How to Get a Category A Driving Licence in Italy?

A Category A driving license (in Italian, patente di guida categoria A) is Italy’s full, unrestricted motorcycle license, the top of the motorcycle ladder. It lets you ride any motorcycle, with no limits on power, engine size, or power-to-weight ratio. This guide explains what Class A covers in Italy, the two routes to get it, the age rules, and what it means for larger tricycles.

In Italy, training and testing are conducted through licensed driving schools (autoscuole), and the license is issued through the Motorizzazione Civile, under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Our driving license in Italy and the license eligibility pages are good starting points.

What is a Class A license in Italy?

Class A covers motorcycles with no power restriction, no limit on displacement, power, or power-to-weight ratio, and also motor tricycles with power over 15 kW. It is the highest motorcycle category and the only one that lets you ride the most powerful bikes on all Italian roads.

A in the motorcycle ladder

A is the top of the three motorcycle categories in Italy:

• A1: light motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW, from age 16.
• A2: motorcycles up to 35 kW, from age 18.
• A un restricted motorcycles, by staged access from 20 or direct entry from 24.

What can you ride with a Class A license?

With Class A, you can ride any motorcycle, regardless of power or engine size, carry a passenger, and use all roads. This opens up the full range of machines, large touring and adventure bikes, powerful sports bikes, and big cruisers that are off-limits in the lower categories.

Two routes: staged access and direct entry

There are two ways to reach a full Class A license in Italy:

• Staged access from age 20, if you have held A2 for at least two years.
• Direct entry from age 24, with no need to hold A2 first.

For motor tricycles with a power output over 15 kW, the minimum age is 21.

Staged access from A2

If you have held an A2 license for two years, you can upgrade to a Class A license by completing at least 10 hours of practical training and passing a practical test on a Class A motorcycle through an approved autoscuola. The theory exam you already passed for A2 is not repeated.

Direct entry at 24

If you go straight to Class A without holding A2, the minimum age is 24. You complete the full theory and practical training through a licensed autoscuola and pass both the theory and practical exams before the Motorizzazione Civile issues your license.

Training and exams

Training combines classroom theory on traffic rules and hazard perception with practical riding lessons, first on a closed course and then on public roads. Exact lesson counts beyond the 10-hour minimum for staged access vary between autoscuole, so confirm current requirements with your chosen school.

Medical requirements

All applicants must pass a medical fitness examination, including an eyesight check, by an authorized doctor before the license is issued. This applies to both the staged and direct-entry routes.

Automatic transmission restriction

Worth knowing: if you take the practical exam on a motorcycle with automatic transmission, your license is restricted to automatic machines under EU-wide code 78. If you want to ride any motorcycle, take the test on a manual.

Licenses you get with A

A full Class A license includes A2 and A1, so you can also ride mid-power and light motorcycles. It is the complete two-wheel entitlement, with no power limit to work around.

Validity and probation

Italian driving licenses follow the standard EU photocard validity period before renewal. If Class A is your first driving license, a probationary period with stricter infraction tolerances applies, as it does for new car drivers.

How is your license issued?

Your autoscuola handles registration for your exams with the Motorizzazione Civile. Once you pass the required tests or complete the 10-hour training on the staged route, you receive your card license showing Class A entitlement.

Tips for getting your Class A license in Italy

• If you already hold A2, use staged access: 20- 10 hours of training plus a practical test.
• For direct entry, book your medical examination early when you register with your driving school.
• Take the test on a manual bike unless you only want to ride automatics.
• Confirm current lesson counts and fees with your chosen autoscuola before enrolling.
• Note that powerful tricycles fall under Class A from age 21.

Reach the top of the motorcycle ladder.

A Class A license gives you the freedom to ride any motorcycle in Italy and completes the two-wheel ladder. As you progress through the licensing system and, in time, toward professional car, truck, or bus categories, you can register in the driver section, explore vacancies, and see what employers are hiring for on FastDriver.eu, along with our guides on the jobs pages.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. License categories, vehicle definitions, ages, medical standards, training requirements, and fees can change and may vary by case and by authority in Italy. Always confirm the current rules with the official Italian government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport pages, and the EU framework is in the EUR-Lex text of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.