Can I apply for a motorcycle license right after getting a car driver's license?
2 Answers
You cannot apply for a motorcycle license immediately after obtaining a car driver's license. You must have no more than 12 penalty points in one scoring cycle before you can apply for a motorcycle license upgrade. Additional regulations apply for applying to upgrade to medium-sized buses or tractor-trailers: Medium-sized buses: To upgrade to a medium-sized bus license, you must have held a city bus, large truck, small car, small automatic transmission car, low-speed truck, or three-wheeled vehicle license for at least three years, with no record of 12 penalty points in the last three consecutive scoring cycles. Tractor-trailers: To upgrade to a tractor-trailer license, you must have held a medium-sized bus or large truck license for at least three years, or a large bus license for at least one year, with no record of 12 penalty points in the last three consecutive scoring cycles.
When I first got my car driver's license, I also thought about immediately adding a motorcycle endorsement. However, after consulting the DMV, I found out it wasn't possible. According to regulations, there is a one-year probation period after obtaining a C1 license, during which you cannot add any additional vehicle endorsements. I specifically checked the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," and Article 75 clearly states that drivers during the probation period are not allowed to add permitted vehicle types. You must wait until the probation period is over and also ensure that you haven't accumulated 12 penalty points in the most recent scoring cycle before you can enroll in a driving school to add a motorcycle D/E endorsement. A guy I later met at the driving school took the test three months after his probation ended. He directly signed up for the D endorsement (three-wheeled motorcycle), saying it's more stable than two-wheelers. Although waiting an extra year was frustrating, safety is the top priority.
