License Department Of Public Safty DPS

[tobor9]

South Carolina does not require a MC endorsement or helmets(though I won't ryde without one)

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Wow. That's insane. Here in Missouri the course can get you out of the state police ran skills test but this only applies to two-wheelers that last time I checked. Plus, if you take your skills test on a trike, you get a trike only marking on your license (which makes sense). Apparently they are working on a trike course but it has a bunch of hoops to go through. The current trike courses offered will not give you an exemption which seems stupid but then again there isn't one close to St. Louis anyway. We have a ton of Harley dealers who all give courses for the skills exemption and they all sell trikes. You'd think they'd be pushing the state to get trikes included on the exemption.

Unfortunately the manufacturers are probably pushing for states to not require motorcycle licensing for any of the trikes. They could sell a lot more if no one had to get a motorcycle license or a 3 wheel endorsement. While I was in California this week the question I got most often was do you need a motorcycle license for that. I've only been asked that previously once or twice but I was asked 4 times this trip.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

California does not require a motorcycle license because they do not
consider a Spyder or any 3 wheel rig a motorcycle. they are .....
should I say it.... a 3 wheeled car so your car lic is OK
In cheching with the CHP I was informed that if it were to be considered
a motorcycle then every meter maid would have to get an MC lic. But
even that don't make sense because meter maids don't have to use a helmet
because they have a top on their 3 wheel units ??????
none of that is logical, because Spyders and other topless 3 wheeled rigs
must use a helmet and they have motorcycle lic. plates...???????:hun:

In Nevada trikes with 2 rear wheels do not need a license or to wear a helmet because the state's definition of a motorcycle is something with a single drive wheel. That is why the Spyder is classified as a motorcycle here.

 

[TexasSpyder]

You are not going to believe this one. I went to Tyler to try to get my motorcycles license a couple of months ago. I failed the skills test because my legs are too week to handle a 2 wheeler. It took me awhile but finally found someone 70 miles away that gave 3 wheel course. Last week-end in heat of 110 for 18 hours on the school parking lot a had no problem with the skills test in fact rode my own RT there 3 times 360 miles total. Took a written test 50 questions I missed one. Okay today I went to the DPS to get my license and the lady said "you have to take a safety course". I told her I just did and I had a card she was holding in her hand to prove it. She called Austin TX and the lady down there said she didn't think I needed a license for a Trike but she would call me after she "researched it". That woman has been working here at the DPS office for years. Can you believe it, that's all she does 6 days a week is issue driving test both written and road test.

I got my licence when I was 14, got my endorsement for motorcycles at 16 (just turned 65 last week). I have never let the MC endorsement lapse, so I haven't had any problems. I would hate to be starting out today to get "legal". Seems Texas is trying to make things difficult?

J. D.

 

[Bob T.]

Bob T.

You are not going to believe this one. I went to Tyler to try to get my motorcycles license a couple of months ago. I failed the skills test because my legs are too week to handle a 2 wheeler. It took me awhile but finally found someone 70 miles away that gave 3 wheel course. Last week-end in heat of 110 for 18 hours on the school parking lot a had no problem with the skills test in fact rode my own RT there 3 times 360 miles total. Took a written test 50 questions I missed one. Okay today I went to the DPS to get my license and the lady said "you have to take a safety course". I told her I just did and I had a card she was holding in her hand to prove it. She called Austin TX and the lady down there said she didn't think I needed a license for a Trike but she would call me after she "researched it". That woman has been working here at the DPS office for years. Can you believe it, that's all she does 6 days a week is issue driving test both written and road test.

California and N. Carolina are the only states you don't need a motorcycle licence

 

[Dan McNally]

In West Virginia, the state has an agreement with Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) that allows someone to take their Basic Rider's Course and not have to take the skills test, just the written, to get a motorcycle license. I checked with MSF about trike courses and was told I would need to take their two wheel course on one of their bikes. I asked about taking the course with my Spyder and was told no. It made no sense to me to take a two-wheeled skill course to ride my Spyder, so I practiced on my own (the state gave me a 90 day learner's permit for passing the written test . . . only restrictions were that I could not ride at night or carry a passenger) and got my license on my own. I still wanted training, so I ended up going to Virginia to take a trike course, after I got my three wheel license. I contacted my state delegate and discussed the situation with him. He said he would talk to DMV about them honoring the company in Virginia to be accepted as qualifying for the skills test, just like the MSF course is accepted. Still waiting to hear how that turned out. The Virginia company said they'd be happy to provide the course in West Virginia if the state accepted it. It won't do me any good, but I hope I was able to help the next guy.