How to Get a Category A1 Driving Licence in Austria?

A Category A1 driving license (in German, Führerschein Klasse A1) is Austria’s entry-level motorcycle license, often called the “125er-Führerschein,” since it’s the license most people associate with riding a 125cc motorcycle. It’s the foundation of Austria’s three-tier motorcycle system, sitting below A2 (mid-power) and full Class A (unrestricted). This guide goes deep into what Class A1 actually covers in Austria, the real breakdown of training hours, the multi-phase training requirements, the probationary period, and the quirky shortcut available to existing car-license holders.

In Austria, training and testing run through a licensed Fahrschule, and the license is issued by the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or magistrate (district administrative authority) once you pass your exams. Our driving license in Austria and the license eligibility pages are good starting points. If you want to prepare in advance, our driving license theory practice tool is a useful way to get comfortable with the multiple-choice format before you book your test.

What is a Class A1 license in Austria?

Class A1 authorizes you to ride motorcycles with or without a sidecar, up to 125cc engine displacement, a maximum power of 11 kW (15 PS), and a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.1 kW per kilogram of unladen weight. It also covers three-wheeled motor vehicles up to 15 kW (20 PS). Since 19 January 2013, Austria’s motorcycle licenses have followed this EU-wide “Stufenführerschein” (staged license) model, with A1 as the entry point.

Where A1 sits in Austria’s motorcycle ladder

Austria’s three-tier structure runs:

• A1: light motorcycles up to 125cc/11kW/0.1kW per kg, from age 16 (training can start at 15.5).
• A2: motorcycles up to 35kW/0.2kW per kg, from age 18 (training can start at 17.5, or 16 if combined with the B-L17 car license program).
• A: unrestricted motorcycles, from age 24 by direct entry, or 20 after two years holding A2.

The AM category (mopeds up to 50cc/45km/h) is automatically included within A1, so once you hold A1, you never need a separate moped license.

What can you actually ride with an A1 license?

With Class A1, you can ride any motorcycle up to 125cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg, plus three-wheeled vehicles up to 15 kW. There is no longer a legal top-speed restriction of 80 km/h (that cap was removed). A typical 125cc motorcycle’s top speed is around 120–130 km/h. Importantly, A1 gives full road access: you can ride on the Autobahn and all other public roads, not just local streets, making it a genuinely independent form of mobility rather than a restricted learner’s permit.

Training: the real hour breakdown

Austrian driving schools structure A1 training as 20 units of general theory (Grundstoff) plus 6 units of class-specific theory, for a total of 26 theory units with the same theory foundation shared across all “A” categories. If you’ve already completed the general theory portion for another category, you don’t need to repeat it. On the practical side, standard training consists of 14 riding lessons, split between a closed practice area (typically 3 units of basic groundwork) and real traffic (around 11 units), covering visual technique, cornering, emergency braking, hazard perception, and safe riding behavior.

The theory exam

The theory exam is computer-based and uses a multiple-choice format in which one or more of the listed answers can be correct. A question only counts as correctly answered if every correct option is marked and no incorrect ones are. If you fail either the theory or practical portion, you must wait at least 14 days before retaking it. Once you pass your training, you have 18 months to sit the exam; otherwise, the training expires and must be repeated.

The practical exam

The practical test lasts at least 25 minutes and assesses both basic maneuvers and a real-traffic ride. Passing both the theory and practical exams completes what Austria calls the “1. Ausbildungsphase” (first training phase). You’re issued a provisional license immediately, valid for four weeks and only within Austria, while your permanent card license is processed.

Costs

Total costs for a Class A1 license in Austria typically range from around €950 to €1,700, depending on the region, the driving school, and how many extra practice lessons you personally need beyond the standard package. This figure includes the theory and practical course, exam fees, the medical certificate, the first-aid course, and administrative fees for issuing the card license.

Medical certificate and first-aid course

A medical certificate (ärztliches Gutachten) confirming fitness to ride is required for Classes A1, A2, and A alike. You’ll also need to complete a first-aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs) covering life-saving emergency measures, a standard prerequisite across all first-time Austrian license categories, not specific to motorcycles.

The Mehrphasenausbildung (multi-phase training)

Passing your exam isn’t the end of the process. Austria requires a second training phase (2. Ausbildungsphase) to be completed after you start riding on your own:

• Fahrsicherheitstraining (safety training) is a one-day course, lasting around 8.5 hours, that combines roughly 6 units of practical riding drills with 3 units of traffic-psychology group discussion and hazard-perception training, completed 2–12 months after passing your test.
• Perfektionsfahrt (perfection drive): two units of guided real-traffic riding, roughly 50 minutes each, completed 4–14 months after passing your test.

The whole second phase must be finished within 14 months of your practical test. Skipping it isn’t really an option; it’s a legal requirement for holding the license.

The probationary period (Probezeit)

New Austrian license holders enter a probationary period. For most categories, this runs for 3 years, but for Class A1 specifically, it runs until you turn 21, which, for a 16-year-old first-time rider, works out to five years, longer than the standard three. During probation, a strict 0.1 per mille blood-alcohol limit applies (effectively zero tolerance), well below the general limit. Serious violations during probation, such as hit-and-run, major speeding offenses, or right-of-way violations, trigger a mandatory, fee-based retraining course (Nachschulung) and extend the probationary period by an additional year.

Automatic transmission restriction

If you test on an automatic-transmission bike, that’s what your license will cover in the future, noted with EU code 78.

Does A1 include AM?

Yes. Because A1 covers a wider range than AM (mopeds), holding A1 automatically gives you the right to ride mopeds and light quadricycles too; you never need to apply for AM separately.

The Code 111 shortcut for existing car-license holders

If you’ve held a Class B (car) license continuously for at least 5 years, Austria offers a shortcut. After completing 6 hours of dedicated training, you can have code 111 added to your B license, permitting you to ride motorcycles up to 125cc. This is a genuinely lighter path than the full A1 course; no separate theory or practical exam is required. The catch: this entitlement under code 111 is valid only within Austria and doesn’t carry the same recognition abroad as a full A1 license. If you later decide to pursue full A1 (or use it as a stepping stone to A2), and you’ve held code 111 for at least two unbroken years, you can have 6 of your required A1 training hours credited toward the new course.

Upgrading from A1 to A2 later

Once you’ve completed your second training phase on A1, Austria’s staged-access model makes moving up to A2 straightforward: after holding A1 for at least two years, you only need a 7-hour practical training course (at your driving school or with the ÖAMTC) or a practical exam; no fresh theory exam is required, since your existing theory pass carries forward.

Validity

Austrian A1 licenses are issued as part of the standard EU photocard and are subject to periodic administrative renewal, separate from the probationary period discussed above.

How is your license actually issued?

Your Fahrschule handles registration for your theory and practical exams. Once you pass, you receive your four-week provisional license immediately, and your permanent card license, valid in the EU, follows once the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft or magistrate) processes your paperwork.

Tips for getting your Class A1 license in Austria

• You can start training at 15.5, six months before you’re eligible to sit the practical test at 16.
• If you already hold a car license for 5+ years, ask your Fahrschule about the code 111 shortcut. It’s far quicker than a full A1 course, though it’s Austria-only.
• Complete your Mehrphasenausbildung on schedule. It’s a legal requirement, not an optional extra, and must be finished within 14 months of your practical test.
• Remember, your probationary period runs until you turn 21, not just three years, if you get your license at 16.
• Book your medical certificate and first-aid course early, since both are required before you can sit your exams.

Start at the bottom of the motorcycle ladder.

A Class A1 license is a genuinely capable, independent form of mobility for young riders in Austria, and the natural first step toward A2 and eventually full Class A. 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 region and by authority in Austria. Always confirm the current rules with the official Austrian government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s oesterreich.gv.at 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.