The ID Card and the 500cc
Elena is 24 and has a Colorado identification card, not a driver license. She has never held a driver license in any state. She wants to ride a 500cc motorcycle to work and does not own a car. Last weekend she completed a Colorado-approved MOST Basic RiderCourse and received her completion card. She has a Social Security number, a lease showing her Colorado address, and a passport. She has not yet taken the Colorado motorcycle knowledge test. She wants to know whether she can get a license that allows her to ride only the motorcycle, or whether she must first get a learner's permit for a car. She also asks what happens if she later decides to drive a car. She is worried that the ID card will not be enough and that she will have to start from zero.
1. Can Elena get a motorcycle-only license without first getting a car learner's permit?
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Yes. Colorado issues motorcycle-only licenses for people who do not hold a regular driver license. She does not need to get a car instruction permit first. She will apply for a motorcycle license, not a car license, and her Colorado ID card plus proof of address and Social Security number can support the application. She must be at least 16 and meet the motorcycle requirements. The result will be a license restricted to motorcycle operation; it is not a full driver license. She should be clear at the counter that she wants a motorcycle-only license so the record is coded correctly.
2. What must Elena pass, and what does the MOST card replace?
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She must pass the Colorado motorcycle knowledge test and vision screening, and pay the required fees. The MOST completion card replaces the DMV motorcycle drive/skills test because it is from an approved course. It does not replace the knowledge test. She should bring the card, her ID, proof of Colorado address, and her Social Security number. If her name on the card does not match her identity documents, she should fix that before applying. Once issued, the license will show a motorcycle-only designation, and she must carry it when riding. She should not ride alone before the license is issued unless she has a valid instruction permit.
3. If Elena later wants to drive a car, what will she need to do?
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She will need to go through the regular driver licensing process for a car. Her motorcycle-only license does not authorize car operation. She would apply for a Colorado instruction permit, pass the car knowledge test and vision screening, hold the permit for the required period, practice, and then pass the car drive test. Colorado's minor rules would not apply because she is over 18, but she still must meet identification, residency, and fee requirements. Her motorcycle license may count as a license for some purposes, but it does not waive the car tests. She should not assume the motorcycle-only license can simply be expanded without testing.