Tips From an Indiana Motorcycle Lawyer on Getting Your Motorcycle License and Protecting Your Rights on the Road
There are many reasons to look forward to riding a motorcycle in Indiana. You may enjoy the open road, the freedom to ride, and plenty of interesting people and places. However, you will need an Indiana motorcycle license before you get on your bike. Our Indiana motorcycle lawyer at Keller & Keller gives some essential tips on getting your license and protecting your rights once you’re ready to ride.
If You Already Have a Driver’s License, You’ll Still Need an Indiana Motorcycle License
There are two options to obtain your Indiana motorcycle endorsement:
Option 1: Take an Indiana Motorcycle Safety Course
Ride Safe Indiana (RSI) provides motorcycle safety training courses. This option is available if you are at least 16 years and 90 days of age and you have a valid Indiana driver’s license.
The course happens over the course of three days and includes:
- Five hours of classroom instruction
- Ten hours of riding instruction in a controlled environment (not on public streets)
- A knowledge and skills evaluation that is submitted electronically to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
RSI courses provide motorcycles free of charge to use during the course, but you’ll need proper protective gear, including a DOT-certified helmet, full-finger gloves, long-sleeve shirt and pants, boots that go over the ankles, and eye protection.
You can add the endorsement by visiting a local BMV branch or online within one year of completing the course.
Option 2: Get a Learner’s Permit and Pass a Skills Exam
If you are at least 16 years and 270 days of age, there’s an alternate route to take if you don’t take the RSI safety course.
You’ll first need to obtain your Indiana motorcycle learner’s permit. To do so, you’ll need to:
- Have a valid Indiana state license
- Pass the written knowledge test based on Indiana’s Motorcycle Operator’s Manual
- Have a parent's signature if you are under the age of 18
Once you get your permit, you can begin to practice and prepare for the skills exam. Know that:
- Permits are valid for one year and can be renewed once
- You can only operate a motorcycle during daylight hours with a learner’s permit
- You must wear an approved helmet
- No passengers are permitted.
To get your endorsement, you’ll need to:
- Pass a motorcycle skills exam with an approved Ride Safe Indiana provider
- Tun in your stamped/signed learner’s permit at an Indiana BMV location
Why You Need an Indiana Motorcycle Endorsement
Indiana motorcycle laws require an endorsement, and to protect yourself, it’s critical to get it before you get on a motorcycle. If you get into an accident, the police, the other parties to the accident, and your motorcycle accident lawyer will all be looking for your motorcycle endorsement.
Additionally, an RSI safety course or practice with a motorcycle permit can provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to drive safely. According to recent motorcycle statistics, 36% of fatal motorcycle accidents involved unlicensed riders.
An Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Rights After an Accident
It’s essential to be prepared if an accident does happen – even if you have a motorcycle endorsement. Often, drivers fail to see motorcycles on the road, fail to yield to them when they should, or are distracted or at fault in other ways. New motorcycle drivers may sometimes be partially at fault, but even if that happens, you’re not alone.
Regardless of the cause, an experienced Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer at Keller & Keller can guide you through any incident. Knowing you can turn to a skilled motorcycle accident attorney who will support you and walk you through your options in case of a collision can go a long way in having peace of mind. Get your Indiana motorcycle license with confidence, knowing that Keller & Keller can be by your side to protect your rights.
