In England, Scotland and Wales, the licence you need is determined by a motorcycle’s legal limits—engine capacity, power, power-to-weight ratio, speed and sometimes the vehicle type—not by whether it is marketed as a scooter, cruiser, sports bike or adventure bike. The main entitlements are AM, A1, A2 and A. Your age, previous licence experience and the route you take also matter. This guide uses the current GOV.UK and DVSA framework for England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland and other countries use different rules.
The motorcycle licence categories at a glance
The table below summarises the entitlements in the current GOV.UK category table. A machine must satisfy every relevant limit, not just one of them.
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| Category | Vehicles covered | Minimum age | How you qualify |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM | Mopeds with a speed range of 25–45 km/h, plus certain small three-wheelers and light quadricycles | 16 | CBT, theory test and practical test are listed for the relevant vehicle |
| Q | Two- or three-wheeled mopeds with a top speed of 25 km/h | 16 | Granted with AM |
| A1 | Motorcycles up to 125cc, 11kW and 0.1kW/kg; motor tricycles up to 15kW | 17 | CBT, theory test and practical test |
| A2 | Motorcycles up to 35kW, no more than 0.2kW/kg, and not derived from a bike with more than twice the restricted power | 19 | Direct theory and practical tests, or progressive access after A1 experience |
| A | Unrestricted motorcycles, with or without a sidecar; motor tricycles over 15kW | 24 direct, or 21 progressive | Direct access through CBT, theory and practical tests, or a practical test after holding A2 for at least two years |
How to decide which category your bike needs
Start with the vehicle’s legal specification
Check the registration document, manufacturer specification and, where necessary, the motorcycle’s certificate of conformity. Record the engine capacity in cubic centimetres, maximum net power in kilowatts, power-to-weight ratio, designed maximum speed and whether it is a two-wheel, three-wheel or light-quadricycle vehicle. The licence category follows those figures.
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Engine size alone is not enough
A1 is limited simultaneously to 125cc, 11kW and a maximum 0.1kW/kg. Calling every 125cc machine A1-compliant is unsafe because a bike can meet the displacement figure but exceed a power or power-to-weight limit.
A2 is primarily a power-based class. The ceiling is 35kW, the power-to-weight ratio must not exceed 0.2kW/kg, and the motorcycle cannot be derived from a model producing more than twice the restricted power. A motorcycle advertised as “A2 compatible” still needs its documented restriction and donor-model output checked.
AM and Q: mopeds and very small machines
AM entitlement
AM applies from age 16 to qualifying mopeds designed for speeds from 25 to 45 km/h. It also covers certain small three-wheelers and light quadricycles listed in the official category table. The route includes compulsory basic training (CBT), a motorcycle theory test and a practical test for the relevant vehicle type.
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Q covers two- or three-wheeled mopeds with a top speed of 25 km/h. It is granted with AM from age 16, so it is not a separate test route that you apply for independently.
A1: the light motorcycle category
You can obtain A1 from age 17. The motorcycle must be no larger than 125cc, no more powerful than 11kW and within the 0.1kW/kg power-to-weight limit. A motor tricycle can qualify up to 15kW.
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The normal A1 route listed by GOV.UK is CBT, followed by the motorcycle theory test and practical test. CBT by itself is not an A1 licence: it is training that permits provisional riding under the conditions attached to that route. Passing the A1 practical test gives the full A1 entitlement, subject to its vehicle limits.
What an A1 licence lets you ride
- A compliant 125cc motorcycle, whether styled as a scooter, commuter, trail bike or another design.
- A compliant motorcycle at or below 11kW even if its engine is smaller than 125cc.
- A qualifying motor tricycle up to 15kW.
Always verify the power and power-to-weight figures rather than relying on the engine badge or sales description.
A2: middleweight motorcycles
A2 is available from age 19. The motorcycle used under this entitlement must be no more than 35kW, have a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2kW/kg and not be derived from a vehicle with more than twice the restricted power. There is no single A2 engine-capacity ceiling in the category table, so displacement by itself cannot tell you whether a bike qualifies.
Direct access to A2
At 19 or over, you can take the motorcycle theory and practical tests on an A2-compliant machine. You do not have to hold A1 first.
Progressive access from A1
The category table describes a progressive route after two years’ experience on an A1 motorcycle, followed by a further practical test. This route is different from simply continuing to ride under A1 limits: the new test is what moves you to A2 entitlement.
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Typical A2 checks before buying or testing
- Confirm the unrestricted and restricted power figures in the manufacturer or conversion documentation.
- Check that the original model did not produce more than twice the permitted 35kW output.
- Confirm the documented power-to-weight ratio is within 0.2kW/kg.
- Make sure the exact motorcycle, including any restriction kit, is acceptable to the test centre and insurer.
Category A: unrestricted motorcycles
Category A covers motorcycles of unrestricted size and power, with or without a sidecar. It also covers motor tricycles over 15kW.
Direct access
You can take the direct route from age 24. The listed sequence is CBT, motorcycle theory test and practical test. Holding A1 or A2 is not a prerequisite for this route.
Progressive access from A2
You can use progressive access from age 21 after holding A2 for at least two years and passing a practical test. The DVSA direct-access instructor guidance confirms both the minimum age and the two-year A2 holding period.
How the tests and training fit together
- Obtain a provisional motorcycle entitlement. The GOV.UK category guidance states that you do not need to take the theory or motorcycle tests to apply for a provisional licence.
- Complete CBT. CBT is listed as part of the AM, A1, A2 and A routes. It is a training requirement, not a full category entitlement.
- Pass the motorcycle theory test. The theory test is listed for the full AM, A1, A2 and A routes in the category table.
- Choose the practical-test category and motorcycle. The test bike must meet the requirements for the entitlement you are seeking, including the specific A2 or A test-bike rules below.
- Pass the practical test. Your entitlement then reflects the category tested, rather than merely the size or style of the motorcycle you trained on.
Motorcycle requirements for the practical tests
A2 test motorcycle
The current DVSA route flowchart, updated on 1 March 2022, reduced the minimum engine capacity for the A2 test motorcycle from 395cc to 245cc. Current DVSA instructor guidance says a rider aged 19 or over can test on an A2 motorcycle of at least 245cc producing 20–35kW. Do not rely on older training material that still quotes a 395cc minimum.
A test motorcycle
For a category A practical test, DVSA specifies a motorcycle with at least 595cc, at least 50kW and at least 180kg. The same specification applies to the progressive A route. These figures describe the motorcycle presented for the test; they are not a separate limit on the unrestricted A entitlement once you pass.
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Why the distinction matters
A test centre can refuse a motorcycle that does not meet the test specification even when the rider is old enough for the category. Conversely, meeting the test-bike minimums does not by itself grant an unrestricted licence. Check the current DVSA guidance and the exact machine paperwork before booking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which licence fits common descriptions of bikes?
| Bike description | What to check | Likely category if all limits are met |
|---|---|---|
| 50cc or low-speed moped | Designed speed and whether it falls within the AM or Q definitions | AM, with Q granted alongside AM for a 25 km/h moped |
| 125cc commuter or scooter | Capacity, maximum 11kW and maximum 0.1kW/kg | A1 |
| Mid-size restricted motorcycle | Maximum 35kW, maximum 0.2kW/kg and donor model no more than 70kW | A2 |
| Large sports, touring, cruiser or adventure motorcycle | Whether the machine is unrestricted and whether the rider has direct or progressive access | A |
| Three-wheeler | Power and the vehicle’s legal classification | AM, A1 or A depending on the limits; over 15kW falls under A |
The labels in this table are conditional. A model’s marketing name does not override its recorded technical specification.
Common licensing mistakes and how to avoid them
Assuming CBT is a licence category
CBT is training used within several routes. It does not replace the AM, A1, A2 or A practical-test entitlement. Read the provisional-licence conditions that apply after CBT and complete the appropriate tests for the category you want.
Assuming every 125cc bike is A1
The A1 ceiling combines 125cc, 11kW and 0.1kW/kg. Check all three values.
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Treating A2 as an engine-size class
A2 is defined by power, power-to-weight ratio and the donor-bike restriction. A large-capacity motorcycle may qualify if properly restricted and documented, while a smaller motorcycle can fail a power limit.
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Believing A2 is compulsory before A
Riders aged 24 or over may use direct access to A. A2 becomes relevant to the progressive route from age 21 after two years of A2 entitlement.
Using an obsolete test-bike figure
The A2 minimum changed to 245cc in the 1 March 2022 flowchart update. For category A, use the current 595cc, 50kW and 180kg DVSA specification rather than older advice.
Possible rule changes: what the 2026 consultation means
DVSA’s 2026 consultation discusses possible changes to CBT, motorcycle training and licensing. A consultation is a proposal, not enacted law. Until an official implementation notice changes the category table or test rules, follow the current AM, A1, A2 and A requirements described above. Check the latest GOV.UK and DVSA announcements immediately before booking training or a test.
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If you ride outside England, Scotland or Wales
These categories and routes are specific to the Great Britain framework used by the cited GOV.UK and DVSA guidance. Northern Ireland has separate guidance, and other countries may use different age limits, categories, power rules and tests. Contact the licensing authority where you will ride rather than transferring these figures across borders.
The practical answer
Identify the bike’s legal speed, capacity, power and power-to-weight figures first. At 16, AM covers qualifying mopeds; at 17, A1 covers compliant light motorcycles; at 19, A2 covers compliant motorcycles up to 35kW; and category A provides unrestricted entitlement through direct access at 24 or progressive access at 21 after two years on A2. Then choose the route and test motorcycle that match the category, using current DVSA requirements rather than the bike’s styling or an outdated training guide.
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