An M2 license in California lets you ride mopeds, motorized bicycles, and bicycles with an attached motor on public roads. You can apply at age 15½ with an instruction permit, the application fee is $46, and riders under 21 must finish a California Highway Patrol-approved motorcycle safety course before the DMV will issue the license.1California DMV. Motorcyclists Guide
What the M2 Covers
Vehicle Code Section 12804.9 defines the M2 class as motorized bicycles, mopeds, and bicycles with an attached motor.2California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12804.9 Under Section 406, a moped has two or three wheels, an automatic transmission, a motor producing less than four gross brake horsepower, and a top speed of 30 mph on level ground.3California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 406 – Motorized Bicycle or Moped
Two common vehicles fall outside the M2 entirely. Electric bicycles that meet the state’s Class 1, 2, or 3 definitions need no M2 license at all.2California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12804.9 Motorized stand-up scooters can be ridden with any class of California driver’s license.4California DMV. Motorcycles, Mopeds, and Scooters
The M2 also does not cover full motorcycles or motor-driven cycles. Those require an M1, which is the broader license: an M1 holder can ride anything an M2 covers, but not the reverse.2California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12804.9
How to Get an M2 License
Minimum Age and the Instruction Permit
You can apply for a motorcycle instruction permit at 15½. If you’re between 15½ and 20, you must complete a CHP-approved motorcyclist training course and bring the Certificate of Completion (form DL 389) to the DMV before a permit will be issued. At 21 or older, you can either take the safety course or take the DMV’s own riding skills test.1California DMV. Motorcyclists Guide
While riding on the permit, you cannot carry passengers, ride on freeways, or ride after dark.5California DMV. Motorcycle Permit Information Those limits lift once you hold the full M2.
Documents, Fee, and Tests
Go to a DMV field office with your Social Security number, proof of California residency such as a utility bill or bank statement, and a document showing your date of birth and legal presence like a passport or birth certificate.6California DMV. Driver’s Licenses Fill out the Driver’s License or ID Card Application online beforehand or at the counter.
The application fee is $46 and non-refundable. Adding an M2 endorsement to an existing commercial license costs $59.7California DMV. Licensing Fees At the office, you’ll take a vision check and a written knowledge test on the rules for motorized bicycles.
A valid DL 389 certificate from the California Motorcyclist Safety Program waives the riding skills test, as long as you submit it within 12 months of its issue date.1California DMV. Motorcyclists Guide Without that waiver, you’ll perform control maneuvers and braking exercises at the DMV. Once you pass, the DMV issues a temporary paper license valid for 60 days while your permanent card is mailed.6California DMV. Driver’s Licenses
Rules Once You’re Licensed
Where You Can Ride
Because a moped is capped at 30 mph on flat ground by statute, these vehicles are meant for surface streets.3California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 406 – Motorized Bicycle or Moped Freeways with minimum-speed requirements are off-limits in practice, and anyone still on a permit is barred from freeways outright.5California DMV. Motorcycle Permit Information If your route involves highway stretches, the M2 is the wrong license and you’ll want to pursue an M1 instead.
Helmets
Every rider and passenger on a motorized bicycle must wear a safety helmet on public roads. There are no age or experience exceptions, and the helmet must be fastened and fit without excessive movement.8California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 27803 The helmet must carry a DOT certification label showing it meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218. Novelty helmets without that label are treated by officers the same as no helmet at all.9National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. How to Identify Unsafe Motorcycle Helmets
Insurance
California raised its minimum liability limits on January 1, 2025. Older guides still showing 15/30/5 are out of date. The current minimums for all motor vehicle operators, including M2 riders, are:
- $30,000 for bodily injury or death per person
- $60,000 for bodily injury or death per accident
- $15,000 for property damage per accident10California Department of Insurance. New Year Means New Changes for Insurance
Carry proof of insurance whenever you ride. Riding without it can lead to fines, impoundment, and license suspension. Call your insurer before you assume anything: California law requires moped manufacturers to warn buyers that existing policies may not cover moped accidents, and many standard auto policies exclude two-wheeled vehicles entirely.3California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 406 – Motorized Bicycle or Moped
What Happens If You Ride Without an M2
Operating a moped or motorized bicycle on public roads without the required M2 license is a misdemeanor under Vehicle Code Section 12500. It is not a fix-it ticket. A conviction creates a criminal record and can bring fines, probation, or jail time for repeat offenses, and your vehicle can be impounded at the scene with towing and storage fees on top. Stack that with penalties for being uninsured or unregistered and the total runs well past the $46 the license itself costs.