Motorcycle license renewal in New Mexico can be a quick, five-minute process in most cases. If you renewed in person last time and have had no traffic convictions since, you can generally renew online in a matter of moments. The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) also offers in-person and telephone renewals to most applicants. Depending on the size of your motorcycle, your age and your driving record, fees may vary. Special renewal rules apply for permit holders and underage riders.

In order to successfully renew motorcycle license privileges in New Mexico, being aware of your upcoming expiration date can save you a lot of hassle. The MVD does allow a short grace period following a license’s listed expiration, but planning to renew prior always saves time and stress. With several different types of motorcycle endorsement available, applicants should update the MVD of any changes to classification or address prior to renewal.

When to Renew a Motorcycle License in New Mexico

Motorcycle license renewal in New Mexico follows the same standard four-year or eight-year patterns as any other license. You can renew up to 90 days prior to your license’s listed expiration date, or in the 30-day grace period following the expiration. After this grace period, you will face additional fees and cannot ride legally until you have completed renewal. New Mexico requires bike license renewal annually for all drivers who are seventy-nine years of age or older, but these senior drivers are not charged renewal fees of any kind.

If your motorcycle license has been expired for more than five years, you will be asked to retake the written and road test portions of license exams. For standard Class M license holders, motorcycle license renewal cost varies by size of motorcycle, age of rider, whether the license has expired and other factors.

Eligibility for Motorcycle License Renewal in New Mexico

In order to renew motorcycle license information in New Mexico, several key components of motorcycle licensure must first be understood. A license to operate a motorcycle can be obtained in several formats. Class M licensees are those who are authorized to operate a motorcycle and only a motorcycle. Having a standard, or Class D, license with the motorcycle endorsement enables the licensee to operate a motorcycle in addition to any other vehicles for which licensure has been sought.

When you go to renew motorcycle endorsement information in New Mexico, remember that the state classifies motorcycle endorsements into three types using the letters Y, W or Z as descriptors.  These letters refer to the size of the motorcycle, or piston displacement, that the operator is permitted to drive. Motorcycle endorsements are broken down as follows:

  • Y Endorsement: allows a rider to operate any motorcycle of two or three wheels, displacing 100cc or more
  • W Endorsement: allows a rider to operate any motorcycle of two or three wheels, displacing between 50cc to 100cc
  • Z Endorsement: allows a rider to operate any motorcycle of two or three wheels, displacing less than 50cc

Motorcycle renewal requirements for each of these types of motorcycle license or endorsement varies. You cannot change classifications during a renewal unless you are willing and able to take the requisite exams associated with the classification you wish to obtain. One exception to this rule is: if you held a Class M license at age 13 and are renewing at age 15, you are eligible to upgrade to a W endorsement at the time of renewal if you wish.

Required Documents

There are no documents required to renew a motorcycle license in New Mexico, but you must be prepared to surrender your original license at the time of renewal. If you hold a valid motorcycle license from another state but are attempting to renew in New Mexico, you must complete an affidavit of residency.

Instances When You Cannot Renew Your Motorcycle License in New Mexico

Motorcycle license expiration represents an obstacle to renewal in New Mexico. If you have allowed your license to fully expire, you may be asked to complete the full battery of road, vision and written tests to reinstate rather than renew. You will also be obligated to pay the itinerant fees associated with seeking original licensure.

If you have received any sort of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) tickets, have had your license suspended, revoked or have otherwise compromised your driving credential, you will likely be ineligible for renewal.

How to Renew a New Mexico Motorcycle License Online

You may wonder, “Can I renew my motorcycle license online in New Mexico?” The answer is: yes, you can, so long as your current license is either valid or has been expired for less than five years. You must also have completed your last renewal in person at an MVD office. If your current license is valid, you will request a replacement online. If your motorcycle license is expired, you will go through some extra steps to request a renewal.

Your current driving credential must have been issued after November 12, 2016 in order to be eligible to complete renewal procedures online. Renewing motorcycle license information online is quick and easy via the “MyMVD” services offered on the official website of the New Mexico Motor Vehicles Division. You will need to have the following items ready in order to renew online:

  1. Date of birth
  2. Last Name
  3. Last four digits of Social Security number
  4. Driver’s license number

How to Renew a New Mexico Motorcycle License in Person

If you are wondering where to renew motorcycle license information in New Mexico, any local MVD office can assist you. You will need to bring your former license and a payment method.

Appointments are encouraged but not mandatory. However, you are encouraged to call ahead if you require translation, vision or hearing impairment services to ensure the speediest service. To renew m1 license information in person, be prepared to take the vision exam and any parts of the road or written test that are applicable to your situation.

How to Renew a New Mexico Motorcycle License by Phone

New Mexico residents can renew bike license documents by phone in certain cases. You will be asked to provide your motorcycle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and license plate information. Interested applicants can call toll free at 888-683-4636 to inquire. Commonly, your call will be received by the automated dispatcher and your phone number recorded for callback purposes.

You then receive a return call when an MVD customer service representative becomes available to assist you. As with online renewal, renewing motorcycle license information over the phone requires you to have a current vision exam on file with the MVD.

How to Renew a Motorcycle Permit in New Mexico

New Mexico does not offer motorcycle permit renewal as there exists no true “permit” explicitly for motorcycle operation there. As state law allows a person of 13 years of age or older to qualify for a full Class M license with a Y or Z endorsement, most holders of this type of license simply follow standard license renewal procedures as they age upward.

Restrictions on type and usage of the Class M license relax as the bearer matures toward age 18. If your motorcycle permit expired, this may just mean that you aged out of the endorsement you originally obtained as a younger rider. You will simply need to pursue a permit intended for the next classification up. Applicants younger than 18 years old will be mandated to take a pre-licensing safety course provided by a recognized authority.

General driving instruction permits, which encompass motorcycles, can be obtained by any applicant 15 years of age or older. Renewing a motorcycle permit in New Mexico is not typically necessary as they are only issued for four-year periods unless a shorter period is mandated by a medical report. Permit holders who will reach 21 years of age in fewer than four years may also have diminished expiration dates which reflect that fact.

New Mexico Motorcycle License Renewal Costs

If you wonder, “How much does it cost to renew a motorcycle license in New Mexico?,” you may be surprised to learn that no set answer exists. Fees for renewing motorcycle licenses vary widely and can currently only be obtained by contacting the MVD directly. The cost of renewal can be impacted by your age, the size and age of your motorcycle and the type of endorsement, license or permit you possess.

Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.