R for ride
Licence or no licence, for many young people, there is no question at all: they expect to have their first motorcycle license on their 16th birthday. They then immediately start dreaming about even bigger motorcycles. We provide you with an overview of all the driving licence classes and their respective scope.
Class A
Motorbikes - two-wheelers, also with sidecar - with
- a cubic capacity of more than 50 cm³ or
- a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h (engine power of more than 35 kW or ratio of power to weight (unladen mass) of more than 0.2 kW/kg)
Three-wheeled motor vehicles (previously category B) with
- an output of more than 15 kW or
- with symmetrically arranged wheels and an engine
- a cubic capacity of more than 50 cm³ (for internal combustion engines) or
- a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h and
- an output of more than 15 kW
Minimum age: | 24 years for direct entry motorbikes (21 years for three-wheeled vehicles) |
Requirements: | Class A2, if under 24 years old |
Time limit: | Class A is valid indefinitely |
Inclusion: | Classes A2, A1 and AM |
Notes: | If you have held category A2 for at least 2 years, only a practical test is required (graduated driving licence) |
Class A1
Motorbikes (light motorbikes) - Two-wheelers, also with sidecars - with
- a cubic capacity of not more than 125 cm³
- an engine output of no more than 11 kW and
- a ratio of power to weight (unladen mass) of max. 0.1 kW/kg
Three-wheeled motor vehicles (previously category B) with
- symmetrically arranged wheels
- a cubic capacity of more than 50 cm³ (for internal combustion engines) or
- a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h and
- an output of up to 15 kW
Minimum age: | 16 years |
Requirements: | No other class is required |
Time limit: | Class A1 is valid indefinitely. |
Inclusion: | Class AM |
Notes: | - |
Class A2
Motorbikes - two-wheelers, also with sidecar - with
- an engine power of not more than 35 kW, which is not derived from a motorbike with a power of more than 70 kW
- a power to weight ratio of max. 0.2 kW/kg
Minimum age: | 18 years |
Requirements: | No other class is required |
Time limit: | Class A restricted is valid indefinitely. |
Inclusion: | Class A1 and M |
Notes: | If you have held category A1 for at least 2 years, only a practical test is required (graduated driving licence). Holders of a category A2 driving licence issued between 19.01.2013 and 27.12.2016 may continue to drive motorbikes with a power output of more than 70 kW in Germany. |
Class AM
Light two-wheeled motor vehicles
- of category L1e-B in accordance with Article 4(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel and quadricycles (OJ L60, 2.3.2013, p. 52)
Three-wheeled mopeds
- of category L2e in accordance with Article 4(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel and quadricycles (OJ L60, 2.3.2013, p. 52)
Light four-wheeled motor vehicles
- of category L6e in accordance with Article 4(2)(f) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel and quadricycles (OJ L60, 2.3.2013, p. 52)
Minimum age: | 15 years |
Condition: | Until the age of 16, the driving licence must be issued with the condition that it may only be used for journeys within Germany. This is noted on the driving licence with the code number 195. The requirement does not apply once the licence holder has reached the age of 16. |
Time limit: | -Class AM is valid indefinitely. |
Inclusion: | - |
Notes: | - |