Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for Iowa, United States

Learning how to ride a motorcycle is different from learning how to drive a car. Not only do you have to endure the weather without cover and figure out how to maintain your balance, but there are also additional rules that need to be followed. There are qualifications, tests, and rules of the road specific to motorcycles you have to become familiar with. If you live in or are planning to make frequent visits to the state of Iowa, it can be a difficult challenge to earn the right to operate a motorcycle. 

Because motorcycle accidents can be a financial burden due to the thousands of dollars that pile up, all motorcycle owners in Iowa must be carrying motorcycle insurance that is recognized in Iowa. You can either have it in a secure pocket or within a form of storage on your motorcycle, but you cannot operate a motorcycle if the insurance is not with you. At a minimum, any Iowa motorcycle insurance plan must be able to provide compensation for at least bodily injuries and property damages:

• $25,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident

• $40,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $15,000 for property damages sustained per accident

Other forms of Iowa motorcycle insurance that are not required, but could still be useful, are listed down below in the following list:

• Collision

• Comprehensive 

• Uninsured

• Underinsured

As Iowa does not have motorcycle helmet laws, riders nor passengers of any age are forced to wear protective headgear when operating their vehicles. However, it is recommended you have a motorcycle helmet with you at all times since it can prevent severe or fatal injuries in the event of a collision.

Most motorcyclists in Iowa prefer to ride without a motorcycle helmet because they believe it obscures their vision, hinders the movement of the head and neck, or causes discomfort. But statistics in recent years show that the lack of motorcycle helmets has resulted in higher fatalities:

• In 2020, there were a total of 63 fatalities due to motorcycle accidents. There were 43 cases where riders were not wearing motorcycle helmets

• In 2019, there were a total of 43 fatalities due to motorcycle accidents. There were 34 cases where riders were not wearing motorcycle helmets

• In 2018, there were a total of 42 fatalities due to motorcycle accidents. There were 30 cases where riders were not wearing motorcycle helmets 

If you are interested in getting a motorcycle helmet, pick out either a three-quarter or a full-face helmet. Both of these have been made by the Snell Memorial Foundation and comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Listed below in this table are the features and requirements you should look for in a motorcycle helmet that offers the best protection for your head and eyes:

Once you have reached or are past 14 years old, you can begin the process of receiving an Iowa motorcycle instruction permit.

You will have to pay $2 per valid year if you are adding the permit to an already existing Iowa driver’s license. Or you can pay a fee of $14 to be issued an entirely new permit which should be valid for a minimum of four years.

Listed below are the requirements you will need to fulfill to obtain an Iowa instruction permit:

Once you have reached or are past 16 years old, you can begin the process of receiving a motorcycle endorsement or a Class M license after you finish holding onto an Iowa motorcycle instruction permit for at least six months.

You will have to pay $2 per valid year if you are adding the endorsement onto an already existing Iowa driver’s license. Or you can pay $6 per valid year to acquire a Class M license.

Listed below are the requirements you will need to fulfill to obtain an Iowa motorcycle license:

*To receive an Iowa motorcycle endorsement, you must already own an Iowa driver’s license. Otherwise, you can get a Class M license, but you will be limited to operating only two-wheel motor vehicles.

*Applicants who are over 18 are not required to own a motorcycle instruction permit nor complete a DMV-approved Basic Motorcycle Safety Course.

*If an applicant submits proof of finishing a DMV-approved Basic Motorcycle Safety Course before the Iowa motorcycle license test, they are allowed to waive the skills test. 

• Complete 25 multiple-choice questions

• Questions will be based on content from Iowa Motorcycle Operator’s Manual

• Requires a passing grade of 80% or higher

• Will be conducted in an actual traffic environment or a controlled, off-street area

• You must wear motorcycle protective gear 

• Examiner will conduct a pre-ride inspection to ensure your motorcycle meets safety standards

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on your ability to stay within the speed limit, adjust speed and position, maintain visibility, operate under stress, accelerate, brake, turn, stop, and swerve

• The examiner will grade you based on how well you ride at safe speeds, stay within the lanes, follow the correct path, and demonstrate riding maneuvers

Your final grade will be reduced every time you place a foot on the ground, knock over a cone, cross a boundary line, or whenever your motorcycle stalls.

You will automatically fail if you drop your motorcycle onto the ground, attempt to do a wheelie, lose control and veer off the course, attempt any unsafe behavior, crash into other vehicles or private property, or your motorcycle stalls at least four times. 

Iowa does not have any laws that state motorcycle passengers have to be over a certain age limit. Though your passenger doesn't need to wear a motorcycle helmet, you should urge him/her to wear motorcycle protective gear while seated atop your vehicle. As you are responsible for your passenger’s safety, be discerning when checking if a person can safely ride with you. Check that the following criteria are fulfilled as you plan to carry an additional person on your motorcycle:

• Your passenger must be able to reach the footrests

• Your passenger must be able to understand and follow your directions

• Your motorcycle should only be able to transport one other person

It is only legal to carry a passenger on your motorcycle if the vehicle is equipped with a passenger seat and adjustable footrests. As the passenger cannot be in front of you, the passenger seat can either be positioned in one of the following places:

• At the back of a large driver’s seat

• Towards the rear with a separate saddle

• Fixed to the side as a sidecar

Iowa deems it as unlawful for motorcyclists to try any kind of lane splitting. Motorcycles may have better maneuverability compared to larger automobiles, but riders cannot take full advantage of them in the interest of keeping other drivers safe. Motorcyclists are not allowed to do any of the following while on Iowa’s laned roads and highways:

• You cannot ride on top of the dividing lines between lanes

• You cannot ride in between adjacent rows of vehicles that are stopped

• You cannot overtake another vehicle sharing the same lane unless it is another motorcycle

• You cannot ride side-by-side with another vehicle sharing the same lane

While motorcyclists are limited in how they may operate their vehicles, they are still entitled to full use of the space within the current lane they are in. They just cannot ride in a manner that endangers or impedes the driving of other vehicles. 

Compared to other states, periodic vehicle inspections are not as heavily enforced in Iowa. However, it is best to examine the condition of your motorcycle every time before you go out for a ride. Even if your motorcycle seems largely undamaged from the outside, you might discover damage to the tires, systems, primary components, etc. Doing the repairs yourself or taking it to a repair shop will prevent your motorcycle from breaking down in the middle of the highway.

• Horn

• Wheels

• Tires

• Handlebars 

•  Front and rear brakes 

• Controls

• Headlight

•  Taillight  

•  Brake light 

•  Reflector(s) 

• Exhaust system

•  Muffler 

•  Rearview mirrors 

•  Turn signals

• Iowa Department of Transportation - Motorcycle License
• Iowa Department of Transportation - Iowa Motorcycle Operator’s Manual
• Iowa Insurance Division - Automobile Insurance
• Iowa Department of Transportation - Driver’s License/ID: Fees and License Types
• Iowa Department of Transportation - Driver’s License/ID: License Descriptions
• Iowa Department of Transportation - Motorcycle Fatalities by Month 2009-2020