Motorcycle licence A1, A2 and A: what can you ride?

Which motorcycle suits your licence? The European categories A1, A2 and A clearly explained.

In the European Union there are three licence categories for motorcycles. They determine how much power your bike may have. On MotorToko, every motorcycle shows which licence you need.

A1: light motorcycles

  • Up to 125 cc engine capacity
  • Up to 11 kW (about 15 hp)
  • Power-to-weight ratio up to 0.1 kW per kg

A2: mid-range

  • Up to 35 kW (about 47 hp)
  • Power-to-weight ratio up to 0.2 kW per kg
  • A restricted bike must not have had more than twice that power originally, so up to 70 kW

A: unrestricted

With an A licence you can ride any motorcycle, regardless of power or engine size.

Minimum age

EU rules set the minimum age at 16 for A1, 18 for A2 and 24 for A. Riders who have held an A2 licence for two years can often progress to A from age 20. Countries may deviate from this. In the Netherlands, for example, you can only get an A1 licence from 18. Always check the rules of the licensing authority in your country.

Tip

Use the licence filter on the specifications page to see only motorcycles that match your licence.