Can You Hold Both a Motorcycle License and a Car License Simultaneously?
3 Answers
A person can hold both a motorcycle license and a motor vehicle license at the same time. Applying for an Additional License: You can apply to take the motorcycle license test only after holding a motor vehicle license for at least one year and not having accumulated 12 penalty points during that year. Important Notes: Before taking the driving test, you need to submit your motorcycle license to have it combined into a single document, meaning you will have one unified license. Information About Driving Licenses: Driving License: Also known as a "driver's license," it is an official document issued by the government transportation department to individuals who qualify to drive, typically in the form of a card. How to Obtain: To obtain a driving license, you must meet the minimum age requirement and pass a driving test. The license usually specifies the types of motor vehicles the holder is permitted to drive, such as motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, buses, etc.
Of course you can have both a motorcycle license and a car license at the same time. I specifically went to the DMV to add the motorcycle endorsement before. Think about it—a C1 license for cars and a D license for motorcycles. If you want both, you need to have held the car license for at least a year first. Signing up for the motorcycle test isn’t actually hard; practicing things like slalom and hill starts for a few days is enough to pass. After getting the new license, you’ll notice the two licenses merge into one, sharing the same 12 points—this is something to pay special attention to. I remember last year when I ran a red light on my motorcycle and got 6 points deducted, I was nervous even while driving my car afterward. However, after adding the endorsement, there’s a probation period—a whole year where you can’t ride a motorcycle on the highway, which is the most annoying part. Now with both licenses in hand, I can choose my ride based on the weather—driving when it rains and cruising on my motorcycle when it’s sunny. So freeing!
I just got my motorcycle license added last month, and it turned out to be easier than I expected. I already had a C1 license, so I went to the DMV for a medical check and registration, then waited for the notification to take the four subjects. The theory test was similar to the car test, and I mastered the practical skills after three or four practice sessions. When the new license was issued, the old one was taken away, and they were merged into one license with the permitted vehicle types listed as C1D. The key point is the shared penalty system—points deducted for motorcycle violations directly affect your car driving eligibility. My instructor repeatedly reminded me that riding a motorcycle without a helmet in summer would cost you 2 points per capture, and if you use up the 12-point limit, you’ll have to stop driving both vehicles. It’s recommended to install the Traffic Management 12123 app to check points and keep an eye on them regularly.
