North Dakota offers motorcycle license renewal in two formats: in-person and online.  Motorcycle license renewal cost may vary according to the type of license or permit you hold, the size of your motorbike, your age as well as other factors. Under normal circumstances, renewal requires no retesting except where vision is concerned. If a license has been expired, revoked, suspended or otherwise canceled for any reason, renewal may not be possible.

North Dakota does not currently provide options for renewing motorcycle license information over the phone. Renewal by mail can only be accomplished if you are temporarily residing outside of the state and meet a set list of one-time-only criteria. Licenses must be renewed every four years by midnight on the license bearer’s birthday. Special rules apply for permit holders and active duty military members.

When to Renew a Motorcycle License in North Dakota

You can complete bike license renewal in North Dakota anytime 10 months prior to and up to the close of business on your birthday (expiration date). Renewal notices are mailed to your listed address two months in advance of your expiration date. If you have recently moved and not yet updated your address with the NDDOT, you may not receive your renewal notice but the responsibility to renew on time remains yours.

At midnight on your birthday, your motorcycle license expiration will begin, though you will face no retesting unless you allow the license to remain expired for more than one year. You lose no time on the license by choosing to renew it early. If you have allowed your expiration to extend past one full year, you must pass the knowledge and road tests again in order to be relicensed.

North Dakota residents who are active duty military members attempting to renew motorcycle license information enjoy a special extended term of the license. Military members may operate legally on their expired license for the duration of their time outside of the state.

Within 30 days of an honorable discharge from service or a return to North Dakota, such members must renew following standard protocol. These extended service licenses must be in your immediate possession in order to be deemed valid.

Eligibility for Motorcycle License Renewal in North Dakota

Motorcycle renewal requirements in North Dakota mandate that eligible applicants have a recent vision exam. If an applicant is older than 65 years of age, he or she may be asked to update vision screenings more frequently.

Younger riders who are graduating from a permit or an “Under 21” license are ineligible to renew because their change in status requires a whole new license.  You can typically renew motorcycle endorsement information easily if you have had no Driving While Impaired (DWI) or other serious traffic convictions leading up to your license’s expiration date.

Required Documents

The documents required to renew a motorcycle license in North Dakota vary slightly depending on the specific needs of the applicant. If you have recently had a residence address change, you will need to bring proof of your current North Dakota address.

If you require corrective lenses, bring them for your vision screening, though remember that you will not be able to take a photo with them on. All applicants need to bring the proper renewal fee and their current license.

Instances When You Cannot Renew Your Motorcycle License in North Dakota

The steps to renew motorcycle license information in North Dakota become trickier if you have had any problems with your license since your last issuance or renewal. If you have been involved with a serious traffic citation, such as a DWI or equivalent, you may be subjected to specialized provisions blocking renewal. If your license has been suspended or revoked, you will not be eligible for renewal but will have to fulfill whatever requirements the NDDOT sets forth for your reinstatement. This could be anything from additional fees to drug/alcohol awareness classes.

Renewing motorcycle license documentation for drivers who have been involved in a serious accident can involve producing proof of insurance or a request for a complete driving history. Licenses that have been expired past the one-year “grace period” often require road/skills testing, new vision screenings and photo retakes.

How to Renew a North Dakota Motorcycle License Online

The answer to the common question, “Can I renew my motorcycle license online in North Dakota?” depends on whether you meet certain established criteria for online renewal. Class D (non-commercial) and Class M (motorcycle) license holders can utilize the online renewal system every other renewal cycle.

Make sure that your correct street address is updated with the NDDOT prior to attempting to renew online as your new license will only be mailed to your listed physical address. Applicants who match any of the following criteria will be deemed ineligible to renew bike license information online:

  • Younger than 21 years of age or older than 65 years of age
  • Renewed online last time
  • Renewing for the first time since being issued a “21 and Over” license
  • Have information listed on a license that is out of date, recently changed or otherwise incorrect
  • CDL applicants

In order to complete North Dakota motorcycle renewal requirements online, you must navigate several screens on a secure website hosted by the NDDOT. All fields must be entered in order to proceed through the process. If you currently have a Restriction 1, 2 or 5 listed on your driver’s license, you must provide vision screening information.

Your vision documentation cannot be older than six months and eyeglass prescriptions alone will not suffice. The Vision Screening Results Form must be scanned and attached. Processing generally requires 10 business days. Call 701-328-2601 for any additional questions you may have about the online renewal options available in your area.

How to Renew a North Dakota Motorcycle License by Mail

North Dakota currently only offers the chance to renew m1 license information through the mail as a one-time possibility for holders of a non-commercial license. Renewal by mail is not a guarantee and you must call the NDDOT Central Office at 701-328-4353 to find out if you qualify.

Have your license number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) within reach for this call. Renewal by mail is extended automatically to all North Dakota residents on active duty military orders and also to their spouses.

How to Renew a North Dakota Motorcycle License in Person

If you are wondering where to renew motorcycle license information in North Dakota, any local NDDOT field office can be of service to you. Appointments are not mandatory but suggested for the sake of reducing wait times and avoiding long lines. The NDDOT offers an online scheduler to allow you to plan your visit to the field office nearest you and assures the least amount of wait time. Follow the steps below to schedule your in-person visit to the NDDOT for motorbike license renewal:

  1. Click the highlighted “online scheduler” tab in the upper left corner of the NDDOT renewal page
  2. Mark that you agree to the terms and then select the number of people your appointment will need to service
  3. Select the calendar and search out a date and time from the listed green slots that works for you (same-day appointments are not available via this method)
  4. Enter your name and select the purpose of your visit
  5. Enter your contact information, including email

A confirmation number will be immediately emailed to you and you must bring this number with you at the appointed time. If you already know that you will need to retake the motorcycle skills test (road test), pre-schedule your appointment at 855-633-6835.

How to Renew a Motorcycle Permit in North Dakota

North Dakota does not offer specific motorcycle permit renewal per se. Permits typically issue for the same four-year period that applies to any standard license, though few riders keep a permit that long. North Dakota law states that motorcycle permits must be held for a minimum of two months in order for a rider to become eligible to try for a full Class M motorcycle license.

In the event that your motorcycle permit expired prior to your obtaining the full license, you can apply for a new permit using the same procedures under which you got your first one. Riders between 14 and 15 years of age will have to show proof of enrollment in a certified riding safety course or a Motorcycle Safety Completion Certificate.

North Dakota Motorcycle License Renewal Costs

The North Dakota motorcycle license renewal fee schedule follows the standard fee structure for a non-commercial license, which is $15 to renew. If your motorcycle endorsement is attached to a CDL, the renewal is $15 plus $3 for each attached endorsement. The answer to the question, “How much does it cost to renew a motorcycle license?” rests on several different factors unique to each rider. If your age or classification mandates additional vision evaluation or safety courses, additional fees above and beyond the standard renewal cost for those services will apply.

If you have allowed your license to expire past the one-year deadline, you will have to pay for the testing processes again. The knowledge and the road tests each cost $5 per attempt. While there is no true motorcycle permit renewal, motorcycle permits carry a standard fee of $8 if obtained in conjunction with another license/permit and $15 if the rider has no other valid licenses or permits.

Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.