Passed my Washington State 3 wheel license test

[Haze]

I recently moved from Nevada to Washington state. Had to get 3 wheels added to my drivers license.

Saturday - This past weekend I took the Washington state license test/endorsement for 3 wheelers.
Half day class and paperwork (written test). Half day very inclusive practice riding (functional test).

Hard work in the classroom is an understatement. We were responsible for all the info in the 74 page state motorcycle manual.
Of the 12 people in the class, 10 failed the written test.
For the riding test I believe 6 of the 12 failed riding Rykers. Lots of long faces. I rode my F3 and passed.

Thursday - I took a retest of the written part of the course. Passed with flying colors.

Look out Washington and the Pacific Northwest I'm back on the road and I'm legal.

[Woodaddict]

Wow! What grueling state requirements

[Isopedella]

Down here in Kiwiland the Spyders fall under the normal car licence category.
Something to do with 2 wheels up front. Not sure of the rest.
They must figure if you can drive a car you can ride a Spyder.

Trikes with 2 at the back fall into the motorcycle class. Go figure that.

[Bfromla]

[racoon]

I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider Course - 3 wheel.
The official schedule says 5 hours of online "classroom" work with periodic tests of the material, and then 10 hours of riding exercises.

The online work is reading and watching videos, and then answering questions about what you just learned. If you fail one of the tests, you can go back and repeat the materials and take the test again. When you successfully finish you print out your completion certificate and take it with you to the riding course.

The 10 hour schedule assumes a full class of trainees, so you don't actually get 10 hours of riding, since each person would have to go through each exercise while being observed and coached by the trainer.
I was the only one that registered for the course, so it was just me, the trainer, and a Ryker in a large parking lot. We started in the morning, took a short snack break sitting on folding chairs in the parking lot, and were finished and I was home by dinner time.

Successful completion of the course provides a certificate that you take to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which is accepted by them as you having completed all of the requirements to qualify for a motorcycle license.
You also receive a document you give your insurance company, which earns you a discount on your motorcycle insurance.

A few hours waiting in line at the BMV office, having a new picture taken for my license, and I walked out with my new driver's license with the added motorcycle endorsement.


My CAN-AM dealer has a large poster in their showroom advertising the MSF courses.

[WRCLVR]

Yep, me too. MSF online course that took several hours. Then the Can Am 3-wheel riders training... 8 people showed up for that. One got kicked out after 3 hours as she would not listen to the coach at all and just did whatever she wanted. All riding done on Rykers, in the rain too. Fun time. It only took 2 days for the certificate to show in the GA DMV computers. Been riding ever since.

[NorwegianRT]

Congrats

[shannonmarie]

Congrats!

I got my license by taking the motorcycle safety course back in 2011 on two wheels as that’s what I was riding back then. I’ve just kept the endorsement over the years even moving state to state. New Jersey did make me take the written test when I moved there. Pennsylvania and Kentucky didn’t care, just issued their own state license.

[ned64]

When the wife and I took the test for three wheel to get our endorsement . 2 day course thru FACT safety school. Classroom part day then riding practice. Next day Took riding test pretty easy. Then back to the classroom an took the written test. It wasn't very hard if you had read the book and listened to the teacher. Everyone passed both the ridding test an the written test if I remember right, it was a full class 20 people in class I think . Yakima where we took the tests.

[Leroy73]

3 wheel endorsement not required in Texas but need a motorcycle endorsement. Since 3 wheels handle different than 2 or 4 and Syders are different than traditional trike, I am not opposed to requiring a separate endorsement for 3 wheels.

I took the Evergreen 3 wheel riding class here in Texas. It covered sidecars and trikes but not the Spyder. After the sidecar part, handling a Spyder was easy. I still do not like traditional trike's handling.

I know a lot of people will disagree but I could even be for a short required class for anyone transitioning to 3 wheels, especially a sidecar rig or traditional trike. I'm sure the state would add in the Spyders for the requirement. Of course I think a required motorcycle safety course for motorcycle endorsement is a good idea. And along those lines, in Texas it is too easy to pass the requirements for an automobile drivers license. And I believe in bringing back drivers education in the public schools. The teach a lot of BS that is not needed but I believe driving is a life skill.

Oh well, sorry if I irritated anyone. This is just my opinion. We all have one. Yes, I rode motorcycles back in the day when no endorsement was required, motorcycle safety programs were non existent, ATATT was not invented, and no state required a helmet. Also no inspections and insurance was not required. That was back in the days we had freedom in the USA and people in general were much more responsible.

[Wmoater]

Haze, did you already have a motorcycle license in Nevada? Does Washington not transfer over your certifications? I know my MC, CDL, S, and P all transferred over when I moved States, but I am guessing not all States are the same. Just curious. I have to get recertification for my S and P every 4 years, but that's Federal, not State. My M(c) and CDL needed nothing done.


Just found my answer with a quick search. Nevada, California, and South Carolina don’t require MC license or 3-wheel endorsement for Can Am Spyders. Interesting find. Learned something new today!

[Kaemgen]

Congrats on passing and being legal...

Here in NYState it was a 2-day class, but you had to watch a 5-hour video before you even took the class; and then pass a test on the video. The annoying part of the video and test is that it is a motorcycle video and test - 2-wheel version. So MUCH of what it is talking about and testing on doesn't even apply to the Spyders or Rykers. Too damn cheap to make a separate one, I guess...

However, there were only 3 of us in the 2-day class, so we were on the Rykers pretty much all day, and we never had to swap out with others like they usually have to do for a full class of 8. So we got more riding experience than most. Yay...

Anyway, point is (if I have one) that every state/region/whatever is going to have their own peculiarities. But they're behind us now, so it's the next people's problem!

[broderp]

Congratulations!

I would love to take a 3-wheel riding course, but the closest one to me is in another state several hours away. I can't see myself or the wife making the trek 2-3 days in a row. I had to settle for my motorcycle two-wheel endorsement, and slowly building up confidence on the Spyder while trying to not lose the years of technique from my 2-wheel riding. I still may take the advanced motorcycles class his year. It's money well spent to go back once in a while to brush up on skills you don't always get to use on the road.

[ned64]

In Washington, you don't need a car license or motorcycle license to get a 3-wheel license. You don't need another license to get a motorcycle license. If you have a car license you still have to have a motorcycle license endorsement to ride a motorcycle. If you want to drive a car; a motorcycle; and a 3-wheeler, you have to have all 3 endorsements on your license. When renewing your car license, you have to make sure they don't drop the other endorsements from your license, or you have to go take the tests for a motorcycle or 3-wheeler again to get them added back onto your car license.

[broderp]

In Washington, you don't need a car license or motorcycle license to get a 3-wheel license. You don't need another license to get a motorcycle license. If you have a car license you still have to have a motorcycle license endorsement to ride a motorcycle. If you want to drive a car; a motorcycle; and a 3-wheeler, you have to have all 3 endorsements on your license. When renewing your car license, you have to make sure they don't drop the other endorsements from your license, or you have to go take the tests for a motorcycle or 3-wheeler again to get them added back onto your car license.

I think OH is the same with the exception being needing the need for the 3 wheel endorsement if you already have the motor cycle one. Thank goodness!

[Deanna777]

Here in Vermont we have a Three Wheel Basic Rider Course, this course is for novice riders, those with limited riding experience and riders who haven't ridden for a few years. It teaches the basic skills needed to operate a three-wheeled motorcycle in traffic.Training includes a (5) five-hour online Basic eCourse and 10 on-motorcycling riding exercises. Motorcycles are provided to individuals attending the course.

Students successfully completing a Basic Rider Course conducted by the VT. Rider Education Program will be exempt from taking the Vermont Motorcycle written and skill examinations to obtain a three wheel motorcycle endorsement.

Back in 2012 when I got my motorcycle endorsement on my license I had to sign-up for the course, take a class, in a classroom, and take a driving test with a 2 wheeled motorcycle, than once I got my Can -Am Spyder, I had to take the driving test with the Spyder. ( they widened the course markers due to the size of the Spyder). I was the last one to go thru the coarse. I could only ride during the day light hours, then after I took the driving test with the Spyder, and I passed I could ride anytime ( day or night).


I also got a card saying that I am "Restricted to Riding a Three Wheel Motorcycle Only" and that card must be carried with license/permit.

Does anyone else have a Special Restriction Card?

Deanna

[racoon]

I also got a card saying that I am "Restricted to Riding a Three Wheel Motorcycle Only" and that card must be carried with license/permit.

Does anyone else have a Special Restriction Card?

I took the MSF 3-wheel basic course here in Tennessee, and passed, which earned me a certificate to give the Motor Vehicles Department without having to take their test.

The back of my new license says:

CLASS: DM Vehicles <26,000 (Operator), Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles & scooters

Restrictions: 01 Glasses, Contacts

The "DM" class is actually Class D and Class M, where Class D is the standard vehicle driver's license, and Class M is for motorcycles.

And yes, I've worn glasses since I was 5 years old, so no surprise on that restriction.

I didn't receive anything else from the Motor Vehicles Department, just my new driver's license.

[Snoking1127]

I took the two-day AZ Can Am sponsored course and Washington would not accept it, so I took the two-day course again in Washington. You are graded and tested in the class and then go to the DMV to get the endorsement. They pretty much assure you that you will pass. I then switched my resident state to AZ, and they carried my Washington 3-wheel endorsement to my AZ driver's license.

[Deanna777]

I took the MSF 3-wheel basic course here in Tennessee, and passed, which earned me a certificate to give the Motor Vehicles Department without having to take their test.

The back of my new license says:



The "DM" class is actually Class D and Class M, where Class D is the standard vehicle driver's license, and Class M is for motorcycles.

And yes, I've worn glasses since I was 5 years old, so no surprise on that restriction.

I didn't receive anything else from the Motor Vehicles Department, just my new driver's license.

HI Racoon,

I have my driver's license card, and it says End M. The back of my driver's license says Endorsements: M Motorcycle and Restrictions Y, Three Wheel MTC Only.

The "Special Restriction Card" is separate from my driver's license.

I have to carry the Special Restriction Card with me at all times.

That is interesting.

Deanna

[Kaemgen]

I also got a card saying that I am "Restricted to Riding a Three Wheel Motorcycle Only" and that card must be carried with license/permit.

Does anyone else have a Special Restriction Card?

Deanna

New York State - No Special Restriction Card. Instead, it lists the restriction right on the license itself. It's on the back, but I am sure the cops know where to look!

[racoon]

I have to carry the Special Restriction Card with me at all times.

That is interesting.

Different states have different rules.

[Deanna777]

New York State - No Special Restriction Card. Instead, it lists the restriction right on the license itself. It's on the back, but I am sure the cops know where to look!

Vermont, on my Driver's license it is also listed on the back. Yes, they do.

Different states have different rules.

Yes, they do.

Deanna