Preliminary

The motorcycle licence

You need a license to drive this coveted little jewel. Each power level has its own license category. For holders of a car license, some possibilities are offered, but remain limited.
Since June 2016 - apart from the road safety license, category AM, intended for ^50cc driving - motorcycle licenses are divided as follows: The A license: This allows you to drive all motorcycles with or without a sidecar, as well as all motor tricycles whatever their power. It can only be obtained by holders of an A2 license for at least 2 years and after completing a 7-hour training course. The A license issued since September 2013 is valid for 15 years. The minimum legal age is 20; The A1 license: This allows you to drive a light motorcycle with or without a sidecar, or a motor tricycle with a maximum power of 11 kilowatts (15 hp) and a maximum cubic capacity of 125 ^cm3. The A1 license issued since September 2013 is valid for 15 years. The minimum legal age is 16; The A2 license: Allows you to drive a motorcycle with or without a sidecar, or a motor tricycle not exceeding 35 kilowatts and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kilowatts per kilogram. Power may not be increased by clamping a vehicle developing more than twice its power. The A2 license issued since September 2013 is valid for 15 years. The minimum legal age is 18.

The car license and its equivalences

It was the 1980 amendment to the car license that enabled drivers of the time to ride 125 ^cm3 motorcycles without further testing. Since then, the regulations have changed several times. Depending on when you obtained your car license, there are several cases to consider. The B license: Holders of the B (car) license who wish to drive a motorized two-wheeler from 50 to 125 ^cm3 or a "three-wheeled scooter" over 50 ^cm3 must have held the B license for 2 years, and have completed a 7-hour practical training course. Scooters over 50 ^cm3 must also be at least 21 years old. Practical training is not required for holders of a B license for 2 years who can show proof of insurance cover for a light motorcycle or three-wheeled scooter during the five years prior to January¹, 2011. You are exempt from this training if you obtained your B license before March^1, 1980. In the event of an inspection, the information provided by your insurer will serve as proof. The B license issued since September 2013 is valid for 15 years. Please note, however, that you cannot ride a 125 ^cm3 motorcycle without holding a motorcycle license in a country that does not recognize your French equivalence. This is notably the case in Belgium, Spain, Italy and Austria. Find out more before going abroad; The B1 license: This allows you to drive a heavy motor quadricycle (category L7e: 450 kg maximum for transporting people, 600 kg maximum for transporting goods), including quads. The B1 license issued since September 2013 is valid for 15 years. The minimum legal age is 16.

The news feed

Here we bring you the latest notable information from the motorcycle world known at the time of writing. In 2021, several pieces of news have made their impact. The first is the entry into force of the Euro 5 standard. This standard succeeded Euro 4, which dated from¹ January 2016. It mainly concerns the lowering of the level of pollutants and the lowering of the noise level of new motorcycles seeking homologation. Older models that manufacturers are unable or unwilling to modify are either withdrawn from production or are no longer imported into Europe. The Euro standard has a definite impact on the owners of models already purchased. Indeed, this standard (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) determines the type of "Crit'Air" sticker awarded for access to urban areas subject to the Restricted Traffic Zone (ZCR). The environmental standard of your motorcycle can be found on the V.9 line of the registration document. Note that the Euro standards for cars and motorcycles are out of step with each other (the Euro standard for cars is, since September 2017, the Euro 6 standard), hence sometimes a risk of confusion. The second is the renewal of the experimentation of inter-motorway traffic. This experimentation, which had been carried since February 2016 in several departments, ended on¹ February 2021, before being renewed on a larger scale from August 2021 in 21 departments and for 3 consecutive years.

In retrospect, the year 2020 already had its share of notable changes. The first being the modification of the motorcycle driving test: Since January^1, 2020, the driving test has seen its theory test modified with the introduction of forty specific questions, its test on a plateau reduced in time with the sequence of reduced and high speeds, and its test in traffic lengthened by about 15 minutes. During this last test, an evaluation on the safety trajectory taught since 2020 can be made. Finally, let us recall that since 2020 also, a relaxation of the law on 80 km/h (implemented in 2018) allows the presidents of the departments to raise the speed to 90 km/h on certain secondary roads and mayors to do the same for roads under their jurisdiction. Consequences: a return to traffic "as before" on some roads (excluding national roads) and GPS and driving assistance assistants (DAAs) that are not always up to date. So be careful when driving on French roads, especially when moving from one department to another.

The technical control

Motorcycle roadworthiness tests will be phased in from April 15, 2024. Enduro and trials motorcycles are not concerned, and this inspection will depend on the age of your vehicle. The decree of October 23, 2023 sets out which two-wheelers will be subject to this obligation, to what extent, and when. Consult it for more information. Vintage motorcycles built before 1960 are exempt from the technical inspection requirement. Lighting, tires, suspension and air or noise pollution are among the points to be checked. between 1,000 and 1,500 centers are approved by the prefect to carry out your diagnosis. Expect to pay around €50.