Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for West Virginia, United States

Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience, especially if you are spending time admiring the beautiful scenery and navigating the paved roads of West Virginia. It can also be equally terrifying if you do not have a complete understanding of your motorcycle or the rules of the road for this state. Learning how to operate a motorcycle includes more than just practicing on the street or passing a driver’s test. You also need to have an understanding of the laws regarding motorcycle insurance, helmets, passengers, lane spitting, and equipment. 

If you wish to travel through West Virginia, it is necessary to carry proof of West Virginia motorcycle insurance and registration of your vehicle. In the event you are involved in an accident, having West Virginia motorcycle insurance will help pay compensation to affected parties for any damages or medical expenses accrued. Keep in mind that local law enforcement will ask you to show a physical copy during any traffic stop or vehicle crash investigation.

When you choose a motorcycle insurance plan that is valid in West Virginia, it must at least cover the bare minimum for costs related to bodily injuries and loss of property:

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

• $50,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $25,000 for property damages sustained per accident

If you are not satisfied with a West Virginia motorcycle insurance plan that does the bare minimum, it is possible to adjust it by including other forms of insurance coverage:

• Uninsured coverage

• Underinsured coverage

• Collision coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

West Virginia incorporates a universal motorcycle helmet policy that mandates that riders and passengers alike must be wearing either a three-quarter or full-face helmet. When you pick out a motorcycle helmet, you can check to see if it is approved by seeing if there are tags from the Snell Memorial Foundation, American National Standards Institute, and/or the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Despite it being the law that motorcyclists in West Virginia be wearing protective headgear at all times, statistics in recent years have shown there have been fatalities due to riders being reckless or careless:

• In 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that motorcyclists were 29 times more likely to die in an accident than passenger vehicle occupants

• For five years, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program reported that there were 154 motorcycle fatalities and about 50 of them were not wearing motorcycle helmets

• In 2019, states that enforce a universal motorcycle helmet policy like West Virginia reported only 9% of motorcycle fatalities on average were not wearing motorcycle helmets 

• According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, motorcycle helmets can help reduce the risk of fatal head injuries by 37% and the risk of serious head injuries by 67%

Listed in this table below are the features that your motorcycle helmet is required to have if you wish to operate a motorcycle in West Virginia:

You can begin applying for a West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit if you are at least 16 years old or above.

You will have to pay $5 to be issued a West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit that is valid for 90 days. You cannot renew this type of permit and will have to retest to get a new one after it expires.

To be given the permit, you must complete the following tasks and fulfill all of the listed criteria:

• If you are under 18 years old:

  • Complete a Level II Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program 

• Present identification documents

• Provide proof of West Virginia residency

• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship

• Provide your Social Security Number

• Take a photo

• Pass the knowledge exam

• Pass the vision exam

• Pay the required fees

When you are operating with a West Virginia motorcycle learner’s permit, you will have to comply with the following restrictions as you practice:

• You cannot carry passengers

• You can only operate during daylight hours

You are eligible to receive a West Virginia motorcycle license if you are at least 18 years old or above.

You will have to pay $12.50 to be issued a standard West Virginia driver’s license which is usable for five years.

Listed below are the requirements you will need to fulfill to obtain a West Virginia motorcycle license:

*If you are under the age of 18, you are required to pass a Level II Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program before you can receive a West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit

*You will need a West Virginia motorcycle instruction permit to be allowed to register for a rider course. If you successfully complete a Basic or Experienced Rider Course, you have the option of skipping the roads skills test

Knowledge Portion:

• Complete 25 multiple-choice questions

• Questions will be based on content from West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual

• Will be tested on understanding of road rules and safe riding practices

• Requires a passing grade of 80% or higher

Road Skills Portion:

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

• Your motorcycle will be subjected to a pre-ride inspection to ensure it meets safety standards

• Demonstrate basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on your ability to stay within the speed limit, adjusting speed and position, maintaining visibility, operating under stress, accelerating, braking, turning, stopping, and swerving

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

In West Virginia, there is no minimum legal age to be a motorcycle passenger.

Since it is unsafe to try to squeeze your passenger into the driver’s seat with you, you need to include a second pillion on your motorcycle. It can be either placed towards the back or along the side of your motorcycle, so long as there is space to place footholds and handholds as well. Here are specific examples of places you can affix the passenger seat to your motorcycle:

• The back part of a large driver’s seat

• Towards the rear as a separate saddle

• Fixed to the side as a sidecar

Since you cannot decide the best passengers to ride with you based on their age, you will have to base them based on the following characteristics:

• Your passenger must be able to reach the footrests

• Your passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet

• Your passenger cannot be carrying any packages

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

Motorcyclists are forbidden from attempting lane splitting while operating a motorcycle in West Virginia. So that there is no confusion on what counts as lane splitting, make sure to keep these maneuvers in mind:

• Riding on top of the dividing lines between lanes

• Riding in between adjacent rows of stopped vehicles 

• Overtaking a larger vehicle ahead in the same lane 

Though lane sharing is permitted in West Virginia, rider are advised against doing this regularly. Because lane sharing and lane splitting are both maneuvers suited for experienced motorcyclists, the list of maneuvers below will show the distinction between the two:

• You are allowed to make full use of the space within your current lane 

• You can only share a lane with another motorcycle if:

  • Both parties stay apart at least two abreast

  • Both parties consent beforehand

If you wish to continue operating a motorcycle in West Virginia, you have to bring your vehicle in for a yearly vehicle inspection that is observed by the West Virginia State Police. If you have used your motorcycle frequently in the past year or have not yet closely examined the condition of the primary components, it may be good to start getting into the habit of conducting periodic inspections. Due to debris, punctures, or the passage of time, the primary components in a motorcycle can become damaged without you even noticing. A closer examination will help you figure out what parts need to be replaced or fixed. Make sure to apply repairs immediately as a motorcycle’s functionality becomes compromised if even a single system starts to fail.

• Horn

• Wheels

• Tires

• Handlebars 

•  Front & Rear Brakes 

• Controls

• Headlight 

•  Taillight 

•  Brake Light 

• Turn Signals

• Exhaust System

•  Muffler 

•  Rearview Mirrors 

• West Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual
• West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles - Consumer Insurance Information
• West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles - Motorcycle Helmets
• West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles - Motorcycle
• West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles - Motorcycle Safety Program
• West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles - Driver’s Licenses & ID Cards