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

Numbers quiz

9 questions a round from the 9 number questions in our Maryland 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

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

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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
On a long motorcycle trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to rest?
At least every two hours
Riding is more tiring than driving a car, so stop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours.
Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 47
Distances & following gaps
What minimum following distance should you normally keep behind the vehicle ahead?
Two seconds
Normally keep a minimum of two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, counted from a fixed marker.
Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 20
Ages, permits & the test
If you hold a Maryland motorcycle learner's permit, who is allowed to ride on your motorcycle as a passenger?
Only a licensed motorcyclist who is at least 21 and has 3 years on a motorcycle license
Maryland motorcycle learners may carry, only as a passenger, a licensed motorcycle driver who is at least 21 and has had a motorcycle license for at least three years.
Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 5

Every Maryland motorcycle number, by topic

Official Maryland 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

6 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
0.08%	Legal BAC limit for adult drivers	mgaleg.maryland.gov Quote If at the time of testing a person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, as determined by an analysis of the person’s blood or breath, the person shall be considered under the influence of alcohol per se
0.02%	BAC limit for drivers under 21	dsd.maryland.gov Quote A licensee under 21 years old may not drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more as determined by an analysis of the licensee's blood or breath.
0.04%	BAC limit in a commercial vehicle	mgaleg.maryland.gov Quote The individual drives or attempts to drive a commercial motor vehicle while the alcohol concentration of the person’s blood or breath is 0.04 or greater
180 days	Drunk driving (DUI)Administrative suspension for a test result of 0.08 or more: 180 days	mgaleg.maryland.gov Quote for a test result indicating an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more at the time of testing: A. For a first offense, suspend the driver’s license for 180 days
270 days, 2 years	Drunk driving (DUI)The MVA suspends your license for 270 days on a first refusal and 2 years on a second or later refusal	mgaleg.maryland.gov Quote For a test refusal: A. For a first offense, suspend the driver’s license for 270 days; or B. For a second or subsequent offense, suspend the driver’s license for 2 years
two hours	On a long motorcycle trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to rest?Answer: At least every two hours	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 47 Quote Stop, and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours.

Distances & following gaps

3 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
Two seconds	What minimum following distance should you normally keep behind the vehicle ahead?Answer: Two seconds	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 20 Quote Normally, a minimum of two-seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead.
Three seconds	At night, what following distance should you open up?Answer: Three seconds or more	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 31 Quote Open up a three-second following distance or more.
one second	In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: In the right side of the lane, one second behind the leader	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 42 Quote while the second rider stays one second behind in the right side of the lane.

Ages, permits & the test

13 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
25	Questions on the test	mva.maryland.gov Quote Class C, Class M, and Moped Permit: 25 questions ... You must score 88% or higher to pass ... You have 20 minutes to complete the test
88%	Passing score	mva.maryland.gov Quote Class C, Class M, and Moped Permit: 25 questions ... You must score 88% or higher to pass ... You have 20 minutes to complete the test
20 minutes	Time limit	mva.maryland.gov Quote Class C, Class M, and Moped Permit: 25 questions ... You must score 88% or higher to pass ... You have 20 minutes to complete the test
$45	Fee	mva.maryland.gov Quote Learner's Permit – Non CDL Type II $45 For currently or previously licensed drivers
2 years	Motorcycle permitA learner's permit issued toward an original license expires 2 years after issue	mgaleg.maryland.gov Quote A learner’s instructional permit issued to an individual described in paragraph (1) of this subsection expires 2 years after the date of issuance.
1 year	Motorcycle permitA permit issued to someone who already holds a license and is adding Class M expires after 1 year	mgaleg.maryland.gov Quote The holder of a learner’s instructional permit for a motorcycle may drive the motorcycle with another individual on it only if the other individual is one described in subsection (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section.
under 18	Motorcycle permitRequired for applicants under 18 (Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course)	mva.maryland.gov Quote If you are under 18 years old, you must complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program’s Basic Rider Course before applying for a motorcycle license.
6 months	Motorcycle permitA valid course certificate (good for 6 months) lets a licensed driver add Class M without the permit, knowledge test or skills test	mva.maryland.gov Quote A Maryland Motorcycle Safety Completion Certificate is electronically submitted to MVA and only valid for six (6) months from the date the individual completes the course
at least 16	Motorcycle permitYou must be at least 16 for a Maryland motorcycle (Class M) license	mva.maryland.gov Quote You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a motorcycle license.
at least 21, 3 years	If you hold a Maryland motorcycle learner's permit, who is allowed to ride on your motorcycle as a passenger?Answer: Only a licensed motorcyclist who is at least 21 and has 3 years on a motorcycle license	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 5 Quote Motorcycle learners shall carry, only as a passenger, a licensed motorcycle driver who is at least 21 years old and has had a motorcycle license for at least three (3) years.
7 calendar days	You fail the Maryland motorcycle test a second time. How long must you wait before testing again?Answer: At least 7 calendar days	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 6 Quote If you fail the second or subsequent test, you must wait at least seven (7) calendar days before a new test can be taken.
88%	What score do you need to pass the Maryland motorcycle knowledge test?Answer: 88% or higher	Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration website Quote You have 20 minutes to complete the test You must score 88% or higher to pass
at least 45	You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. How should you do it?Answer: Move away and cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees with a quick, sharp turn	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 36 Quote move far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45º. Then, make a quick, sharp turn.

Time limits & deadlines

1 number

Number	What it’s about	Source
six months	Why should you be extra careful when borrowing a friend's motorcycle?Answer: More than half of crashes involve riders who have had their motorcycle for less than six months	Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), page 14 Quote More than half of all crashes occur on motorcycles ridden by the operator for less than six months.

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 Maryland 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual (DL-001), Maryland statutes or MVA 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.