Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, at what blood alcohol level is a rider aged 21 or older considered to be riding under the influence?
.08% or higher
In Pennsylvania a driver or rider aged 21 or older is considered to be under the influence at a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher; for anyone under 21 the level is .02%.
Distances & following gaps
In normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance the Pennsylvania manual recommends behind the vehicle ahead?
Four seconds
Normally keep at least four seconds behind the vehicle ahead: count from when its rear bumper passes a fixed marker until you reach it.
Ages, permits & the test
You are 17 and just got your Pennsylvania Class M permit. How long must you wait from the permit issue date before taking your motorcycle road test?
6 months
Riders under 18 must wait a mandatory 6 months from the permit issue date before the road test.
Every Pennsylvania motorcycle number, by topic
Official Pennsylvania 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
9 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | palegis.usQuotesuch that the alcohol concentration in the individual's blood or breath is at least 0.08% but less than 0.10% within two hours after the individual has driven, operated or been in actual physical control of the movement of the vehicle. |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for underage drivers | palegis.usQuoteA minor may not drive, operate or be in actual physical control of the movement of a vehicle after imbibing a sufficient amount of alcohol such that the alcohol concentration in the minor's blood or breath is 0.02% or higher |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | palegis.usQuote0.04% or greater within two hours after the individual has driven, operated or been in actual physical control of the movement of a commercial vehicle other than a school bus or a school vehicle. |
| 12 months, 18 months | Drunk driving (DUI)PennDOT suspends the operating privilege for 12 months, or 18 months if the person had a prior refusal suspension or a prior DUI sentence | palegis.usQuotethe department shall suspend the operating privilege of the person as follows: (i) Except as set forth in subparagraph (ii), for a period of 12 months. (ii) For a period of 18 months if any of the following apply: |
| $2,000 | Drunk driving (DUI)A restoration fee of up to $2,000 applies | palegis.usQuotethe person's operating privilege will be suspended upon refusal to submit to chemical testing and the person will be subject to a restoration fee of up to $2,000; |
| .08% | In Pennsylvania, at what blood alcohol level is a rider aged 21 or older considered to be riding under the influence?Answer: .08% or higher | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 39Quoteif your blood alcohol level is .08% or higher |
| one year | Under Pennsylvania's Implied Consent law, what happens if you refuse a chemical test for the first time after a DUI arrest, even if you are later found not guilty of DUI?Answer: Your driving privilege is suspended for one year | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 39Quoteyour driving privilege will be suspended for one (1) year if you refuse to take a blood, breath, or urine test. |
| .02% | A 19-year-old rider in Pennsylvania has been drinking. At what blood alcohol level is this rider considered to be riding under the influence?Answer: .02% or higher | Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 86QuoteIf you are under 21, you are considered to be driving under the influence if your blood alcohol level is .02 or greater. |
| two hours | On a long trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to fight fatigue?Answer: At least every two hours | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 40QuoteStop, and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Distances & following gaps
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Four seconds | In normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance the Pennsylvania manual recommends behind the vehicle ahead?Answer: Four seconds | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 14QuoteNormally, a minimum of four seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead. |
| Five seconds | The pavement is slippery and you cannot see past the van ahead of you. What following distance should you open up?Answer: Five seconds or more | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 15Quoteopen up a five second or more following distance. |
| Two seconds | Riders in a staggered formation: the leader is in the left side of the lane and the second rider is in the right side. How far behind the leader should the third rider be?Answer: Two seconds | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 36QuoteA third rider maintains in the left position, two seconds behind the first rider. |
Ages, permits & the test
5 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $12 | Fee | pa.govQuoteIt's valid for a year and costs $12. |
| 6 months | You are 17 and just got your Pennsylvania Class M permit. How long must you wait from the permit issue date before taking your motorcycle road test?Answer: 6 months | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 41QuoteIf you are under 18, you must wait the mandatory 6 months from your permit issue date |
| 65 hours | Before a Pennsylvania rider under 18 can take the motorcycle road test, how many hours of skill-building must be documented on a signed Certificate of Completion?Answer: 65 hours | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 41Quotehave a signed Certificate of Completion for the 65 hours of |
| 15 hours, 65 hours | How does the Basic Rider Course relate to the 65-hour skill-building requirement for Pennsylvania riders under 18?Answer: Its 15 hours of training count toward the 65 hours | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 41Quotethe 15 hours of training obtained through the Basic Rider Course can be utilized in meeting counts toward the 65 hours |
| five years | What limit does Pennsylvania place on reapplying for a motorcycle learner's permit?Answer: No more than three reapplications in five years, 4 permits in total | Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), page 41Quoteno more than three times in a five-year period (4 total leaner’s permits within 5 years) |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| two years | HelmetsEvery motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a helmet unless they are 21 or older and have either two years of motorcycle licensing or a completed approved rider course (passengers 21+ of an exempt rider are also exempt) | palegis.usQuoteA person 21 years of age or older who has been licensed to operate a motorcycle for not less than two full calendar years. |
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147), Pennsylvania statutes or PennDOT 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.