The Motorcycle Legal Minute™ was created by Jason Waechter, THE Motorcycle Lawyer, to explain Michigan’s motorcycle law in a short and easy to understand way.

Let’s talk about Motorcycle Endorsements! To legally operate a motorcycle in Michigan, you need one. And to get one, you need a regular driver’s license, have to pass both a written and vision test, and either have to pass a rider skills test from a certified testing organization or complete a certified motorcycle safety course.

Riding without one can get you a 2-point ticket, and it’s a misdemeanor. Perhaps the worst thing that can happen is they can impound your bike. Motorcycle endorsements for trikes are different.  

Other Motorcycle Legal Minute segments located on this website about motorcycle endorsements include:

Getting a Military Motorcycle Endorsement

Michigan’s Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) 

Motorcycle Traffic Violations

Here is the Michigan statute pertaining to motorcycle endorsements:

MCL 257.312a Motorcycle indorsement; issuance, suspension, revocation, cancellation, or renewal; special restricted license to operate moped; requirements; expiration; duration; fees; violation as misdemeanor; penalty.

Sec. 312a.

  (1) A person, before operating a motorcycle, other than an autocycle, upon a public street or highway in this state, shall procure a motorcycle indorsement on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license. The license shall be issued, suspended, revoked, canceled, or renewed in accordance with and governed by this act.

  (2) A person, before operating a moped upon a highway shall procure a special restricted license to operate a moped unless the person has a valid operator's or chauffeur's license. A special restricted license to operate a moped may be issued to a person 15 years of age or older if the person satisfies the secretary of state that he is competent to operate a moped with safety. The secretary of state shall not require a road test before issuance of a special restricted license to operate a moped.

  (3) A special restricted license to operate a moped shall expire on the birthday of the person to whom it is issued in the fourth year following the date of issuance. A license shall not be issued for a period longer than 4 years. A person issued a license to operate a moped shall pay $7.50 for an original license and $6.00 for a renewal license. The money received and collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general fund. The secretary of state shall refund out of the fees collected to each county or municipality, acting as an examining officer, $2.50 for each applicant examined for an original license and $1.00 for a renewal license.

  (4) A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as follows:

  (a) For a first violation, by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

  (b) For a violation that occurs after a prior conviction, by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.