Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for Maryland, United States

Learning how to operate a motorcycle is arguably more difficult than learning how to drive a car. Because a motorcycle lacks a protective outer shell, requires careful balance, and can reach high speeds faster than other vehicles, it is up to the rider to ensure that trips on this type of vehicle go smoothly. Of course, a rider’s skills are never just given freely; they need to be earned. It requires studying the rules of the road and practicing on your motorcycle depending on the state that you currently reside in.

So that you have a studying aid available to you, this piece will give you the basics of Marland’s motorcycle laws and licensing process. 

Riders must have Maryland motorcycle insurance to complete vehicle registration and in case they are involved in an accident. Due to the hefty fines that can be levied due to property damages and medical expenses, having motorcycle insurance will help pay some of the compensation so you do not have to take too much out of your finances. You must be able to prove you have Maryland motorcycle insurance at traffic stops, accident scenes, and vehicle inspections. Failure to obtain Maryland motorcycle insurance will result in hefty fines, suspension of vehicle registration, and/or your vehicle being impounded.

If you wish to pay for what you need regarding motorcycle insurance, you can pay the minimum amounts covering bodily injuries and property damages in your Marland insurance plan:

• $30,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident

• $60,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $15,000 for property damages sustained per accident

You never know when you may encounter another driver with worse insurance than you, how severe your injuries can be, and other damage that your motorcycle may sustain. The minimum amounts are not enough to cover these expenses, so you may have to get other nonmandatory insurance coverage:

• Uninsured coverage

• Underinsured coverage

• Collision coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

• Personal injury protection

• Bodily injury coverage

• Medical payment coverage

Incorporating a universal motorcycle helmet policy, riders and passengers of all age groups need to put on a motorcycle helmet if they wish to explore every inch of Maryland.

Statistics dating back to the previous decade have shown how protective headgear has been instrumental in reducing injuries and saving the lives of motorcyclists in Maryland:

• Between 2012 to 2016, about 34% of motorcycle accidents occurred on state routes 

• Between 2021 to 2016, about 28% of motorcycle accidents occurred on country roads

• In 2017, states with mandatory helmet laws like Maryland saw 87% of riders complying with Department of Transportation helmet standards

• In 2017, 39% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing protective headgear

• In 2018, the motorcyclist fatality helmet use rate was 89% for states with mandatory helmet laws like Maryland

• In 2018, 37% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing protective headgear

An approved motorcycle helmet that is recognized in Maryland must meet the safety parameters provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It must also have been constructed out of quality materials by the Snell Memorial Foundation. The two models that meet the criteria stated above while providing protection and visibility are three-quarter and full-face helmets.

The time when you can start applying for a Maryland motorcycle learner’s permit is when you reach 15 years and nine months old.

You will have to pay $50 to be issued your first Maryland motorcycle learner’s permit. Or you can pay $30 if you had previously or currently own a Maryland motorcycle learner’s permit.

To be given the permit, you must fulfill all of the listed criteria:

• If you are under 16 years old:

  • Provide a school attendance form

  • Have consent and signature from a parent or guardian

  • Hold for a minimum of nine months

  • Practice under supervision for 60 daytime hours and 10 nighttime hours

• If you are under 18 years old:

  • Have consent and signature from parent or guardian

  • Hold for a minimum of nine months

  • Practice under supervision for 60 daytime hours and 10 nighttime hours

• If you are ages 18 to 25

  • Hold for a minimum of three months

  • Practice under supervision for 60 daytime hours and 10 nighttime hours

• If you are over 25 years old:

  • Hold for a minimum of 45 days

  • Practice under supervision for 14 daytime hours and three nighttime hours

• Have 30 classroom hours and six hours behind the wheels

• Present identification documents

• Provide proof of Maryland residency

• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship

• Provide your Social Security Number

• Take a photo

• Pass the knowledge exam

• Pass the vision exam

• Pay the required fees

Because getting familiar with handling a motorcycle can be dangerous, especially if you are still learning the basics, those holding a Maryland motorcycle learner’s permit have to be willing to ride with certain limitations:

• You must be supervised by a 21-year-old or older who has held a valid motorcycle license for at least three years

• Only passenger you are allowed to carry is your supervisor during practice

The time when you can start applying for a Maryland motorcycle license is when you reach 16 years old. .

You will have to pay a fee of $9 per valid year if you are under the age of 21 and being issued a Maryland motorcycle license. Or you can pay a fee of $72 plus the $9 per valid year if you are a 21-year-old or above and being issued a Maryland motorcycle license.

To be given the motorcycle license, you must fulfill all of the listed criteria:

*All applicants under 18 and any new riders regardless of age are required to complete an approved motorcycle education course that is recognized in Maryland.

*Any applicants under 16 are required to submit a school attendance form if they wish to be issued a Maryland motorcycle learner’s permit.

*All applicants under 18 are required to complete a Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program course. Though applicants 18 years old or above are not required to complete this course, they can choose to take it if they are interested in waiving the motorcycle learner’s permit, knowledge test, and road skills test. 

• Complete 25 multiple-choice questions

• Questions will be based on content from Maryland Motorcycle Operator Manual

• Will be tested on an understanding of road rules and safe riding practices

• Requires a passing grade of 88% or higher

• Will be conducted in a controlled, off-street area

• Your motorcycle will be subjected to a pre-ride inspection to ensure it meets safety standards

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on your ability to stay within the speed limit, adjusting speed and position, maintaining visibility, operating under stress, accelerating, braking, turning, stopping, and swerving

• The examiner will grade you based on how well you ride at safe speeds, stay within the lanes, and demonstrate riding maneuvers

You will fail the road skills test of the Maryland motorcycle license test if you exhibit any of the following behavior:

• If you accumulate at least 11 points

• Stall the engine four times

• Drop your motorcycle

• Commit an unsafe action

• Fail to follow the examiner’s instructions

• Violate any traffic law

If you fail any of the sections for the Maryland motorcycle license test the first time, you are allowed to retake it the following day. Following a subsequent failure, you will have to wait at least a week before you are allowed to retry. 

In Maryland, there is no minimum age that motorcycle passengers need to reach if they wish to be eligible to ride.

Because of the sleek, slippery surface of your motorcycle, a few attachments need to be placed towards the rear. First, you need to have an adequately sized passenger seat with a comfortable pad and a backrest. Then, you need to place footrests and handholds relative to the passenger’s seat position. Depending on where you would like your passenger to be compared to your seat, try to place the passenger seat either:

• On the back part of a large driver’s seat

• Towards the rear as a separate saddle

• On the side as a sidecar

Usually, an age limit gives an idea of the average height and weight of an ideal motorcycle passenger. However, as Maryland does not have one, operators have to rely on their best intuition when judging whether a passenger can ride with them.

• Your passenger must be able to reach the footrests

• Your passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet

• Your passenger cannot be carrying any packages

• Your passenger must be able to understand and follow your directions

Lane splitting is deemed illegal in Maryland. Lane splitting involves motorcyclists traveling atop the dotted lines between lanes and rows of traffic, typically when other vehicles are moving slowly or braked. These are examples of lane splitting to look out for and avoid:

• Riding on top of the dividing lines between lanes

• Riding in between adjacent rows of stopped vehicles 

• Overtaking a larger vehicle ahead in the same lane 

Lane sharing is allowed though it is recommended riders do not engage if possible. Motorcycles are small enough that two can be within the same lane at a time, but that does mean there is less room to maneuver. These are examples of lane sharing to look out for:

• You are allowed to make full use of the space within your current lane 

• You can only share a lane with another motorcycle if:

  • Both parties stay apart at least two abreast

  • Both parties consent beforehand

To promote better safety for yourself and the other drivers sharing the road, you should make sure to bring your motorcycle in for vehicle and safety inspections whenever possible. Examining the primary components and testing their functions will help make it easier to determine if there are problems that need to be addressed. If you take good care of your motorcycle’s condition, there may not be any outstanding issues to worry about. But if there are any signs of damage, you will either need to apply repairs yourself, at an inspection station or a repair shop.

• Horn

• Wheels

• Tires

• Handlebars 

•  Front & Rear Brakes 

• Controls

• Headlight 

•  Rear Light 

•  Brake Light 

• Turn Signals

• Exhaust System

•  Muffler 

•  Rearview Mirrors 

• Fenders

• Footrests

• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Motorcycle Operators Manual
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Insurance Requirements for Maryland Vehicles
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Protective Riding Gear
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Learner’s Permit
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Obtaining a Motorcycle License
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Knowledge Testing
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - MVA Fee Listing
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Riding with a Passenger
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Vehicle Safety Inspection