Frequently Asked Questions 

What is a BRC?

MSC offers the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic RiderCourse (BRC). This class is designed for beginners with little or no experience. It can be used to waive the knowledge and skills (riding) tests at the Department of Licensing and enhance your skills. This course covers basic skills training, street survival strategies, and some advanced skills training. This course is required for persons under the age of 18 years old in order to obtain a "two-wheeled motorcycle” endorsement on their driver’s license.

What is an IRC (formerly known as an ERC)?

MSC offers the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Experienced RiderCourse (ERC), now called an IRC in Washington. Students must provide a motorcycle to ride during the course. This course may also be used to waive the skills (riding) test at the Department of Licensing and simultaneously enhance your skills. The course is approximately 6 hours long. After successfully completing the knowledge and skills (riding) tests you will be mailed a completion card that will waive any further testing for a "two-wheeled motorcycle" endorsement. It is recommended that riders have 6 months or 3,000 miles of experience on the motorcycle they plan to ride during the course.

Do I need a motorcycle to take a course?

For the BRC we will provide the motorcycles. For the IRC, you must provide a motorcycle to ride during the course.

Where are the courses offered?

MSC offers classes at Everett (classroom at the Days Inn next to the Mall and riding at the Boeing plant) and South Seattle (classroom and riding at South Seattle Community College, and a second site for the riding portion of the course at a Boeing parking lot south of Boeing Field).

What are the schedules for the courses?

The schedule for each course is listed on the schedule web pages. Please note the completion times are not firm. You need to be flexible in your scheduling. You are learning a physical skill outside in the weather. Sometimes things happen that can make the classes run longer than expected. Please take this into consideration when planning other activities for the same day as your class.

What are the costs for the courses?

Follow the links to the schedule web pages for costs for each course.

Why are there different course fees for the BRC?

The State of Washington subsidizes the cost of some classes. Students do not pay the entire course fee, but there are only so many courses for which the state pays. The cost to the student is $125 for Washington state residents (valid Washington state driver's license or Washington state identification card). For students 16 or 17 years old, the cost is $50 for Washington state residents. MSC offers additional BRC’s that are not subsidized by the state and the student, regardless of age, pays the entire course fee ($240). For residents outside Washington state taking the course, call for pricing.

How do I register for a course?

Call us at 206-838-1010. Please have your driver’s license number and credit card information available before calling (Visa or Mastercard only).

May I “stand by” for a class?

YES!! If a registered student is late or does not show, you may take her/his spot in the class. You must be physically present at the classroom and you must be prepared to pay the course fee in cash or by check. Check our schedule web pages for dates and locations and then check our driving directions web pages.

To stand by for a class, you may arrive at the class location no sooner than 3pm on the day of the class. You must remain at the class location until the instructor arrives.

 

May I bring a passenger to the IRC?

Yes and no. The answer depends on the following. If you are attending for the purpose of obtaining a license waiver, you will not be allowed to ride to the course or in the course with a passenger. If you already have your endorsement, you may bring a passenger to take the same course. Riders who already have their endorsement may elect to take the skills test at the end of the course. If you already have your endorsement and you brought a passenger, it will be up to the rider to decide if s/he wishes to take the skills test with the passenger or not. If you do not take the skills test, this will cut about an hour off the length of the course. Completion cards for this course will be mailed from the office approximately 4 days after the class. This allows us time to complete the paperwork and determine which card you will receive, depending on whether you took part in the testing and the outcome of that testing. There will be a $10 fee to bring a passenger.

Can someone under the age of 18 take the IRC?

No. If you are under 18 years of age you must take the Basic RiderCourse (BRC) in order to obtain your license endorsement. The IRC will not meet the requirements of the Department of Licensing for the purpose of licensing a person who is 16 or 17 years old to ride a motorcycle.

May I ride my own scooter in the course?

Yes. You may ride a scooter in the BRC or IRC if you meet all other requirements. Your vehicle needs to pass a T-CLOCS (tires, controls, lights and electrics, oil and other fluids, chassis, and sidestand) inspection. After registering for the course, you will be mailed further information on this subject. You must show the instructor proof of ownership (or written permission to ride the scooter) and proof of liability insurance coverage. You will need to bring proof of insurance (wallet card or insurance policy declaration page).

Do I need motorcycle insurance to participate in an IRC?

Yes. Additionally, your vehicle needs to pass a T-CLOCS (tires, controls, lights and electrics, oil and other fluids, chassis, and sidestand) inspection. After registering for the course, you will be mailed further information on this subject. You must show the instructor proof of ownership (or written permission to ride the motorcycle) and proof of liability insurance coverage. You will need to bring proof of insurance (wallet card or insurance policy declaration page).

What should I plan to bring to the course?

For the classroom sessions, you will need your confirmation letter and a pen or pencil. For the range you will need to wear a long-sleeve shirt or jacket, long pants, a properly-fitting DOT approved helmet, sturdy over-the-ankle footwear, full-fingered gloves appropriate for use on a motorcycle, and some form of eye protection (glasses, goggles, face shield). A windshield is not sufficient eye protection for riding in the class.

May I ride a motorcycle with modified exhaust pipes in the IRC?

Yes and no. It depends on the following. Due to noise restrictions in the neighborhoods surrounding the South Seattle locations, you must have street legal mufflers on your bike to participate in an IRC at these locations. Bikes with modified exhaust systems that are louder than the original (stock) mufflers will not be allowed to participate in IRC’s at either Seattle location. You may ride a motorcycle with a modified exhaust in an IRC at the Everett sites.

May I bring my sidecar rig or trike to the IRC?

No. There is a curriculum specifically developed to train 3-wheeled motorcyclists. Check the Department of Licensing web site for more details.

I’m under 18 years old. What do I need to bring to class?

If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must accompany you to the first class session and sign for you in the presence of the Instructor.

Do you have loaner helmets?

Yes. MSC has a limited number of helmets available for student use. MSC cannot guarantee that we will have enough for everyone in the class, nor can we guarantee that what we have will fit you. Refunds will not be issued if MSC is unable to provide you with a properly-fitting helmet.

What size motorcycles are used in the BRC?

MSC has a variety of bikes, all of which are 350cc’s or smaller. Because of the smaller size of these bikes, MSC is not able to accommodate persons over 6' 4" tall or persons who weigh more than 300 pounds. The seat height of the lowest bike is 27.5 inches. Persons with a short inseam may have difficulty touching the ground while seated on the bike and may be excused from the class for safety reasons at the discretion of the Instructor. If you fall into any of the above categories, contact MSC prior to the class start date. If your motorcycle has been specially modified to accommodate a particular situation or disability, or if you fall outside the physical specifications listed above, special arrangements may be possible to allow you to use your own machine. Please contact the MSC office for details.

May I ride my own motorcycle in a BRC?

With special permission by the Department of Licensing, you may be allowed to take the BRC on your own motorcycle due to physical limitations that preclude you from using one of our motorcycles.

Will this class waive testing for an endorsement to ride motorcycles over 350cc?

Yes. The endorsement will be for all “two-wheeled motorcycles.” There no longer are any engine size restrictions on license endorsements in Washington. Effective January 1, 2004, motorcycle endorsements are issued for "two-wheeled motorcycle," or "three-wheeled motorcycle" or "two-wheel and three-wheeled motorcycles." The BRC and IRC will not waive testing for any three-wheeled endorsement.

How do I get my endorsement after I take the class?

Successful completion of the testing in a BRC and/or IRC will get you a completion card that must be taken to a Department of Licensing office within 180 days of the class start date. It will waive any further testing for your "two-wheel motorcycle" endorsement.

Do I need a permit to take the class?

Yes and no. It depends on the following. You don't need a permit to take the BRC. If you own a motorcycle that you intend to ride to the class or if you are taking the IRC, you must have a permit or an endorsement.

Do I have to take the class to get an endorsement?

Yes, if you are less than 18 years of age. Otherwise, you can go to one of the Department of Licensing offices that offer motorcycle testing and, if you pass the DOL tests, get your endorsement there.

What happens if I have to cancel?

MSC has a two week cancellation policy. As long as you notify us of a need to cancel or reschedule your class date more than two weeks prior to the class start date, we will issue a full refund of your course fee. If you contact us within the two weeks just prior to the class start date, we cannot issue any refund.

Do you offer off-road motorcycle training?

No. MSC does not offer the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Dirt Bike School course. Check the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Dirt Bike School web site for more information about classes in Washington state.