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Motorcycle Rider Education in Iowa
Questions & Answers


What is the Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program?

Iowa has a quality Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program administered by the Office of Driver Services of the Department of Transportation.  Iowa's MRE program teaches Basic Rider Course (BRC) and the Experienced Rider Course (ERC) of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF).  The BRC has a minimum of 15 hours of core instruction - 5 spent in the classroom in preparation for 10 hours of range activities, and the ERC has a minimum of 5 hours--most of which are spent on the range.  You must successfully pass a knowledge test as well as a skill test to receive a certificate of completion..

Basic skills taught are:

  • 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.

Who teaches it?

Only Iowa-licensed, MSF-certified rider coaches teach the BRC and ERC 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.  And 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 Class M license - valid for the operation of a motorcycle - to successfully complete the motorcycle rider education course before the Class M 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, ranges from about $115 to $245.

Where can I take it?

The training season, somewhat weather dependent, varies throughout the state.   However, the course is generally available from early April through mid-October.   Sponsors of the BRC or ERC include 13 of Iowa's 15 community colleges, ABATE of Iowa, Inc., ARIES, Inc. and Bandy Motorcycle Training.  Iowa also has the Harley Davidson Rider Edge Program, currently with 5 sponsors, Zylstra's Harley Davidson of Ames, Silver Eagle Harley Davidson/Buell Cycle Center of Waterloo, Hawkeye Harley Davidson of Coralville, Clinton Harley Davidson of Clinton and Wilwerts Harley Davidson of Dubuque.  The course is taught at all 15 community colleges, either by the college or the mobile programs of ABATE.

Sponsors, sites and course registration telephone numbers are listed below.

Sponsors Locations Telephone
ABATE of Iowa, Inc. Algona
Cherokee
Council Bluffs
Davenport
Emmetsburg
Forest City
Ogden
Perkins
Shenandoah
Waterloo
641-858-5001
ARIES, Inc. Mason city 641-423-5437
Bandy Motorcycle Training North Liberty 319-626-2014
Clinton Harley Davidson Clinton 563-242-1901
Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny
Carroll
515-964-6330
800-342-0033 (Toll Free)
Eastern Iowa Community College District Bettendorf
Clinton
Muscatine
563-336-3320
888-336-3907 (Toll Free)
Hawkeye Community College Waterloo 319-296-4005
Hawkeye Harley Davidson Coralville 319-545-7495
Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa 800-346-4413
Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge
Storm Lake
515-576-0099 Ext 2337
Iowa Lakes Community College Emmetsburg 712-852-5226
Iowa Valley Community College District Marshalltown 800-284-4823 (Toll Free)
Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs See "ABATE"
Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids
Iowa City
319-398-5690
800-332-8833 (Toll Free)
North Iowa Area Community College Hampton 888-466-4222
See "ARIES, Inc."
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar
Peosta
800-728-2256 Ext 219
888-642-2338
Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon 800-352-4907 (Toll Free)
Silver Eagle Harley Davidson/Buell Cycle Center Waterloo 319-235-6505 Ext 19
Southeastern Iowa Community College Keokuk
West Burlington
800-828-7322 (Toll Free)
866-722-4692 Ext 8104
Southwestern Community College Creston 641-782-1449
641-782-1441
800-247-4023 Ext 441
800-247-4023 Ext 449
Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City 712-274-8733 Ext 6404
Wilwert's Harley Davidson Dubuque 800-359-1980 (Toll Free)
Zylstra's Harley Davidson of Ames Ames 515-232-6223

How do I get a Motorcycle Operator's Manual?

Motorcycle Operator's Manual

You can also get a copy at any driver's license issuance site, or by contacting us at:

Office of Driver Services
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, IA  50306-9204
800-532-1121 Toll-Free in Iowa
515-237-3153 Local Des Moines
515-239-1837 Fax
ods@dot.iowa.gov


ŠIowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division

Last Updated:  September 25, 2009