Do you have to get your motorcycle endorsement in the state the driver's license was obtained?

Question

I am a college bound student who will be living in a California college dorm. I don't know if that counts as residence, I have been told that it is not. Right now I have a Washington enhanced driver's license. I want to ride motorcycles in college and plan to take a motorcycle safety course to get it, but I do not know what state i have to get my endorsement in for it to be legal. If anybody has an understanding of multiple state licensing in general or my specific situation, I would love to be informed.

Answer 1

You can only have 1 driver license. Federal law prohibits any person from having more than one driver license or from having licenses in different names.

You are legally a resident of CA.

You must either return to WA to get a MC license or you can get a new driver license from CA and then get a MC license there.

Answer 2

Federal law does NOT prohibit ANY person from having more than one driver license.  I think NJ is either thinking of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 or the REAL ID Act of 2005 that becomes operative in 2011.  Nevertheless, California law (Veh C § 12511) DOES prohibit persons from having more than one driver's license.  So, transfer your Washington passenger car license to California, then get your California motorcycle endorsement, and be legal.

*/End of Line.

Answer 3

You can only have one license. Get the endorsement in the state that issued the drivers license.