Do I Need to Wait One Year to Add a Motorcycle License?
3 Answers
Whether you first obtain a Class C license (for small cars) or a Class D license (for motorcycles), you must wait at least one year before applying for an additional license. If you already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to apply for an additional vehicle class, you must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle or the most recent scoring cycle before applying. For applying to add medium-sized passenger vehicles, tow trucks, or large passenger vehicles to your license, the following additional regulations apply: To apply for adding a medium-sized passenger vehicle, you must have held a license for city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, or three-wheeled vehicles for at least three years, and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three most recent consecutive scoring cycles before applying. To apply for adding a tow truck, you must have held a license for medium-sized passenger vehicles or large trucks for at least three years, or have held a license for large passenger vehicles for at least one year, and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three most recent consecutive scoring cycles before applying.
I just got my motorcycle license added last year after consulting in detail at the DMV. If you're a new driver who just obtained a C1 license, you must complete the 12-month probation period before adding another license, and ensure you haven't accumulated 12 penalty points during this year. For experienced drivers like me, you can add a license anytime as long as you didn't reach 12 points in the last scoring cycle. Also, pay attention to the DMV's review requirements: settle all traffic violations in advance, prepare your ID card and original driver's license, and then take the exams from subject one to subject four. I know a few impatient friends who tried to add licenses during their probation period, but all had their applications rejected.
Having driven for ten years, I've helped many people with the process of adding a motorcycle endorsement. In principle, there's no mandatory one-year waiting period for adding a motorcycle license—it mainly depends on the status of your current driver's license. During the probationary period, adding an endorsement is strictly prohibited; you must complete those 12 months without exception. Even if you were deducted 6 points last month, as long as your total points across two scoring cycles don’t exceed 11, you can still apply. I recommend checking your recent point deductions first and completing your driver's license annual review while you're at it. Some regions also require a driver's medical exam, and the color blindness test is particularly tricky for many people.
