Motorcycle Licensing Requirements in Colorado
Every state in the U.S. requires motorcycle operators to get a special endorsement or license. Motorcycle licensing requirements in Colorado ensure riders have the right mix of skill, training, and experience to ride safely.
Proper licensing can help you avoid a motorcycle accident. But even the best-trained riders can get hit while riding. After you suffer an injury in a Denver, CO, motorcycle crash, Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers will fight for fair compensation for the losses you suffered. Contact our Denver motorcycle accident attorneys at (720) 613-9706 for a free consultation and review of your case.
How Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Following a Motorcycle Accident in Denver, CO
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers has won some of the largest personal injury verdicts and settlements in the history of Denver, Colorado. Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience fighting for injured people against insurers and at-fault parties.
After you suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, our Denver motorcycle accident lawyers provide the following legal services:
- A free consultation to evaluate your case and advise you about your options
- Aggressive negotiation with insurers to resolve your case quickly and fairly
- Relentless litigation against parties who refuse to settle
A motorcycle crash can leave you with serious injuries to the face and head, even if you wear a motorcycle helmet. Contact Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your motorcycle crash injuries and how we can pursue compensation from the driver who hit you.
Does Motorcycle Licensing Reduce Injuries?
Staying upright on a motorcycle requires balance. Riders must know how the motorcycle will handle while maneuvering, particularly during emergencies. Experienced motorcyclists know what to watch for to reduce the risk of collisions.
You can acquire these skills through practice. You do not need a motorcycle license to have these skills, but you must have these skills to pass all the testing to get a motorcycle license.
Although that statement might seem farfetched, motorcycle accident statistics bear it out. About 20% of motorcyclists on the road have no motorcycle license, but roughly 40% of those who die in crashes are unlicensed. In other words, unlicensed riders have twice the chance of experiencing a fatal accident as licensed riders.
States know this fact and set standards for riders to get a motorcycle license. These standards often require both classroom knowledge and hands-on riding experience.
Colorado’s Motorcycle License Requirements
Colorado does not issue motorcycle-only licenses. It only issues “M” or “3” endorsements for valid Colorado driver’s licenses. You must obtain a valid license from the state before applying for the motorcycle endorsement.
An M endorsement gives you the legal right to operate both two- and three-wheeled motorcycles. A 3 endorsement only allows you to operate a three-wheeled motorcycle.
Colorado is different from most states because it automatically issues motorcycle endorsements to new residents with valid motorcycle licenses from other states. The state only accepts certificates of completion for out-of-state motorcycle safety courses from military members who took the class while on base.
Colorado has three options for obtaining a motorcycle license. These requirements apply whether you have been previously licensed in another state or have never obtained a license before.
Take a Motorcycle Safety Course
You can take an approved motorcycle training course. This course covers several topics, including:
- How a motorcycle works
- Using the controls
- Starting and stopping
- Shifting gears
- Cornering safely
- Emergency maneuvering
The course includes both classroom and hands-on instruction. At the end of the classroom portion, you must pass a written exam. When you complete the hands-on portion, you must pass a skills test.
Once you pass all the tests, your course provider will give you a certificate of completion. You will take this certificate to the Colorado DMV along with proof of your identity and Colorado address.
Take the Written and Road Tests
You do not have to take the safety course. Instead, you can go directly to the DMV and take a written and road test. These tests cover the same material as the safety course exams, but you do not get the benefit of learning the answers immediately before taking the exam.
You will take the written test first. You must pay for a motorcycle instruction permit and schedule an appointment for a road test. When you come back, you will ride your motorcycle to take the skills test.
Get an Instruction Permit
Applicants under 18 must pay for a motorcycle instruction permit and hold it for 12 months before they can select one of the previous options. That period gives them time to practice riding.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Denver Motorcycle Crash Attorney
A motorcycle accident can leave you disabled and facing months or even years of recovery. Contact Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle crash and how we can help you fight for fair injury compensation. Our Denver motorcycle accident lawyers work on contingency, which means we only get paid if we successfully obtain compensation for you.
