UK Motorcycle Licence Categories: AM, A1, A2 and A

#The four categories

AM, A1, A2 and A are the four motorcycle licence categories in the UK. AM is for mopeds. A1 is small bikes. A2 is medium-power bikes. A is unrestricted, full-power motorcycles. Each has a minimum age and a power or capacity limit, and each requires its own theory and practical test (Module 1 and Module 2).

You do not have to start at AM and progress through to A. You can go straight to A2 at 19 if you are old enough and have the training. You can go to direct access A at 24 with no prior bike licence at all. The pathway depends on your age and your appetite for training time. Most adult riders start with A2 or jump direct to A.

#AM (Moped)

Minimum age 16. AM covers mopeds with a maximum design speed of 28 miles per hour and engine capacity up to 50cc (or up to 4 kilowatts for electric). The test consists of CBT, theory, and a practical test on a moped. Many 16-year-olds use AM as their commuter route while they wait to be old enough for A1.

AM does not let you ride larger machines, but it does count as a full licence (a moped one) and lets you take a passenger if the moped is set up for it. The category is increasingly relevant for delivery riders and urban commuters where electric mopeds are popular.

#A1 (Light Motorcycle)

Minimum age 17. A1 covers motorcycles up to 125cc and 11 kilowatts (15 brake horsepower). You can take Module 1 and Module 2 on a 125cc bike and your full A1 licence lets you ride any 125cc bike unrestricted. You can take a pillion as soon as you pass.

A1 is a popular route for younger riders or anyone who only needs urban transport. A 125cc bike is enough for city riding, fits in tight parking, and runs cheap on insurance and fuel. The downside is the bike is underpowered for motorways and dual carriageways at full speed, which makes longer rides uncomfortable.

#A2 (Restricted Motorcycle)

Minimum age 19. A2 covers motorcycles producing no more than 35 kilowatts (47 brake horsepower) with a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kilowatts per kilogram. The bike must also not be derived from a machine making more than twice the A2 power (so a heavily-restricted litre bike does not count, but a naturally A2-spec bike does).

A2 is the route most adult learners take. The bike has enough power for motorways, dual carriageways and longer rides, but is gentle enough that a learner can manage it without being intimidated. Popular A2 bikes include the Yamaha MT-07 (restricted), the Kawasaki Z650, the Honda CB500F and the KTM Duke 390.

After two years on A2, you can upgrade to full A by passing a single new Module 1 and Module 2 on an unrestricted bike. The theory does not need to be retaken if it is still in date. Most riders who start on A2 take the upgrade route to A in their early twenties.

#A (Direct Access)

Minimum age 24 for direct access. A is the unrestricted motorcycle licence. Any bike, any size, any power. The Module 1 and Module 2 must be taken on a bike of at least 595cc and at least 40 kilowatts (54 brake horsepower). Most schools use a mid-size naked bike like a Yamaha MT-07 (unrestricted) or a Suzuki SV650 for the test.

Direct access at 24 lets you skip the A2 stage entirely. You can also reach A through the A2 progression route at 21 if you have held an A2 licence for two years. Either way, full A is the licence almost every committed motorcyclist eventually holds.

#Age and progression summary

• 16: AM (mopeds, 50cc, 28 mph max)
• 17: A1 (125cc, 11 kW)
• 19: A2 (35 kW, 47 bhp)
• 21: A via progression from A2 (after 2 years on A2 plus a new test)
• 24: A direct access (no prior licence required)

You can hold multiple categories at once if you have passed the relevant tests. A full A licence covers everything below it (A2, A1 and AM as well). An A1 licence does not cover AM by default, although in practice this rarely matters because nobody downgrades.

#Choosing the right category

Three questions help decide. First, how old are you? If you are 17 to 18, A1 is your only realistic option until you can take A2 at 19. Second, what kind of riding do you want to do? Pure urban commuting maps to A1. Mixed urban and motorway maps to A2 minimum. Longer rides and fast group rides map to full A. Third, how much training time can you afford? A2 is a meaningful step up from A1 in skill, and full A is another step. Direct access at 24 needs more training hours than A2 because the bike is more powerful.

For most adult riders the practical answer is: A2 if you are between 19 and 23, direct access A if you are 24 or older. The A2 stage gives you two years to consolidate skills before stepping up to full power, which is a sensible safety margin. Direct access skips that stage but requires more careful early riding on a bigger bike.

#How the test changes by category

The test format (Module 1 plus Module 2) is the same across categories. What changes is the bike. The U-turn, slow ride and emergency stop on a 125cc A1 bike are easier than on a litre A bike, simply because the smaller bike has less inertia and is more forgiving. That is reflected in pass rates: A1 and A2 pass rates run a few points above A pass rates nationally. The Module 2 pass rates guide breaks this out by category and centre.