# What Are Texas Motorcycle Permit Restrictions? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. How To Get a Motorcycle Permit When You Are Under 18 in Texas 2. Restrictions For Minors Who Drive Motorcycles in Texas 3. Transferring From Out of State 4. Texas Motorcycle Permit Rules Make the Roads Safer 5. Contact a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim ![What Are Texas Motorcycle Permit Restrictions?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/What-Are-Texas-Motorcycle-Permit-Restrictions-300x200.jpg) Like most other states in the country, [Texas](https://www.texas.gov/) has a system in place for minors to acquire motor vehicle licenses. Known as the [graduated driver license program](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/graduated-driver-license-gdl-and-hardship-license/), it allows Texans as young as 15 to receive permits to drive motorcycles. With that being said, younger motorcyclists must follow all the same laws that older motorcyclists follow and must adhere to additional restrictions depending on their exact age. ## How To Get a Motorcycle Permit When You Are Under 18 in Texas As a minor in Texas, you need to apply for a motorcycle permit in person at a Texas Driver’s License office.  For your [motorcycle permit or license](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/motorcycle-license) application to be approved, you must meet the following requirements: - Be at least 15 years old - Be a resident of Texas - Pass a [Motorcycle Safety Course](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/texas-motorcycle-safety-courses/) approved by the state - Obtain a Class C Provisional License, take 32 classroom hours of driver’s education, or complete a Class C learner license - Verify your enrollment and attendance in high school - Be accompanied by a parent or guardian - Pass a vision test - Complete and pass a driver’s exam Your driver’s exam is completed on a motorcycle that you bring, and someone must follow you by car throughout the entire exam. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Restrictions For Minors Who Drive Motorcycles in Texas Once you have satisfied all of the prerequisites, you will receive a Class M Provisional License, which allows minors to [drive a motorcycle](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/driving-a-car-or-driving-a-motorcycle-which-is-safer/) in Texas. Keep in mind, however, that the license comes with the following additional restrictions: ### Passenger Restrictions You may only have one [passenger on your motorcycle](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/motorcycle-passenger-rights-after-an-accident-in-texas/) who is under 21 years old and not a family member. Unless your motorcycle has a sidecar, this restriction isn’t likely to be a problem, as very few motorcycles can hold more than one additional person to begin with. ### Hours of Use With a provisional license, you are not permitted to ride your motorcycle between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. There are exceptions to the rule, however, as you can ride your motorcycle in the event of an emergency or to travel to and from work or school-related activities. ### Helmets Technically, a Class M Provisional License doesn’t include any specific rules about helmets. However, Texas has separate [motorcycle helmet laws](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/houston-helmet-laws/) in place, which require everyone under 21 to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle. ### Electronic Devices Unless there is an emergency, minors are not allowed to use any type of electronic device while on a motorcycle, even if it is a hands-free one. ### Engine Restriction For 15-Year-Old Motorcycle Drivers If you are 15 years old, you will face an additional restriction that older minors do not. Your license will receive an “I” restriction, which limits you to driving a motorcycle with a 250cc engine or lighter.  Once you turn 16, you can easily get that restriction removed, but there is no way for someone who is 15 to be exempt from it. ## Transferring From Out of State If you previously had a motorcycle license in another state, that will not exempt you from the provisional license rules when you transfer your license to Texas. Assuming you completed a [motorcycle safety](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/motorcycle-safety-tips-in-texas/) course in your previous state, you will get a provisional M Class license, but if you didn’t, you would need to complete the relevant courses in Texas to re-obtain the license. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Texas Motorcycle Permit Rules Make the Roads Safer The Texas GDL Program helps teenagers safely learn how to ride a motorcycle, effectively reducing [motorcycle accidents](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/motorcycle-accident-lawyer/) and ensuring that minors understand the laws before they graduate to an unrestricted license. Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Contact a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim For more information, [contact](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/contact-us/) the [Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/) personal injury law firm of [Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/) by calling [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Houston**[3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350, Houston, TX 77098](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Houston/@29.7309684,-95.4262545,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640bf255e7aaf73:0x52064b120afa59fe!8m2!3d29.7309684!4d-95.4262545!16s%2Fg%2F1tfrxw9q?entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – East Fwy**[11811 East Fwy, Suite 630-06, Houston, TX 77029](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+East+Fwy/@29.773407,-95.2301421,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640bd52b80b3fe3:0xb5804dd15c47b17b!8m2!3d29.773407!4d-95.2301421!16s%2Fg%2F11r10lsb0x?source=g.page.share&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – South Loop**[2600 S Loop W, Suite 293, Houston, TX 77054](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+South+Loop/@29.6785093,-95.4184191,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640c1c0e435eacd:0x81fd3c6eb30bc542!8m2!3d29.6785093!4d-95.4184191!16s%2Fg%2F11ry4wjwqr?cid=9366709246148461890&_ga=2.209939733.1628598219.1648478482-1081226185.1622227003&shorturl=1&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Katy Freeway**[11511 Katy Fwy Suite 515, Houston, TX 77079](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Katy+Freeway/@29.7836667,-95.5861677,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640dbd008653a11:0x9786540c9ab0bfd9!8m2!3d29.7836667!4d-95.5861677!16s%2Fg%2F11y3dw2v44?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers** **– Clear Lake** [1300 Bay Area Blvd Suite B268, Houston, TX 77058](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Clear+Lake/@29.5598212,-95.1152728,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x86409d1b345242c9:0x5895a119f6ed1d9!8m2!3d29.5598212!4d-95.1152728!16s%2Fg%2F11lf7xm8n8?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&coh=219816&entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgxNC4xKgBIAVAD/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers** **– The Woodlands** [1776 Woodstead Ct ste 203, The Woodlands, TX 77380](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+The+Woodlands/@30.1548897,-95.4639792,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x864737efe5a3cb73:0xff70634b80d03844!8m2!3d30.1548897!4d-95.4639792!16s%2Fg%2F11y98y92_f?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExOS4yIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D/) Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Motorcycle Accidents Blog Posts: [![Motorcycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents: How Are They Different?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Motorcycle-Accidents-vs.-Car-Accidents-How-Are-They-Different-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/motorcycle-accidents-vs-car-accidents-how-are-they-different/) [Motorcycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents: How Are They Different?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/motorcycle-accidents-vs-car-accidents-how-are-they-different/) Motorcycle accidents differ from car accidents in significant ways. Motorcycle accidents cause more injuries and [![Man and Woman Die After Being Thrown Off SH-99 Overpass in Motorcycle Crash](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Husband-and-Wife-Funeral-Farewell-000003529702_Medium-300x199.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/man-and-woman-die-after-being-thrown-off-sh-99-overpass-in-motorcycle-crash/) [Man and Woman Die After Being Thrown Off SH 99 Overpass in Motorcycle Crash](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/man-and-woman-die-after-being-thrown-off-sh-99-overpass-in-motorcycle-crash/) According to Harris County sheriff’s deputies, a man and a woman died in a motorcycle crash in northwest Harris [![Hit and Run Scooter Accident in Houston Texas Leaves One Dead](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Hit-and-Run-Scooter-Accident-in-Houston-Texas-Leaves-One-Dead-300x225.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/hit-and-run-scooter-accident-in-houston-leaves-one-dead/) [Hit-and-Run Scooter Accident in Houston Leaves One Dead](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/hit-and-run-scooter-accident-in-houston-leaves-one-dead/) Not one, but two vehicles fled the scene after striking a young male riding a scooter through a Houston intersection. [![Motorcycle Passenger Rights After an Accident in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Motorcycle-Passenger-Rights-After-an-Accident-in-Texas-1-300x240.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/motorcycle-passenger-rights-after-an-accident-in-texas/) [Motorcycle Passenger Rights After an Accident in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/motorcycle-passenger-rights-after-an-accident-in-texas/) A total of 562 motorcyclists died, and 2,422 people were injured in motorcycle accidents in Texas in 2022, according --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-texas-motorcycle-permit-restrictions/