Texas 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 20 Texas numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
10 questions a round from the 10 number questions in our Texas 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
10 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 Texas, at what blood alcohol concentration is an adult rider legally intoxicated?
.08 percent or more
In Texas, a person with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more is legally intoxicated.
Fines, points & penalties
Under Texas law, what is the fine for a first offense of parking a motorcycle in a disabled person parking space without authorization?
$500 to $750
Parking, standing or stopping any vehicle, including a motorcycle, in a disabled person parking space is a misdemeanor with a fine of $500 to $750 for a first offense.
Distances & following gaps
The pavement is slippery and traffic is heavy. What following distance should you open up?
Three seconds or more
Normally keep at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. When the pavement is slippery, you cannot see past the vehicle ahead, or heavy traffic may let someone squeeze in, open up three seconds or more.
Every Texas motorcycle number, by topic
Official Texas 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 | tcss.legis.texas.govQuoteor (B) having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | tcss.legis.texas.govQuotethe person has driven a commercial motor vehicle while the person's alcohol concentration was 0.04 or more. |
| 24 hours, one year | Drunk driving (DUI)CDL holders are placed out of service for 24 hours and disqualified from commercial driving for at least one year | tcss.legis.texas.govQuotea refusal to submit a specimen will result in the person's being immediately placed out of service for 24 hours and being disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for at least one year |
| 180 days | Drunk driving (DUI)Refusing a breath or blood test suspends your license for 180 days | tcss.legis.texas.govQuoteIf a person refuses the request of a peace officer to submit to the taking of a specimen, the department shall: (1) suspend the person's license to operate a motor vehicle on a public highway for 180 days |
| .08 percent | In Texas, at what blood alcohol concentration is an adult rider legally intoxicated?Answer: .08 percent or more | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 51QuoteIn Texas, a person with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or more is legally intoxicated. |
| $2,000 | A rider is convicted of a first DWI in Texas. Their BAC was below 0.15, they had no open container and they were not in a school crossing zone. What is the maximum fine?Answer: Up to $2,000 | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 51QuoteFines up to $2,000 for the first conviction and up to $10,000 for subsequent convictions |
| two years | After a DWI arrest in Texas, how long can your license be suspended under the Administrative License Revocation program?Answer: Up to two years | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 51QuoteDriver license and/or driving privilege suspended for up to two years under the Administrative License Revocation Program |
| two hours | On a long ride, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle?Answer: At least every two hours | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 53QuoteStop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Fines, points & penalties
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $500 to $750 | Under Texas law, what is the fine for a first offense of parking a motorcycle in a disabled person parking space without authorization?Answer: $500 to $750 | Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), page 48Quotea space reserved for individuals with disabilities is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500 to $750 for the first offense. |
Distances & following gaps
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Three seconds | The pavement is slippery and traffic is heavy. What following distance should you open up?Answer: Three seconds or more | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 23Quoteopen up a three-second or more following distance. |
| 12 seconds | How far ahead should experienced riders search for hazards?Answer: An area it would take about 12 seconds to reach | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 27Quotelooking ahead to an area it would take about 12 seconds to reach. |
| one second | In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: Right side of the lane, at least one second behind the leader | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 46QuoteThe group leader rides in the left side of the lane, and the 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | Passing score | dps.texas.govQuoteClass M – Motorcycle knowledge exam. This exam is waived for applicants who successfully complete a state approved motorcycle operator training course and present proof of completion. ... You must score a grade of 70 percent or better to pass any knowledge exam. |
| $16 | Fee | dps.texas.govQuoteAdd M Add M to current license requires a $15 exam fee + $1 administrative fee = $16 |
| under 18 | Motorcycle permitA learner license for an applicant under 18 expires on the 18th birthday | dps.texas.govQuoteA learner license will indicate “Learner License” on the front of the card and expire on the minor’s 18th birthday. |
| aged 21 | Motorcycle permitJ restriction: ride only under the supervision of a licensed motorcycle operator aged 21 or older who stays in sight | dps.texas.govQuoteMotorcycle Learner License (J Restriction) : Allows practice only under the supervision of a licensed motorcycle order aged 21 or older who remains sight. |
| Age 15 | Motorcycle permitAge 15: I restriction, motorcycle of 250cc or less, removable at 16 after a DPS skills test | dps.texas.govQuoteEngine Size (I Restriction) : Limited to 15-year-olds; restricts riding to motorcycles 250cc or less. This restriction is removed at age 16 after passing a skills test administered by the Department. |
| Two years | How long is a Texas motorcycle course completion certificate valid for licensing?Answer: Two years from the date it is issued | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 7QuoteThe course completion certificate is valid for licensing for two years from the date of issuance. |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| under 21 | HelmetsRiders and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet | tcss.legis.texas.govQuotethe person required to wear protective headgear was at least 21 years old and had successfully completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course under Chapter 662 or was covered by a health insurance plan |
Other numbers
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | Why should you not be afraid to use the front brake? It can provide at least what share of your total stopping power?Answer: At least 70% | Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), page 19QuoteThe front brake is more powerful and can provide at least 70% 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 Texas 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 20 of them for Texas, 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 Motorcycle Operator Training Manual (TDLR), Texas statutes or DPS 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.