MC license for NY State

(Q.) I have heard rumblings of a "school" that supposedly makes the NIGHTMARE of getting your motorcycle license in NYS easier- somewhere in midtown I believe.

(A.) The Professional Driving School Of Americas
40 East 23rd Street
2nd Floor, NY, NY 10010
By subway: Take the #6 to Park Ave & 23rd St or the N & R to Broadway & 23rd St.
800.NOW.DRIVE // 212.375.1111 // 212.375.0467-fax
It costs $245.
They will provide an et4 (aka twist and go) they schedule the roadtest (u can pay to get it pushed up w/in a week) They give u a quick refresher b4 the test, drive u & the bike out to the test site and u take the test w/ them. Then u r done.. woohoo... -DRG

(A.) For licensing, call Brooklyn Driving School at 18th Ave. half a block east of Macdonald. (718) 633-6000 -ask for Phil. They offer the 45 minute classes at $39 each. When going for your licsense, normally a scheduled test with driver, car and their m.c. is $150. With your own bike it's $89. They handle everything and give a lot of encouragement in a relaxed atmosphere.

There is also MSS in Brooklyn 718-599-1079. They give the full 20 hour course. And they offer private instructions.

Remember you need someone who is already licensed to drive the bike to the site for you as well as someone who is licensed to drive the chase car with the DMV instructor to follow you on your test. And be sure the vehicles you use are all inspected and all licenses are in order otherwise not only will you fail automatically you will walk away with several tickets as well. Now the downside, most schools are going to charge you pretty steeply for the service especially if you use their bike. I know it's not what you want to hear but taking the full MSF approved course is not the worst thing in the world you could do, in fact you will not ever regret doing it. The price for the course in NYS is around $275 now and by the time you add up all the costs and the logistics of taking the DMV road test it comes out to about the same , "less" the benefits of the course... You get insurance discounts and you really do get basic training you will not get otherwise on your own. Even if you only plan to ride scooters later on, the course "will" make you a better , more street aware rider. It's all up to you and what you want to get from it. If you want to do it right in the eyes of NYS DMV then this is the way to do it right.. -John

re: motorcycle test
I called the 1-800-801-3614 road test # and WAITED through all the options. They kept repeating but eventually I was bumped through to a switchboard. I spoke with a DMV rep that said I could rent a van or trailer to transport the motorcycle (Vespa) to the test and then, in case I didn't pass, to transport it away again. She said it was a legitimate solution, as long as I had another driver to follow me along with the instructor along with my test. So I rented a short cargo van at NY Rent-A-Car in Bklyn near the Bklyn bridge (718) 625-7538 and loaded the Vespa. So I went with a friend at the wheel. Everything was just fine. I didn't make a big deal of it and neither did they. I unloaded the Vespa, took the test, and then (since I passed), rode back to NY Rent-A-Car to return the van. End of story. They don't tell you about it anywhere and it isn't on their website, but it is legit. Try calling yourself, if you're concerned. It worked fine for me. Good luck, -Denver

There's nothing wrong with riding your bike to the test site provided your chase car driver has not only a car license but also a motorcycle license (which he must have to be your chase car driver on the test, anyway) and remains within 1/4 of a mile of you during your ride to the test site. The law says that, as a rider with only a permit, you are allowed to ride your bike provided a licensed (motorcyle license, that is) person is within 1/4 mile of you. -John Ife

I took the test and I drove the scoot to the site in Brooklyn. No one checked or asked about it. Maybe I was lucky. -Herb Dershowitz