Colorado Motorcycle Laws

Motorcycles are exhilarating vehicles, and they present the perfect way to enjoy the scenery of Colorado. Understanding motorcycle laws in Colorado is crucial for both motorcyclists and other motorists.

Knowing which traffic laws that apply to motorcycle drivers helps avoid motorcycle accidents and keeps riders as legal and safe as possible.

Is a Motorcycle License Required in Colorado?

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires that every motorcycle operator have a Class M motorcycle license to be legal on the roadway. Colorado does not issue separate motorcycle licenses as other states do.

This is an added endorsement to your existing Colorado driver’s license. There are various processes that individuals must go through to obtain this license.

How Do I Get a Motorcycle License in Colorado?

If an applicant over 18 wants to ride a motorcycle, they must pass the motorcycle written test, the operations driving skills test, the vision test, a physical aptitude review, and a review of their driving record.

Instead of taking the written and skills test, individuals can take a Motorcycle Operator Skills Training (MOST) course to get their endorsement.

Suppose an individual is between the ages of 16 and 18 and applying for a motorcycle license. In that case, they have to follow all the requirements above, as well as provide an Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship, get an instruction permit, and pay an $18.52 fee.

Individuals must have a motorcycle instruction permit for 12 months before obtaining a full motorcycle endorsement.

If an applicant is between the ages of 15 and 16, they must complete a Motorcycle Operator Skills Training (MOST) program before they can receive their instruction permit.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Colorado

In the state of Colorado, motorcycle riders 18 years of age and older are not required to wear a helmet.

Any motorcycle operator or passenger under the age of 18 is required to wear a US DOT-approved helmet when the motorcycle is in motion.

Colorado Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

Colorado law requires motorcyclists to carry insurance in order to remain legal on the roadway. The minimum coverages that motorcycle drivers in Colorado are required to have include:

• Bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person or $50,000 per incident
• Property damage coverage of $15,000 per incident

Colorado Motorcycle Passenger Laws

If a motorcyclist has a passenger, they must have a proper passenger seat behind the operator’s seat. The passenger must have footrests. There are no age restrictions for passengers riding on motorcycles in Colorado.

Additionally, passengers are allowed to ride in a sidecar or an enclosed cab attached to the motorcycle.

Can Motorcycles Ride the Line in Colorado?

Motorcyclists in Colorado can share a lane and ride side by side. This is commonly referred to as riding “two abreast.”

However, it is illegal in Colorado for motorcyclists to ride down the centerline of traffic in the middle of two lanes on highways or any other roadway. This practice is also known as lane splitting. 

Colorado Motorcycle Accident and Injury Attorneys

If you were injured while riding a motorcycle in Colorado due to someone else’s negligence, contact a skilled Denver motorcycle accident lawyer.

The motorcycle injury attorneys at Fuicelli & Lee can handle every aspect of your claim, work to prove liability, and help you recover compensation for your losses.