages, permits & the test
Who may apply for a motorcycle instruction permit?
Someone who holds a valid operator's license or is at least 18
The manual says you must already hold a valid motor vehicle operator's license, or be at least 18, to apply for a motorcycle instruction permit.
Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 4

Every Kentucky motorcycle number, by topic

Official Kentucky 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	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote Having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more as measured by a scientifically reliable test or tests of a sample of the person's breath or blood taken within two (2) hours of cessation of operation or physical control of a motor vehicle;
0.02%	BAC limit for drivers under 21	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote Having an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more as measured by a scientifically reliable test or tests of a sample of the person's breath or blood taken within two (2) hours of cessation of operation or physical control of a motor vehicle, if the person is under the age of twenty-one (21).
0.04%	BAC limit in a commercial vehicle	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote A person who drives a commercial motor vehicle within this state with an alcohol concentration of four hundredths (0.04) or more shall be deemed to be operating a vehicle under the influence.
10 years, $200-$500, 48 hours to 30 days	Drunk driving (DUI)First offense within 10 years: $200-$500 fine and/or 48 hours to 30 days in jail (community labor may be substituted)	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote For the first offense within a ten (10) year period, be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than forty-eight (48) hours nor more than thirty (30) days, or both.
4-day	Drunk driving (DUI)A 4-day mandatory minimum if an aggravating circumstance applies	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote A person who drives a commercial motor vehicle within this state with an alcohol concentration of four hundredths (0.04) or more shall be deemed to be operating a vehicle under the influence.
40% to 45%	According to the manual, what share of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking?Answer: 40% to 45%	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 31 Quote Studies show that 40% to 45% of all riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking.
0.08%	At what blood alcohol concentration is an adult rider considered intoxicated?Answer: 0.08% or above	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 33 Quote In all states, an adult with a BAC of 0.08% or above is considered intoxicated.
two hours	On a long trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle?Answer: At least every two hours	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 34 Quote Stop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours.

Distances & following gaps

2 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
Four seconds	What minimum following distance does the Kentucky manual say you should normally keep behind the vehicle ahead?Answer: Four seconds	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 12 Quote Normally, a minimum of four seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead.
Two seconds	In a staggered group formation, how far behind the leader should the third rider be, in the same side of the lane?Answer: Two seconds	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 30 Quote A third rider maintains in the left position, two seconds behind the first rider.

Ages, permits & the test

10 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
80%	Passing score	wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov Quote The written test is based on the type of license for which the applicant has applied. ... Applicants should study the manual specific to the type of license they desire (Operator, Motorcycle, or CDL). ... Applicants must make a minimum score of 80% to pass this test.
$15	Fee	drive.ky.gov Quote $15 (standard) or $18 (REAL ID)
1 year	Motorcycle permit1 year, renewable once	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote An instruction permit to operate a motorcycle shall be valid for one (1) year and may be renewed one (1) time.
under 18	Motorcycle permitRiders under 18 may not ride between 12 midnight and 6 a.m. without good cause (emergency, school or work)	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote A person with an instruction permit who is under the age of eighteen (18) shall not operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m.
at least 18	According to the Kentucky manual, who may apply for a motorcycle instruction permit?Answer: Someone who holds a valid operator's license or is at least 18	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 4 Quote A person must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license or a person must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a motorcycle instruction permit
180 days	How long must a Kentucky motorcycle permit holder who is under 21 hold the permit before taking the skills test?Answer: 180 days	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing website Quote applicants must hold the permit for: Under 21: 180 days 21 or older: 30 days
30 days	A 25-year-old passes the Kentucky motorcycle knowledge test. How long must they hold the permit before the skills test?Answer: 30 days	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing website Quote applicants must hold the permit for: Under 21: 180 days 21 or older: 30 days
1 year	How long is a Kentucky motorcycle permit valid before it expires?Answer: 1 year, and it can be renewed once	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing website Quote Permits expire after 1 year and can be renewed once at a Driver Licensing Regional Office.
one year	Who may legally ride a motorcycle without a helmet in Kentucky?Answer: An operator 21 or older who has held a motorcycle license one year or more	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 5 Quote A person may operate without a helmet if he or she is over 21 and has held a motorcycle license for one year or more.
at least 45	You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. How should you cross it?Answer: Move away from it, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 25 Quote move 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	HelmetsHelmet required for: operators and passengers under 21	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote A person under the age of twenty-one (21) years who is operating a motorcycle or who is a passenger on a motorcycle or in a sidecar attachment;
one year	HelmetsOperators who have held a motorcycle license for less than one year	apps.legislature.ky.gov Quote A person under the age of twenty-one (21) years who is operating a motorcycle or who is a passenger on a motorcycle or in a sidecar attachment;
15 inches	For control and comfort, the Kentucky manual says handlebars should be set no more than how high above the seat?Answer: 15 inches	Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, page 35 Quote Handlebars should be set no more than 15 inches above the seat level for maximum control and comfort.

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 Kentucky 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 23 of them for Kentucky, 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 Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual, Kentucky statutes or KYTC 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.