What is Michigan's Motorcycle Endorsement?

As Seen in Thunder Road Magazine

 

 

If you mention Michigan's motorcycle endorsement to somebody who lives outside the State of Michigan, you're likely to get a blank stare in response. Often, they will reply "Oh, you mean a motorcycle license?" In fact, Michigan's motorcycle endorsement is not a separate driver's license, but a special qualification on your regular driver's license that allows you to legally ride a motorcycle in Michigan. The designation for a driver with a motorcycle endorsement is CY.  

 

What is a motorcycle?

Before we go into what you need to do to get your endorsement, let's define what constitutes a motorcycle. According to Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 257.31, a motorcycle is "every motor vehicle having a saddle or seat for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground but excluding a tractor." It is important to understand that this definition is different than the definition of “motorcycle” used in Michigan's No-Fault law, and may also differ from the definition provided in your vehicle insurance policies.

 

How do you get a motorcycle endorsement?

In order to get a motorcycle endorsement, you first need a regular driver's license. Once you have that, you need to:

• Pass both a vision test and written test at a Secretary of State office.
• Pass a rider skills test from a certified testing organization, or complete a certified safety course.

Bring proof that you passed the test or completed the course to a Secretary of State office, along with enough money to cover the cost of the endorsement. The initial endorsement costs $13.50, and renewals are only $5.

 

Is a trike a bike?

In fact, three-wheeled bikes (trikes) are not covered by a regular motorcycle endorsement. There is a separate driving test and endorsement for trike riders in order for them to be legal on the roads. Michigan’s Law, MCL 257.312b(3) covers that: "A motorcycle endorsement issued to a person who operates a 3-wheeled motorcycle or an autocycle shall be restricted to operation of that type of motorcycle and does not permit operation of  a 2-wheeled motorcycle. The Secretary of State shall develop a driving test specifically pertaining to an autocycle or a 3-wheeled motorcycle."

 

Why do you need a motorcycle endorsement?

If you are pulled over and do not have a valid motorcycle endorsement, it could cost you two points on your driver's license and cause you to pay a fine. That's not the worst of it though; I have worked with several clients who were in crashes without having a valid motorcycle endorsement. In those cases, the defense attorney tried to paint my client as inexperienced and flouting the law.

 

Obviously, not having an endorsement does not necessarily mean you are inexperienced. To combat the defense’s argument, I show how long my client has been riding, all the training and experience they have, and how it was actually the car or truck driver's conduct that caused the crash.

 

If you are in a crash, not having a motorcycle endorsement doesn't limit your eligibility to receive no-fault benefits if they are otherwise payable; as long as a “motor vehicle” such as a car, truck, tractor trailer, and so on was “involved” in the crash, and you own and insure the bike you are riding when the crash occurs, you can still be eligible for no-fault benefits, even without a motorcycle endorsement.

 

If you ride, I recommend obtaining a motorcycle endorsement; It’s The Law.  Why subject yourself to two points on your license and a fine?  Further, in a crash scenario, why even give the negligent driver’s lawyer the chance to claim that you were acting illegal and are inexperienced?  For fifteen bucks and a little bit of your time, they won’t have the chance.