Quote from Guest on February 7, 2012, 10:45 pm

As far as I know WA is the only state to require a special separate endorsement for a sidecar/trike rig. It doesn't include solo rigs which is another pot of $ for the state. The law/regulation was passed years ago and there was a short window to change your license endorsement w/o any special tests. I did that way before i thought I needed a rig. That ended and the Evergreen safety council came up with a STEP class (sidecare/trike) class and i believe teaches it and the trainers for it nationwide now. Rumor has it they are reorganizing over the winter to a different format. I've took the class last summer and heartily endorse it. Max

Quote from cleatusj on April 19, 2012, 10:09 pm

RS 486.041 “Motorcycle” defined. “Motorcycle” means every motor vehicle equipped with a seat or a saddle for the use of the driver and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including a power cycle but excluding a tractor and a moped.

NRS 486.057 “Trimobile” defined. “Trimobile” means every motor vehicle designed to travel with three wheels in contact with the ground, two of which are power driven.

That explains it well, a sidecar can be classified as a "Trimobile" if it is two wheel drive. Some Ural's would be questionable.

Quote from claude #3563 on June 2, 2012, 8:26 pm

"Short of calling the DMV, all my internet research is contradictory, inquiring whether I need a motorcycle license to operate a sidecar motorcycle in Nevada, as opposed to CA where only a vehicle license is needed. "

I think California is the only state where this is true. You may want to talk to Doug Bingham at Side Strider. (818) 780-5542
Van Nuys, CA.
All other states require a motorcycle endorsemant. Washington state requires a seperate liscense for sidecars and three wheel vehicles.
Anyone know otherwise??

Quote from BackroadsBeemer on October 13, 2012, 11:24 pm

In Michigan if you take the "road test " for your endorsement with a side car, you can't ride two wheel unless you get the two wheel endorsement. However if you have the two wheel endorsement FIRST you can ride anything on that.

Quote from notanlines on October 18, 2012, 11:22 am

Don't you just love our lawmakers watching out for our wellfare?

Quote from SidecarMike on October 18, 2012, 9:20 pm

BackroadsBeemer - 10/13/2012 10:24 PM In Michigan if you take the "road test " for your endorsement with a side car, you can't ride two wheel unless you get the two wheel endorsement. However if you have the two wheel endorsement FIRST you can ride anything on that.

I think that holds true in most states. In Wisconsin, if you take the test on three wheels, your license will be stamped "Three wheel only". On two wheels and you can ride on two or three.

The same was true when I lived in Minnesota in the 70's and Kentucky in the 80's.

Quote from Peter Pan on October 19, 2012, 12:16 am

Now next question:
For a foreigner.
My German licence 1 includes sidecar by default without mentioning it in the text.
My Costarican A4 license does not even mention sidecars...
For the trip next year to the north. What do you recomend?
Get the international licence waiver with explaination B4=trailer/A4=motorcycle without limit and ask the officer to write in specially "including sidecar"?
Or will it be enough to just bring my german licence?

Yupp, my son will have his exams in 2 weeks. The big trip is comeing closer!!!!!
My fingers become nervous.
Sven

Quote from Guest on June 10, 2013, 7:03 pm

koolaidguzzler - 2/5/2012 4:28 PM Any Nevada sidecar riders out there? Short of calling the DMV, all my internet research is contradictory, inquiring whether I need a motorcycle license to operate a sidecar motorcycle in Nevada, as opposed to CA where only a vehicle license is needed. "NRS 486.061 License required to operate motorcycle or trimobile; exception. Except for a nonresident who is at least 16 years of age and is authorized by the person’s state of residency to drive a motorcycle, a person shall not drive: 1. A motorcycle, except a trimobile, upon a highway unless that person holds a valid motorcycle driver’s license issued pursuant to NRS 486.011 to 486.381, inclusive, OR A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED PURSUANT TO CHAPT 483 of NRS endorsed to authorize the holder to drive a motorcycle. 2. A trimobile upon a highway unless that person holds a valid motorcycle driver’s license issued pursuant to NRS 486.011 to 486.381, inclusive, OR A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED PURSUANT TO CHAPT 483" CHAPTER 483 is a large section and I'm still going through it. http://leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-486.html Thanks in advance.

It seems to me that you can operate your rig on your own state's driver license in other states. That is if you operating legally from where you are from due to a mutual reciprocity agreement between states. I took a section out of the motor vehicle statutes from my state which I think apply (in general): The commissioner shall determine whether privileges granted by such states or districts are substantially similar to those granted by this state, which determination shall be final, and may enter into reciprocal agreements with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or other like authority of any other state in accordance with which motor vehicles may be operated in this state and such other state.So where I am from (Connecticut) a motorcycle is defined as having the following:(54) "Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle, with or without a side car, having not more than three wheels in contact with the ground and a saddle or seat on which the rider sits or a platform on which the rider stands, but does not include a motor-driven cycle, as defined in this section, or a vehicle having or designed to have a completely enclosed driver's seat and a motor which is not in the enclosed area;
So, due to the interstate reciprocity (reciprocal agreements) between states and the definition of of motorcycles for which I am licensed for, I feel can ride my rig as defined by my state law in other jurdictions.