Motorcycle Ohio Course Registration Opens January 23

COLUMBUS — Ohioans who wish to learn what it takes to ride a motorcycle safely and responsibly can sign up online for rider courses beginning Thursday, Jan. 23 at 9 am. Last year, the state’s motorcycle safety and education program, Motorcycle Ohio, trained over 11,000 students. Courses begin as early as March and run through mid-November. Education for riders is one of the keys to making our roadways safer for all drivers.

• Since 2020, 1,022 motorcyclists have been killed in crashes on Ohio’s roadways.
• An average of 81% of motorcycle fatalities involved riders who were untrained.

The Motorcycle Ohio program, offered by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, strives to provide affordable, effective education programs at just $75 per course. Motorcycle Ohio provides different levels of safety courses for riders based on their skill levels and objectives. The types of courses include:

• Basic Rider Skills (BRS): recommended for novice riders. During this 16-hour course, students will participate in four hours of classroom, and 12 hours of on-cycle training covering topics such as cornering, braking, swerving, and traffic interaction. No experience is required, and Motorcycle Ohio provides the motorcycles and helmets.
• Returning Riders (BRS-RR): recommended for intermediate riders. This eight-hour course is designed for riders 18 and older who have been riding with a two-wheel temporary permit for more than one year, or a two-wheeled experienced rider returning after an extended time away. Students will participate in two hours of classroom instruction, take an on-cycle evaluation to assess their skill level, and then complete six hours of on-cycle training.
• Basic Rider Skills 2 (BRS-2): recommended for riders looking for a refresher course or to bond with a new motorcycle. During this seven-hour course, students will participate in on-cycle training without a formal classroom setting while using their own street legal two-wheeled motorcycle.
• Advanced Rider Skills (ARS): New in 2025, registration coming soon - recommended for experienced riders who already have a strong understanding of the basic skills. During this one-day course, students will use their personal motorcycle to improve their cornering and stopping techniques. Courses are expected to begin at select training sites in late 2025.

Students must have a validated motorcycle temporary permit before the first riding session. The state is now making it easier to get a motorcycle permit by offering the knowledge test as part of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) online services. In order to take the motorcycle knowledge test online, you must be 18 years old and already have an active Ohio Class D driver’s license or CDL. Upon successful completion of any course, the student will earn a 60-day BMV skill test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement.

Any person operating a motorcycle on public roadways in Ohio must hold a valid motorcycle permit, motorcycle-only license, or endorsement. A permit is valid for one year and riders must comply with all permit restrictions including: riding during daylight hours only, always wearing a helmet and eye protection, no passengers, and no riding on limited access highways or heavily congested roadways.

Motorcycle Ohio courses are being taught at 36 training sites around Ohio. To find out more about how to prepare for a course and enroll, please visit motorcycle.ohio.gov.