Motorcycles & Mopeds

Motorcycle Safety Interactive Tool

This tool allows you to drill down to motorcycle crash data to see where, when, and how motorcycle crashes happen.

Motorcycle safety interactive tool

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.

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.


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, sites and course registration telephone numbers are listed below.

Sponsors Locations Courses Offered
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Algona BRC, RRBRC, BRC2, 3WBRC, ARC
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Council Bluffs BRC, RRBRC, BRC2, 3WBRC
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Hampton BRC
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Pekin BRC, RRBRC, BRC2
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Spirit Lake BRC, RRBRC, BRC2
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Waterloo BRC
ABATE of Iowa Inc. Cherokee
Clinton
Forest City
Marshalltown
Ogden
BRC, RRBRC, BRCII, 3WBRC, ARC
Bandy Motorcycle Training North Liberty BRC, BRCII
Big Barn Harley Davidson Des Moines BRC
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Ankeny
BRC, ARC, 3WBRC
Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport
Muscatine
Clinton
BRC, BRCII
Hawkeye Community College Waterloo BRC, RRBRC, 3WBRC
Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa BRC
Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge
BRC
Iowa Lakes Community College Spencer BRC
Iowa Valley Community College Marshalltown BRC
Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids
Iowa City
BRC, BRCII, 3WBRC
Loess Hills Harley Davidson Pacific Junction BRC, BRCII, ARC, RRBRC, 3WBRC
McGrath Hawkeye Harley Davidson Coralville BRC
Northeast Iowa Community College - Calmar Calmar
BRC
Northeast Iowa Community College - Peosta Peosta BRC
Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon BRC
Southeastern Iowa Community College West Burlington BRC, BRC II
Southwestern Community College Creston BRC
Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City BRC


Guide to Motorcycle Rider Education Course Names:

BRC= Basic Rider Course
BRCII = Basic Rider Course Two (or “Experienced Rider Course”)
ARC = Advanced Rider Course
RRBRC = Returning Rider Basic Rider Course
3WBRC = 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course

For more detailed descriptions of these courses, visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website.

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