Riding Without an M Endorsement in Colorado

Disclaimer: This page is for general education only. It is not legal advice, insurance advice, or a guarantee of how any ticket, court, DMV action, camera program, or insurance claim will be handled. Laws, penalty schedules, surcharges, camera programs, and insurance policies change and vary by jurisdiction. Confirm details with the Colorado DMV / Department of Revenue, Colorado State Patrol or local agencies, a qualified Colorado attorney, and your insurance carrier.

In Colorado, you generally need a motorcycle endorsement (often called an “M” endorsement) on your driver’s license to ride a two-wheel motorcycle on public roadways. Completing an MSF Basic Rider Course (or Basic Rider Course II for eligible experienced riders) at Colorado Motorcycle Academy is a common path toward earning that endorsement.

What Colorado law requires

Under C.R.S. § 42-2-103, a person generally shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle on a roadway without a general motorcycle endorsement. A person who has only a limited three-wheel motorcycle endorsement may drive a three-wheel motorcycle but generally shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle on a roadway. (Autocycles and low-power scooters have separate rules in the same statute.)

Source: C.R.S. § 42-2-103.

How the offense is classified

If you operate a motorcycle in violation of § 42-2-103(1), Colorado law treats that as driving a motor vehicle without the correct class of license under C.R.S. § 42-2-101(4), and states you “shall be punished as provided in section 42-2-101(10).”

Under § 42-2-101(10), a violation of subsection (1) or (4) is a class A traffic infraction.

Sources: § 42-2-103(3); § 42-2-101(4), (10).

Statutory penalty & surcharge schedule amounts

Colorado’s traffic penalty and surcharge schedule in C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 lists amounts for drivers’ license violations, including:

§ 42-2-103 — penalty $15.00 and surcharge $6.00 (statutory schedule line)
§ 42-2-101 (general schedule line) — penalty $35.00 and surcharge $10.00
§ 42-2-101(2), (3), or (5) — penalty $15.00 and surcharge $6.00

Because a motorcycle-endorsement violation under § 42-2-103 is tied to punishment under § 42-2-101(10), a citation could reference § 42-2-103 and/or the “incorrect class of license” framework in § 42-2-101. Do not assume the ticket total equals only the base schedule line—additional surcharges, local costs, or collection consequences can increase what you pay. Read your citation and court instructions.

Source: C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 penalty and surcharge schedule.

Repeat offenses / points

Under C.R.S. § 42-2-101(11), a second or subsequent conviction under subsection (1) or (4), when the person has not subsequently obtained a valid Colorado driver’s license or the correct type or general class of license, results in the department assessing six points against the driving privilege.

Source: C.R.S. § 42-2-101(11).

Cameras, ALPR, and vendors such as Flock (general)

Some Colorado communities and agencies use automated license plate readers (ALPR) and related camera networks—including systems associated with vendors such as Flock Safety—for law-enforcement investigative support, stolen-vehicle alerts, and other permitted uses. Exact deployment, data sharing, and enforcement practices vary by city, county, and agency.

ALPR systems primarily capture license plates and related vehicle/time/location metadata. They do not, by themselves, “see” whether your driver’s license has an M endorsement.
That said, plate reads can contribute to investigations or stops when combined with other information (for example, registration status, stolen-vehicle hotlists, or an officer-initiated stop). If you are stopped, officers can check license class/endorsements through standard law-enforcement channels.
We are not claiming that Flock (or any camera) automatically mails an “no M endorsement” ticket every time an unendorsed rider passes a camera. Public reporting and agency policies differ, and capabilities change over time.
Practical takeaway: don’t rely on “nobody will notice.” Between traditional traffic enforcement and modern plate/camera tools, riding without the required endorsement is a poor bet.

For local camera programs, check your city/county or agency public materials. This section is general and not a description of any one Colorado agency’s current Flock configuration.

Possible insurance issues after a crash (general)

Separate from any ticket, riding without the required motorcycle endorsement can create serious insurance problems if you are in a crash. Outcomes are policy-specific and fact-specific.

Many policies require the operator to be properly licensed/endorsed for the vehicle. Without that, a carrier may deny, limit, or dispute coverage depending on policy language and applicable law.
If coverage is reduced or denied, you could face personal financial liability for injuries, vehicle damage, and related claims.
An at-fault crash plus an endorsement violation can also complicate claims handling and future insurability.

We cannot predict how your insurer will handle a claim. Ask your agent/carrier whether an M endorsement is required for motorcycle coverage to apply.

The smarter path: get endorsed

Compared with tickets, surcharges, possible repeat-offense points, camera-assisted enforcement environments, and the downside of an uncovered crash, a one-time motorcycle class is the straightforward fix. At Colorado Motorcycle Academy in Pueblo, CO:

MSF Basic Rider Course to learn to ride and work toward your Colorado motorcycle endorsement
Year-round classes so you can get endorsed anytime without waiting for spring or summer
Classes run even with one student (we don’t cancel for low enrollment)
Small, light, late-model training bikes in excellent condition

Enroll in the MSF Basic Rider Course → · Already experienced? See BRC II · Call 719-201-3274