Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Obtaining your full motorcycle endorsement is a two step process:

1. You first earn a motorcycle permit by passing a permit Knowledge test, (50 questions), and permit level Skills test.
2. After you have passed permit level testing, you move on to the endorsement level Knowledge test, (25 questions) and endorsement level Skills test.

 permit level and endorsement level safety courses include a knowledge test and a skills test corresponding with the course level.

Click here to view an informational brochure provided by the DOL to help you.

Once you have earned your permit or your endorsement, you must add your permit or endorsement to your own license and pay the fee to the DOL.  Fees paid to the DOL for your permit and endorsement help fund the motorcycle safety training subsidy Washington Residents receive toward Motorcycle Safety Training Courses.  

If you are a minor, it is required that you attend and pass a safety course to get your permit or endorsement.  You must have a parent arrive with their ID at the start of class to sign the required waiver with your instructor.  You will not be allowed to participate in class without the waiver being signed by a parent in the presence of your instructor.      

Yes.  We have a large fleet of training motorcycles for students to use in our safety courses.  

Yes.  You may use your own motorcycle, scooter or 3 wheel motorcycle instead of using one of ours.

It will need to pass a safety inspection performed at the beginning of the riding portion of your course by the instructor. You will be asked to provide proof of ownership and insurance on the motorcycle, scooter or 3 wheel motorcycle you plan to ride. It needs to be street legal, meaning all required equipment is functional and it must be registered with a license plate on it. 

In Silverdale, your motorcycle is required to have a stock exhaust system to comply with noise restrictions.

• A helmet that meets DOT standards.  We do have helmets if you need to borrow one.
• Long jeans or heavier material pants with no rips, tears or holes.
• Long sleeve shirt or jacket that is weather appropriate and covers your arms entirely.
• Eye protection such as glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, goggles or a helmet with a face shield.
• Sturdy boots that cover your ankles with no more than a 1-inch heel.  No canvas high tops or shoes with elastic are acceptable.  For your own safety, you must wear good, sturdy riding footwear.   
• Gloves that cover the entire hand

In compliance with DOL requirements, you will not be able to ride without the required riding gear.

You must arrive early or on time to all portions of your course and be prepared to ride safely on the range.

Due to DOL standards WMST instructors must strictly adhere to the on time and prepared to ride safely policy.  If you arrive late or unprepared to any portion of your course you will not be able to continue and is a forfeit of your full tuition.  

You’ve reserved a limited capacity space in class just for yourself.  If you fail to arrive, fail to arrive on time or arrive without adequate riding gear it is a forfeit of your tuition and you will not be allowed to complete your course.  To complete your training, you will need to re-enroll and pay the full tuition.  Please take this very seriously and be sure you are early and prepared to ride.

If you would like to reschedule your course, there is a $25 rescheduling fee if rescheduled 10 days or more prior to the start of your course. 

Refunds will only be issued for cancellations made 10 days or more before the start of your course. 

Changes cannot be made less than 10 days before the start of your course.  

You are required to add your permit or endorsement to your own license through the Washington LicenceExpress website or in person at a DOL office.  Your permit or endorsement will be available to add to your driving license three business days after successful completion of your testing.

Instructions can be found: HERE

Your permit or endorsement is not valid until you complete the process in LicenseExpress or in the DOL office to renew or replace your driver’s license and pay the fee.

To check the status of your motorcycle permit or endorsement, you can Search here.

Motorcycle permits are valid for 180 days and can be renewed one time.  Be sure to sign up for an endorsement course in advance as they do sell out.    

To check the status of your motorcycle permit or endorsement, you can Search here.

While our instructors will do as much as possible to help you learn to ride, we can not guarantee that you will learn to ride or that you will pass the knowledge or skills exams that are required to obtain your permit or endorsement.

If you were not able to successfully complete your skills testing included in your course, please visit the motorcycle retesting page. 

Motorcycle Retesting

Subsidy funding allows contracted Motorcycle Training Schools to offer training at a lower cost. It’s only available to Washington residents with a Washington Driver License Number. Military personnel and their dependents, stationed in Washington are also eligible.

The cost for safety training courses are set by Motorcycle Training Schools. The DOL pays a part of the training cost for eligible students on eligible courses.  Subsidy funding is available to all eligible students who take approved safety training until funding is exhausted for each funding period.  

The program is user-funded by fees from:

• Motorcycle instruction permits
• Endorsements

If you do not qualify for subsidy and wish to take a course, the unsubsidized course tuition would be an additional $80.00.