Motorcycle rider education in Iowa FAQ – Iowa Motor Vehicle Division

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Motorcycle Rider Education

WHAT IS THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER EDUCATION (MRE) PROGRAM?

Iowa has a quality Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program administered by the Iowa DOT’s Driver & Identification Services. Iowa’s MRE Program teaches Basic Rider Course (BRC), the Basic Rider Course II (BRC II), and the Returning Rider Basic Rider Course (RRBRC) of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The BRC has a minimum of 15 hours of core instruction — five hours spent in the classroom in preparation for 10 hours of range activities. The BRC II has a minimum of five hours — most of which are spent on the range. The RRBRC combines elements of the BRC and BRC II, and is designed for riders who already possess basic skill but have not ridden for several years. You must successfully pass a knowledge test, as well as a skill test to receive a certificate of completion.

Basic skills taught include:

  • Mental preparedness.
  • Perception development.
  • Situational awareness.
  • Risk evaluation & evasive strategies.
  • Riding in a straight line.
  • Turning.
  • Shifting.
  • Stopping.

The next level of instruction is the application of these basic skills to on-street riding conditions.

Iowa Motorcyclist Need You to Share the Road

Infographic on risk factors, tips for drivers and motorcyclists.

Infographic

Infographic on risk factors, tips for drivers and motorcyclists.

who teaches it?

Only Iowa-licensed, MSF-certified rider coaches teach the BRC and BRC II programs.

who can or must take it?

Any person 14 years of age or older, whether licensed or not licensed for motorcycle, may take the course to learn, refresh or improve safe riding skills. The licensing skills test may be waived upon successful completion of the course.

Iowa Code section 321.180B requires any person under the age of 18 who wants a motorcycle license — valid for the operation of a motorcycle — to successfully complete the motorcycle rider education course before the motorcycle license will be issued.

what does it cost?

Motorcycle rider education in Iowa is supported in part by an additional fee of $2 per year for a motorcycle validations, a portion from the sale of MRE license plates and the balance comes from the student tuition. Your out-of-pocket cost, which varies by sponsor and course, ranges from $150-$349 for the Basic Rider Course and $75-$125 for the Basic Rider Course II or Returning Rider Basic Rider Course.