Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for Oklahoma, United States

As when driving a car or truck, operating a motorcycle requires having a complete understanding of the controls and being able to comply with traffic laws. Possessing this knowledge will make sure you and other drivers sharing the road stay safe. However, because motorcycles are more maneuverable yet less protected, some additional rules and restrictions need to be followed. Based on where you are in the United States, the set of laws specific to motorcycles may differ between states.

If you are a novice motorcyclist, an out-of-state tourist, or an experienced rider whose memory needs refreshing, this article serves as an overview of Oklahoma’s motorcycle laws and licensing procedures. 

It is mandatory in Oklahoma to possess liability insurance coverage provided by a legitimate company acknowledged in this state. Having liability insurance coverage will ensure you have financial aid to deal with the accrued costs related to a collision. Whenever you operate your motorcycle, you must always carry documentation in case you need to confirm with the police or anyone who ran into you.

Your insurance plan only has to pay for the minimum coverage dealing with injuries and loss of property when your motorcycle was involved in a crash:

• $25,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident

• $50,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $25,000 for property damages sustained per accident

You can add onto your current insurance plan at a later point if you want to be prepared for other situations involving motorcycle-related health problems and finances:

• Collision coverage

• Uninsured coverage

• Underinsured coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

• Bodily injury coverage

• Medical payment coverage

In Oklahoma, motorcyclists and passengers under 18 are required to place either a three-quarter or full-face helmet over their heads while riding. Whichever one you prefer, check that it has been labeled by both the Snell Memorial Foundation and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Based on statistics in recent years, having a motorcycle helmet in Oklahoma has been instrumental in saving the lives of most riders involved in accidents:

• In 2017, motorcycle helmets saved the lives of 1,872 riders involved in accidents

• In 2017, there were about 5,172 fatalities due to many of the riders not wearing a motorcycle helmet

• It is estimated that at least 749 additional riders could have lived had they been wearing a motorcycle helmet

Listed in this table are the requirements and features you should look for when selecting a motorcycle helmet:

You are allowed to apply for an Oklahoma motorcycle learner’s permit if you are between 14 to 15 years old. The permit will be issued to you after you pay a $4 application fee and an additional $38.50.

Because mostly teenagers apply for the permit, there is some education and test-taking they need to accomplish before they are ready to earn an Oklahoma motorcycle learner’s permit:

• Enroll in and complete a motorcycle education course

• Provide proof of I.D.

• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship

• Pass the vision exam

• Pass the written exam

Since you do not have the qualifications to ride freely, you have to limit yourself to riding on a few select roads, under a certain speed limit, during certain times of the day:

• You have to be supervised by at least a 21-year-old who is holding a valid Oklahoma motorcycle license

• Your motorcycle piston displacement cannot exceed 300 cubic centimeters

• You can only operate between 4:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. 

• You cannot carry a passenger except for your supervisor

• You cannot ride on highways with minimum speed limits if you are below the age of 16

• You must stick to roads that have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour

You are allowed to apply for an Oklahoma motorcycle license once you have made it to age 16. You will be given the license after you pay a $4 application fee and an additional $38.50.

Listed below are the requirements you will need to fulfill to obtain an Oklahoma motorcycle license:

*It is mandatory for applicants under 17 to complete a Motorcycle Safety Education course if they wish to receive a Class M endorsement for their Oklahoma driver’s license.

*If you present the completion card for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, you have the option of waiving the written and riding portions of the Oklahoma motorcycle license test. 

• Complete 25 multiple-choice questions

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

• Requires a passing grade of 80% or higher

• Will be conducted in an actual traffic environment or a controlled, off-street area

• Examiner will conduct a pre-ride inspection to ensure your motorcycle meets safety standards

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on your ability to stay within the speed limit, adjust speed and position, maintain visibility, operate under stress, accelerate, brake, turn, stop, and swerve. 

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

If you fail either part of the Oklahoma motorcycle license test, you will have to pay a fee of $4 to retake it. 

In Oklahoma, any motorcyclists that are aged 16 or younger are not allowed to bring a passenger. That being said, Oklahoma does not include an age requirement for passengers in their road laws.

As you are responsible for your passenger’s safety, make sure that he/she is tall enough to easily reach the footrests. Your passenger must also be able to listen and immediately respond to your directions. Make sure that your vehicle is installed with a passenger seat, footrests, and handholds.

Make sure that the passenger seat is located in one of the following positions and that the passenger complies with these rules:

• The passenger is seated in a driver’s saddle big enough to fit two people 

• Or the passenger is seated in a separate saddle near the rear 

• Or the passenger is seated in a sidecar 

• There are footrests and handholds the passenger can reach 

• The passenger is facing forward with a leg hanging on each side

• The passenger cannot hold packages that could obstruct the driver

• The passenger can understand and follow your directions

• The passenger holds tights and mimics your movements at all times

Lane splitting is a practice that is legally discouraged in Oklahoma. You cannot attempt any variations of lane splitting including lane filtering or lane sharing. Thus, you are forbidden from trying any of these maneuvers while traveling on Oklahoma’s laned roads and highways:

• You cannot ride on top of the dividing lines between lanes

• You cannot ride in between adjacent rows of vehicles that are stopped

• You cannot overtake a vehicle directly ahead of you in the same lane 

• You cannot ride side-by-side with another vehicle in the same lane

Because a motorcycle has a sleek yet small design that leaves the rider exposed, it must be equipped with plenty of features to signal its presence at any time. Sometimes drivers bump into motorcyclists because they do not notice them until it is too late. And without a canopy or airbag that larger vehicles possess, crashing would guarantee you get knocked off your motorcycle.

Before you turn the ignition, conduct periodic inspections of your motorcycle to check for any potential mechanical issues. If there are signs of damage, fix them with your hand-held tools or take your vehicle to a repair shop. Making sure that the motorcycle’s safety features are in working order will guarantee you have increased visibility during any point in the day, be more aware of your surroundings, and help you react quickly to danger.

• Horn

• Wheels

• Fenders

• Tires

• Handlebars 

•  Brake system 

• Controls

• Headlight

•  Taillight 

•  Brake light 

•  Reflector 

• Exhaust system

•  Muffler 

•  Rearview mirrors 

•  Turn signals 

• Windshield

• Oklahoma Motorcycle Operator Manual
• Oklahoma Department of Public Safety - Applying for a Motorcycle Endorsement
• Oklahoma Department of Public Safety - Applying for a Motorcycle License (Between the Age of 14 and 16)
• Oklahoma Department of Public Safety - Applying for a Motorcycle License (Over the Age of 16)
• Oklahoma Statutes Title 47 Motor Vehicles