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, possibilities are offered, but remain limited.
Since June 2016 - apart from the road safety license, category AM, intended for driving 50 ^cm3 motorcycles - 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 without holding a motorcycle license in a country that does not practice the principle of equivalence and does not recognize your French equivalence on its soil. This is notably the case in Belgium, Spain, Italy and Austria. Find out more before you go 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

We bring you the latest news from the world of motorcycling as we write this guide. In 2021, several pieces of news have had their effect. The first is the introduction of the Euro 5 standard. This standard succeeded Euro 4, which came into force on January^1, 2016. It essentially concerns the lowering of pollutant and noise levels on new motorcycles seeking homologation. Older models that manufacturers are unable or unwilling to modify are either withdrawn from production or no longer imported into Europe. The Euro standard has a definite impact on owners of models already acquired. In fact, this standard (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) determines the type of "Crit'Air" sticker issued for access to conurbations subject to Zones de Circulation Restreinte (ZCR). Your motorcycle's environmental standard can be found on line V.9 of the registration document. Note that the Euro standards for cars and motorcycles are out of step with each other (since September 2017, the Euro standard for cars has been Euro 6), which can sometimes lead to confusion. The second is the renewal of the interfile traffic experiment. This experiment, which had been running since February 2016 in several départements, ended on February¹, 2021, before being renewed on a larger scale from August 2021 in 21 départements and for 3 consecutive years.

In retrospect, 2020 had already seen its share of notable changes. The first of these was 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 plateau test reduced in time with the linking of reduced and high gaits, and its road test lengthened by around 15 minutes. During the latter test, an assessment can be made of the safety trajectory taught since 2020. Finally, since 2020, a relaxation of the 80 km/h law (introduced in 2018) has enabled the presidents of the départements to raise the speed limit to 90 km/h on certain secondary roads, and mayors to do the same for roads under their jurisdiction. Consequences: a return to "business as usual" traffic on certain roads (excluding trunk roads), and GPS and driver assistance systems (DAS) that are not always up to date. So be careful when driving on French roads, especially when crossing from one département to another.

The technical control

Motorcycle roadworthiness tests will be phased in from April 15, 2024. The decree of October 23, 2023 sets out which two-wheelers will be subject to this requirement, to what extent, and when. Consult it for more information. Vintage motorcycles built before 1960 are exempt from the technical inspection requirement. From January 1, 2025, roadworthiness tests will be compulsory for motorcycles over 7 years old. The fine for failure to meet this requirement is between €135 and €750.