Trike test in Conn.

[John Luciano]

. I got a call yesterday from my Senator, he agreed that it is stupid for some one ( especially: vertically challenged, Old, disabled,or just to weak to ride a 2 wheeler ) to have to go thru a 2 wheeler test to obtain the Conn. endorsement so they can ride a trike. He said he needs a lot of ammunition to fight the cause. Keep sending me facts about your states. I am trying to put together a list of the states that allow a person with a TRIKE a to get a license with out taking the 2 wheel test or course. I know you can ride a TRIKE once you have a 2 wheel endorsement, we are trying to skip that step. Many have responded saying " once you get a motorcycle endorsement you can ride anything ". I have people that could never ride a 2 wheeler and have never had a Motorcycle. Picture an 5' tall 73 year old 125 pound woman trying to take a motorcycle course.
Please send me any info on your state so I can comprise a list.

[anion]

Texas Motorcycle license requirements state:

To operate a motorcycle (or a scooter over 50cc), you will need to get a motorcycle license. This requires taking a computer (or a written) test at the Driver's License office AND a road test. The road test portion can be waived if you take an MSF motorcycle safety course.

This is the only reference to a license for a trike that I found:

"Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is equipped with a rider's saddle and designed to have when propelled not more than three wheels on the ground.

[John Luciano]

Sounds the same as our CONN, So Texas is in need of a change too.

[John Luciano]

Thanks that's the kind of info I need. If one or 12 states can do so can others.

[dwiht]

Montana has a trike endorsement, you have to take the same written test as for a regular two wheel bike, but a different riding test which is simular to a car test but the officer follows the trike in a car. My daughter-in law has one for her VW trike. A motorcycle endorsement is good for trikes as well as mmotorcycles.

[sprt220]

You do not need a motorcycle license for a trike in Calif. You do need a drivers license. Weird but true. Ken

[threewheeled]

South Carolina has a seperate test for Trikes and a seperate test for Motorcycles and you must have both to ride a trike or a bike and this includes the removable kits. I have a license to drive and operate 80,000 plus overweight endorsments but I have to have a special License to operate a Trike. My Yamaha is registered and inspected and tagged as a Motorcycle. They refused to let me take my Trike endorsement on a registered Motorcycle even though its a Trike. They are saying that we have to Re-Register and Re-Tag and Re-Title it as a custom/Homebuilt Trike and then we can take the test and untill then we are either illegal to ride a now non-Registered 3 wheel trike even with a license to ride it...Homebuilt Trike is a very devalued product but the taxes are double. My Trike was inspected and passed the laws as a motorcycle in its day so I will ride my 3 wheel motorcycle till the end of time with my motorcycle license and when the time comes we will let the courts decide...

[pd5190]

In California, the trike is registered as a motorcycle but you only need your regular car license to drive it. Anything with three wheels or more does not need a motorcycle license or endorsement. If it is a side car which by law is an attachment you still need a motorcycle license. If anybody remembers our governor got in trouble over that stipulation.

[bamarascal]

John, in Alabama there is no separate test/license for trikes. However, we have very lax requirements for adding a motorcycle endorsement if one has a current drivers license. There is no riding test, simply a simple written test. I was shocked when my wife got her MC endorsement and she has never ridden a motorcycle. I will teach her to ride our new trike after we pick it up next week and then send her to the MSF course for her safety. However, it was convenient to get her endorsement with just a written test.

[John Luciano]

Thanks so far I have 9 states that do not need a MOTORCYCLE test to ride a TRIKE but need a TRIKE test.

[Mattel]

In North Carolina you have to take the motorcycle written test. Then you must take the motorcycle driving test. You are allowed to take it on your trike, but since one of the rules are you cannot touch the ground the test just consists of showing them you can start drive and stop. Thats it. You get a regular Motorcycle endorsement when you are done, and you can drive any three or two wheeled motorcycle. I guess the DMV has bigger fish to fry.

[Ozarkryder]

When I was living in Minnesota, you had to take the general motorcycle knowledge test, then the road test. If you took the road test with a sidecar or on a trike you would get a motorcycle license with a 3 wheel restriction.

Here is the link to the rules regarding driver testing in Minnesota:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/rules/?id=7410

#7410.4580, 7410.4880 and 7410.5000 are specific to the 3 wheel restriction.

Hope this helps.

[spiritdream]

In MA a trike is a motorcycle, so you need a motorcycle license. So far, I haven't found a registry office or state trooper that would agree to using a trike for a road test. According to my bil (a retired trooper) that could be fought and probably won because the motor vehicle regulations say a motorcycle is "three wheels or less", but he doesn't know of anyone who's tried yet.

But I definitely agree - why should someone have to take a road test on 2 wheels if they're only ever going to ride 3?? I had to take the MSF course in order to get my license (that way no separate test needed), but the courses in MA don't really prepare you for trikes.

Maybe if CT changes, MA will follow suit??? Here's hoping!!

By the way, nice to "see" you again John!! Haven't seen you around the TRI site in ages!!

[Ironhorsepilot]

I know you can take a trike course in Va. put on by MSF. Although I took the 2 wheel course, i was wondering if you got an endorsement for a motorcycle when you take the Trike course, or if it is for safety only with no endorsement.
I still want to take one, but no more offered until Spring. You can ride your own trike or one of theirs.

[John Luciano]

SpritDream I am on this sight every DAY at least. I post 4 times a week check it out.