Wisconsin 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 22 Wisconsin numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 12 number questions in our Wisconsin bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.
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Numbers flashcards
12 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
For a first OWI conviction in Wisconsin, how long will your license be revoked?
At least six months
A first OWI conviction in Wisconsin brings a fine and a license revocation of at least six months, plus other sanctions.
Fines, points & penalties
A Wisconsin officer stops you and finds that your motorcycle has no liability insurance in effect. What fine could you face?
Up to $500
No one may ride a motorcycle in Wisconsin unless liability insurance is in effect for it, and you must carry proof of it. Police may ask for proof at any traffic stop or crash, and having no insurance could mean a fine of up to $500.
Distances & following gaps
In Wisconsin, a rider does not have to wear eye protection if the motorcycle has a windshield that rises at least how far above the handlebars?
15 inches
All Wisconsin operators must wear eye protection unless the cycle has a windshield rising at least 15 inches above the handlebars.
Every Wisconsin motorcycle number, by topic
Official Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteIf the person has 2 or fewer prior convictions, suspensions, or revocations, as counted under s. 343.307 (1) , an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. |
| 0% | BAC limit for underage drivers | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteIf a person has not attained the legal drinking age, as defined in s. 125.02 (8m) , the person may not drive or operate a motor vehicle while he or she has an alcohol concentration of more than 0.0 but not more than 0.08. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteNo person may drive or operate a commercial motor vehicle while the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more but less than 0.08. |
| one year | Drunk driving (DUI)First improper refusal: operating privilege revoked for one year | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteIf the person has 2 or fewer prior convictions, suspensions, or revocations, as counted under s. 343.307 (1) , an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. |
| six months | For a first OWI conviction in Wisconsin, how long will your license be revoked?Answer: At least six months | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 21QuoteIf you are found guilty of an OWI violation and it is your first conviction, you will be fined. Your license will be revoked for at least six months |
| one year | A Wisconsin officer asks you to take a test for alcohol concentration and you refuse. What happens?Answer: You are arrested and lose driving privileges for at least one year | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 21QuoteIf you refuse, the officer must arrest you for violation of the Implied Consent Law. You will lose your driving privileges for at least one year |
| two hours | On a long trip, how often should you stop and get off your motorcycle to fight fatigue?Answer: At least every two hours | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 22QuoteTake frequent rest breaks: stop, and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Fines, points & penalties
2 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | A Wisconsin officer stops you and finds that your motorcycle has no liability insurance in effect. What fine could you face?Answer: Up to $500 | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 12QuoteLaw enforcement may ask for proof of insurance at any traffic stop or crash. Failure to have insurance could result in up to a $500 fine. |
| three points, 12 months | Completing a Basic RiderCourse can reduce demerit points on your Wisconsin driving record. Which points qualify?Answer: Up to three points for motorcycle violations in the past 12 months | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 53QuoteSuccessful completion of either the Basic RiderCourse or Advanced RiderCourse may be used to reduce up to three demerit points on your driving record for motorcycle violations of which you have been convicted in the previous 12 months. |
Distances & following gaps
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 15 inches | In Wisconsin, a rider does not have to wear eye protection if the motorcycle has a windshield that rises at least how far above the handlebars?Answer: 15 inches | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 12QuoteAll operators must wear eye protection except when the cycle is equipped with a windshield rising at least 15 inches above the handlebars. |
| 45 seconds | You stop at a red light you believe is vehicle-activated, but it has not detected your motorcycle and no other vehicles are present. Under Wisconsin law, when may you cautiously go through?Answer: After stopping for at least 45 seconds and yielding to others | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 13QuoteNo other vehicles are present to activate the signal 9 You have stopped at the signal for at least 45 seconds |
| Four seconds | What is the minimum following distance this handbook recommends behind another vehicle in ideal conditions?Answer: Four seconds | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 27QuoteA minimum of four seconds following distance is recommended under ideal driving conditions. |
| 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 | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 48QuoteThe leader rides in the left side of the lane, while the second rider stays one second behind in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
7 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $32 | Fee | wisconsindot.govQuoteMotorcycle license endorsement: Fees Instruction permit (6 months) $32 |
| 6 months | Motorcycle permit6 months | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteThe permit for motorcycle operation shall be valid for 6 months. The department shall issue no more than 3 permits for motorcycle operation to a person unless the person has successfully completed a rider course approved by the department. |
| 2 years | Motorcycle permitNo passengers except a passenger-instructor with at least 2 years of licensed experience and a motorcycle endorsement | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteNo passenger may accompany the permittee except that a person with at least 2 years of licensed driving experience and whose license is endorsed for motorcycle operation may ride as a passenger-instructor. |
| under 18 | Motorcycle permitApplicants under 18 must complete an approved basic rider course before a Class M license is issued (the handbook adds that proof of enrollment is needed for the permit) | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteThe department shall not issue a license to any person under the age of 18 authorizing the operation of “Class M” vehicles unless the person has successfully completed a basic rider course approved by the Wisconsin department of transportation motorcycle safety program. |
| 6 months | How long is a Wisconsin Cycle Instruction Permit (CYCI) valid?Answer: 6 months | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 8QuoteUpon meeting all requirements and paying a fee, you will receive a Cycle Instruction Permit (CYCI) which is valid for 6 months. |
| two years | With a Wisconsin cycle instruction permit, what is required to ride during hours of darkness?Answer: Being accompanied by a Class M holder who is 25 or older with two years' experience | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 9QuoteDuring hours of darkness, you must be accompanied by a licensed person who: » Is at least 25 years old » Has at least two years licensed driving experience |
| at least 45 | You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. How should you cross it?Answer: Move away and cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees | Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, page 42Quotemove far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45°. Then, make a quick, sharp turn. |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
2 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| under 18 | HelmetsRiders under 18 and anyone riding on a motorcycle instruction permit must wear a DOT-compliant helmet with the chin strap fastened | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteNo person who holds an instructional permit under s. 343.07 (4) or who is under 18 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle on any highway unless the person is wearing protective headgear |
| 15 inches | HelmetsAll operators need a face shield, glasses or goggles unless the motorcycle has a windshield at least 15 inches above the handlebar | docs.legis.wisconsin.govQuoteif the vehicle is an autocycle equipped with a windshield or a motorcycle equipped with a windshield that rises a minimum of 15 inches above the handlebar, the use of other eye protective devices is not mandatory. |
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 Wisconsin 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 22 of them for Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin Motorcyclists' Handbook, Wisconsin 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.