Massachusetts 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 18 Massachusetts numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
8 questions a round from the 8 number questions in our Massachusetts 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
8 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 legal BAC limit for riders 21 and older in Massachusetts?
0.08%
A BAC of 0.08% or higher is above the legal limit for operators in Massachusetts.
Speed limits
What is the minimum speed on the Massachusetts Turnpike?
40 mph
The Massachusetts Driver's Manual lists a 40 mph minimum speed on the Massachusetts Turnpike and a 20 mph minimum in the Boston Harbor tunnels.
Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Class D Passenger Vehicles), page 87
Distances & following gaps
How far ahead should you signal before turning on a Massachusetts highway?
At least 500 feet
In Massachusetts, signal at least 100 feet before a turn, and on a highway at least 500 feet before the turn or exit ramp.
Every Massachusetts motorcycle number, by topic
Official Massachusetts 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
7 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | malegislature.govQuoteOperating a commercial motor vehicle while the alcohol concentration in the person's blood or breath is 0.04 or more |
| 1 year, 3 months | Drunk driving (DUI)License revoked for 1 year (hardship license may be requested after 3 months) | malegislature.govQuotehad a blood alcohol percentage of two one-hundredths or greater or upon evidence that such person refused to submit to a chemical test or analysis of his breath or blood under section 24 |
| 5 years | Drunk driving (DUI)5 years with two priors | malegislature.govQuoteshall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years, or both such fine and imprisonment. |
| 180 days | Drunk driving (DUI)Refusing a chemical test brings an automatic license suspension of at least 180 days | malegislature.govQuoteno such test or analysis shall be made and he shall have his license or right to operate suspended in accordance with this paragraph for a period of 180 days |
| 0.08% | What is the legal BAC limit for riders 21 and older in Massachusetts?Answer: 0.08% | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 67QuoteIf you take a breathalyzer test and register a 0.08% BAC or higher, you are operating above the legal limit in Massachusetts. |
| 0.02% | Under Massachusetts zero tolerance, what is the lowest BAC that puts a rider under 21 over the legal limit?Answer: 0.02% | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 67QuoteThis means a BAC of 0.02% is above the legal limit if you are under 21 years of age. |
| 1 year | What is the license suspension for a first OUI conviction in Massachusetts, as listed in the manual's table?Answer: 1 year | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 68QuoteFirst Offense $500–$5,000 Maximum 2 1/2 years 1 year |
Speed limits
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 40 mph | What is the minimum speed on the Massachusetts Turnpike?Answer: 40 mph | Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Class D Passenger Vehicles), page 87QuoteSome roadways may have minimum speeds. There is a minimum speed of 40 mph on the Massachusetts Turnpike. |
Distances & following gaps
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 500 feet | How far ahead should you signal before turning on a Massachusetts highway?Answer: At least 500 feet | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 60QuoteSignal your turn at least 100 feet before making the turn. On a highway, signal at least 500 feet before a turn. |
| 2 seconds | What following distance does the manual recommend in normal conditions?Answer: At least 2 seconds | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 32Quoteit is recommended that riders subscribe to the "two-second" distance rule developed to help riders avoid potentially dangerous situations. |
| Four seconds | The pavement is slippery and traffic is heavy. What following distance does the manual recommend?Answer: Four seconds or more | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 32Quoteit is recommended that riders subscribe to a "four-second" (or more) distance rule. |
Ages, permits & the test
6 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Questions on the test | mass.govQuoteOnly class D (passenger) or class M (motorcycle) exams can be taken online. ... You will be asked 25 questions and you must get 18 to pass. You will be allowed 25 minutes to take the exam. |
| 18 of 25 | Correct answers to pass | mass.govQuoteOnly class D (passenger) or class M (motorcycle) exams can be taken online. ... You will be asked 25 questions and you must get 18 to pass. You will be allowed 25 minutes to take the exam. |
| 25 minutes | Time limit | mass.govQuoteOnly class D (passenger) or class M (motorcycle) exams can be taken online. ... You will be asked 25 questions and you must get 18 to pass. You will be allowed 25 minutes to take the exam. |
| $30 | Fee | mass.govQuotePermit Application (2 Year Permit Classes B, C, D, M) . . . $30.00 |
| 2 years | Motorcycle permit2 years (or the length of your stay in the U.S.) | malegislature.govQuoteAny such learner's permit shall be valid for two years from the date of issue or until the holder shall have received a license to operate, whichever first occurs. |
| Under 18 | Motorcycle permitUnder 18: parental consent and junior operator rules | mass.govQuoteIf under 18, you must take the MREP course and complete all junior operator requirements to get a license. |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 15 feet | Railroad crossing lights begin to flash as you approach. Where must you stop?Answer: At least 15 feet before the light post or gate | Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, page 52QuoteIf the lights begin to flash, you must stop at least 15 feet before the light post or gate |
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 Massachusetts 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 18 of them for Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts Motorcycle Manual, Massachusetts statutes or RMV 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.