West Virginia 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 West Virginia numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 14 number questions in our West Virginia 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
14 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 West Virginia, a 30-year-old rider is breaking the law if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at or above what level?
0.08%
West Virginia's handbook says drivers over 21 break the law if their BAC is 0.08% or higher, and riders are drivers under this rule.
Fines, points & penalties
In West Virginia, how much is the fee each time you take the motorcycle knowledge test?
$7.50 per attempt
West Virginia charges $7.50 every time you take the motorcycle knowledge test.
Distances & following gaps
What is the minimum following distance the manual recommends behind another vehicle in normal conditions?
Two seconds
Normally keep at least a two-second following distance. Pick a fixed marker; when the vehicle ahead passes it, count 'one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two.' If you reach the marker before 'two,' you are too close.
Every West Virginia motorcycle number, by topic
Official West Virginia 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
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| one year, 45 days | Drunk driving (DUI)First refusal: revocation for one year, or 45 days plus one year in the Motor Vehicle Alcohol Test and Lock Program | code.wvlegislature.govQuoteFor the first refusal to submit to the designated secondary chemical test, the commissioner shall enter an order revoking the person’s license to operate a motor vehicle in this state for a period of one year or for a period of 45 days |
| 0.08% | In West Virginia, a 30-year-old rider is breaking the law if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at or above what level?Answer: 0.08% | West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, page 9QuoteFor drivers over the age of 21, it is against the law to drive if the BAC is 0.08% or higher. |
| one year, 45 days | You are arrested for DUI while riding in West Virginia and refuse to take the Breathalyzer. What happens to your driving privilege?Answer: It is revoked for one year, or for 45 days plus test and lock | West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuoteFor the first refusal to submit to the designated secondary chemical test, the commissioner shall enter an order revoking the person’s license to operate a motor vehicle in this state for a period of one year or for a period of 45 days |
| two hours | On a long ride, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle?Answer: At least every two hours | West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), page 44QuoteStop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Fines, points & penalties
2 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $7.50 | In West Virginia, how much is the fee each time you take the motorcycle knowledge test?Answer: $7.50 per attempt | West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuote6 Months from Issuance ... $5.00 ... $7.50 per attempt |
| $5.00 | Apart from the test fee, what does the West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit itself cost?Answer: $5.00 | West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuoteMotorcycle Instruction Permit ... 6 Months from Issuance ... $5.00 |
Distances & following gaps
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two seconds | What is the minimum following distance the manual recommends behind another vehicle in normal conditions?Answer: Two seconds | West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), page 15QuoteNormally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained when following a vehicle. |
| Three seconds | The pavement is slippery and traffic is heavy. What following distance should you open up?Answer: Three seconds or more | West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), page 16Quoteopen up a three-second or more following distance. |
| 12 seconds | Under the SEE strategy, how far ahead should you look to spot hazards that are further out, so you have time to prepare before a situation becomes urgent?Answer: About 12 seconds ahead | West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), page 19Quotelooking ahead to an area it would take about 12 seconds to reach. |
| one second | In a staggered group formation, how far behind the leader should the second rider stay?Answer: At least one second back, in the right side of the lane | West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), page 38Quotethe second rider stays at least one second back and rides in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
7 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Questions on the test | webapps.transportation.wv.govQuotePass a 25-question motorcycle knowledge examination with a grade of 80% or better. |
| 80% | Passing score | webapps.transportation.wv.govQuotePass a 25-question motorcycle knowledge examination with a grade of 80% or better. |
| 180 days | Motorcycle permit180 days, not renewable (DMV) | dmv.wv.govQuoteValid during daylight hours only. Does not permit a passenger. Valid for 180 days and cannot be renewed. You must retest if your permit expires. |
| 80% | What grade do you need to pass the West Virginia motorcycle knowledge exam?Answer: 80% or better | West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, page 24QuotePass a 25-question motorcycle knowledge examination with a grade of 80% or better. |
| 6 months | How long is a West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit valid after it is issued?Answer: 6 months | West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuoteMotorcycle Instruction Permit ... 6 Months from Issuance |
| 7 days | How long must you hold your West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit before you can add the F endorsement?Answer: At least 7 days | West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, page 24QuoteYou must hold your instruction permit for a minimum of seven (7) days before you are eligible to add motorcycle endorsement (F). |
| 17 hours | About how long is the MSF Basic Rider Course offered in West Virginia, and what does it include?Answer: About 17 hours of classroom and on-cycle instruction | West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, page 25QuoteThe BRC is approximately 17 hours long and consists of both classroom and on-cycle instruction. |
Other numbers
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | About how much of a motorcycle's total stopping power can the front brake provide?Answer: 70% or more | West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), page 12QuoteThe front brake is more powerful and can provide 70% or more 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual (with supplementary information for three-wheel motorcycles), West Virginia statutes or DMV 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.