Requirements
A1 or A2 licence: which one fits the motorcycle?
A1 starts at 16 and A2 at 18. Compare each motorcycle’s power, ratio and original-version limits before choosing.
A1 is available from age 16 and allows motorcycles up to 125 cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg. A2 starts at 18 and allows up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, with an additional limit on the original version’s power.
Compare the limits as a set
For A1, the motorcycle must meet all three limits: no more than 125 cc, no more than 11 kW and a power-to-weight ratio no higher than 0.1 kW/kg. The minimum age is 16. A2 is available from 18 and has a different set: maximum 35 kW, maximum 0.2 kW/kg and no derivation from a version producing more than twice the A2 maximum. A motorcycle with exactly 35 kW can therefore still fall outside A2 if its original version exceeded 70 kW or its power-to-weight ratio is too high.
These are not interchangeable measurements. Cubic centimetres describe engine displacement; kilowatts describe power; kW/kg relates power to mass. For an electric motorcycle, displacement is not the useful figure, but the power and ratio limits still matter. Use the registration certificate and approved technical data for the exact model and version. Do not choose a licence from a model name or a seller’s short description, since similar models may have different approved specifications.
Match the licence to the intended use
If you are 17 and the motorcycle meets A1 limits, A1 may be the relevant category; you cannot obtain A2 before 18. At 18 or older, a bike intended for A2 still needs to satisfy each A2 condition. A motorcycle that fits A1 limits will often fit A2’s upper power limits, but that does not mean A1 and A2 have the same age, progression or entitlement rules. Check the licence category printed on your document and the vehicle category before riding.
Also distinguish vehicles that can be ridden after qualification from the motorcycle required for the practical test. MIT lists specific minimum test-vehicle characteristics, which may differ from the broader riding limits. Ask the motorisation office or driving school to verify both your intended motorcycle and the test vehicle. Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps you review common road rules through chapters, quizzes, explanations, mistake review and study statistics.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps you review theory chapters and common road rules through quizzes, explanations and error review.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between A1 and A2?
A1 starts at 16 and limits motorcycles to 125 cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg. A2 starts at 18, allows up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, and adds a restriction on the original version’s power.
Is any 35 kW motorcycle allowed for A2?
No. Check the 0.2 kW/kg ratio and whether the bike derives from a version above 70 kW, as well as its official documents.