How to Get a Motorcycle Endorsement in Washington: Step-by-Step (2026)
You don't get a separate card. What you're after is the Washington motorcycle endorsement, and it just gets tacked onto the regular driver's license you've got (or are working on), which surprises a lot of my students the first time I say it. How to get a motorcycle license in Washington starts with a permit. The DOL sets the steps.
So here's the whole thing in a nutshell, the way I'd lay it out on the first day of class. First get a motorcycle instruction permit. Then pass the DOL knowledge and riding skills tests. Or complete a Washington motorcycle training course through the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program. It can waive the tests. You need a course completion card for the waiver. One more wrinkle, Washington splits it into a two-wheel (2W) and a three-wheel (3W) endorsement, and whatever you test or train on decides which one you end up with, so think about what you're actually going to ride before you sign up for anything.
Step 1: Get Your Washington Motorcycle Instruction Permit
Before anything else you need a permit. That means sitting the motorcycle knowledge test at the DOL, 25 questions, and you've got to get 20 of them right. Two answers look right. You also take a vision screening.
You have to be at least 16, and if you're not 18 yet, a parent or guardian has to sign off on it. No way around that.
You must already hold or be getting a Washington driver's license. The DOL won't issue a permit without a base license in progress. Once endorsed, that base license becomes your Washington motorcycle license. The process is identical at every DOL office.
Before you walk in, spend real time on practice tests. Drivio's free Washington motorcycle practice tests at /moto/washington mirror the actual format closely. Time pressure makes you misread. Timed practice runs help. I'd want to see you clearing 20 out of 25 every time, not once on a lucky run, before you go in for the real one.
Step 2: Practice Under Permit Restrictions
The permit gets you on the road, but with some pretty tight strings attached, and the DOL does mean them.
- No passengers
- No riding at night
- Stay off freeways and other limited-access highways
That last one trips people up. You cannot legally take I-5 through Seattle or I-90 through Spokane on a permit. Even if you're a confident rider. Even if traffic is light.
Washington is an all-rider helmet state. That means a DOT-approved helmet every single time you get on, whether you're 16 or 60, and even if you're just going around the block.
The permit lasts for a set period. You can renew it a limited number of times. Check the exact renewal limit on dol.wa.gov. I'd keep an eye on the date so it doesn't run out on you halfway through the summer. And get in as much supervised practice as you can, ideally with an experienced rider following you around some of the steeper streets in Tacoma or Bellevue, because a hill start on wet pavement is a totally different animal from the empty parking lot where you learned the clutch.
Step 3: Pass the Skills Test or Take a Training Course
You have two routes to the endorsement.
Route A: pass the DOL riding skills test. You'll show the examiner you can actually handle the bike, slow turns, stops, swerving, that kind of thing, and you'll want to ask the DOL ahead of time what you need to bring for the bike you're testing on. Casual practice won't cut it.
Route B: complete an approved course through the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program. This can waive both the knowledge and skills tests. That's huge. You walk out with a completion card. Take it to the DOL. You skip the testing anxiety entirely.
Riders under 18 don't get Route A at all, the training course is required for them. No choice.
Honestly, even for adults I push the course. You've got a coach watching you ride for hours, and they'll catch bad habits like grabbing the front brake or staring at the ground in a turn before they turn into crashes. Course options change. So check dol.wa.gov for what's running near you, and book early in spring because the classes fill up once the weather turns nice around here.
Two-Wheel vs Three-Wheel (2W / 3W) Endorsements
This part catches people, the endorsement isn't one size fits all here. You get either a 2W or a 3W.
- 2W covers standard two-wheel motorcycles
- 3W covers trikes and sidecars
Your test or training course must match the type you want to ride. If you test on a trike, you get a 3W endorsement and you're not legal on a two-wheeler. Reverse is also true. Many riders don't think about this until after they've bought the wrong bike.
The endorsement is added to your existing Washington driver's license. A Washington 2 wheel endorsement is what you want for a regular motorcycle, and that's what most of my students go for. If you're getting a trike or you ride with a sidecar, the 3W is the one. I've had people try the three-wheel route because it felt less scary and then buy a two-wheeler a month later, so pick for the bike you'll really ride.
How Much Does a Motorcycle Endorsement Cost in WA?
Costs break into components. The instruction permit fee. The endorsement fee. Any training course tuition.
Approved training courses charge their own tuition. That varies by provider. Some include bike rental. Some don't. Check before you commit.
I won't quote a specific fee here because the DOL adjusts its schedule. Check dol.wa.gov for current amounts. Look up WA motorcycle endorsement requirements on dol.wa.gov. A training course can save you a separate skills-test trip. That saves time off work.
Washington Motorcycle Endorsement FAQ
How do I get a motorcycle endorsement in Washington?
Get a motorcycle instruction permit first. Then pass the DOL knowledge and riding skills tests. Or complete an approved training course that waives them.
Do I need the skills test?
You can skip it by finishing an approved Washington Motorcycle Safety Program course, which a lot of people do. Otherwise yes.
Can a training course waive it?
Yes. Finish an approved course and you can get both the knowledge and the skills tests waived, just bring your completion card to the DOL.
How old do I have to be?
16 minimum. Under 18, you'll need a parent or guardian to consent, and you have to do the training course.
How many questions is the knowledge test?
25 questions. You need 20 correct.
Common Questions From New WA Riders
Can I skip the skills test with a course?
Yes. An approved course waives both tests.
How long does the whole process take?
A few weeks if you're efficient. Permit test, practice, course or skills test, then DOL visit.
Do I need a driver's license first?
Yes, or be in the process of getting one.
What can't I do on a permit?
No passengers. No riding after dark, and keep off the freeways, so no I-5 or I-90 until you've got the endorsement.
What's the difference between 2W and 3W?
2W is for two-wheel motorcycles. 3W is for trikes and sidecars. Test on the type you plan to ride.
If you're starting this process in Washington, don't overthink the first move. Study for the knowledge test. Take the free practice tests at /moto/washington until you're consistently scoring above 20. Then book your permit test. Then pick your route, either the skills test or a course, and get some miles in on the permit while you wait for your date.
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