How to Get a Category A1 Licence in the Czech Republic?

If you already hold a Czech car license, there’s a good chance you can already ride a 125cc automatic scooter without ever sitting an A1 exam. This detail surprises many people, and most general guides skip it entirely. This piece covers what Category A1 (skupina A1) actually authorizes in the Czech Republic, the real breakdown of training hours, current 2026 pricing, and that car-license quirk in detail.

What Category A1 covers

Skupina A1 authorizes motorcycles with an engine displacement up to 125 cc, a maximum power output of 11 kW, and a power-to-weight ratio no higher than 0.1 kW per kilogram, or three-wheelers with a maximum power output of 15 kW.

Minimum age

You need to be 16, with written consent from a legal guardian if you’re a minor at the time of application, because 16 is below the age of legal adulthood in the Czech Republic.

Where A1 sits in the Czech system

The Czech Republic runs four powered two-wheeler categories. AM (from 15) covers mopeds up to 45 km/h. A1 (16) covers up to 125cc/11kW. A2 (18) covers up to 35kW. Full Category A, unrestricted, needs 24 for direct entry, or 20 if you’ve already held A2 for at least two years.

The Czech car-license quirk: riding A1-class scooters on a B license

This is genuinely worth knowing before you book a full A1 course. Holding a standard Category B (car) license already gives you the right to ride automatic-transmission motorcycles up to 125cc and 11 kW, effectively the automatic-only slice of A1 without ever sitting a separate A1 exam. It’s why you’ll see plenty of 125cc automatic scooters on Czech roads ridden by people who only hold a car license. The catch: this only covers automatics. If you want to ride a manual-transmission 125cc motorcycle, you need the actual A1 license, not just your B license. From age 21, B-license holders can additionally ride Category A three-wheelers, though not two-wheeled motorcycles beyond the automatic 125 cc allowance.

Training hours: the curriculum is identical across A1, A2 and A

Here’s a detail that catches a lot of people out: the Czech national curriculum sets the same 26 hours of theory and 13 hours of practical instruction for A1, A2, and full Category A alike; there’s no shorter syllabus specifically for A1 compared to the higher categories, unlike in some neighboring countries. AM, by contrast, uses a shorter 9-hour theory course, reflecting its lower complexity.

The practical hours are typically structured as roughly one hour on a motorcycle simulator or off-traffic groundwork, four hours in light traffic, three hours in moderate traffic, and five hours in full traffic conditions. However, exact scheduling varies by driving school.

The theory exam

The written theory test covers Czech road rules and traffic regulations. You must pass it before being permitted to sit the practical exam.

The practical exam

The practical test runs in stages: first, a pre-ride inspection covering lights, technical condition and mandatory equipment; then manoeuvring tests on an approved test area, split between slow-speed control (around 10 km/h, including parking) and higher-speed skills like emergency braking and evasive manoeuvres; and finally, a supervised ride in real traffic, with the examiner following on a separate motorcycle or in a support vehicle.

Pass rates aren’t guaranteed: roughly one in three candidates fails the practical exam on their first attempt. Hence, budgeting for a possible retest is sensible rather than assuming a single pass.

What it costs

A1 course prices in 2026 typically range from about 12,000 to 26,000 Kč, with most driving schools clustering around 15,000–18,000 Kč. On top of the course fee, budget for a medical certificate (roughly 500 Kč), the official exam fee (700 Kč, paid to the relevant municipal authority), and the fee for issuing the physical license card (200 Kč). Retakes cost extra: a repeat theory test runs about 200 Kč, and a repeat practical test 700–1,000 Kč. Prices vary meaningfully by city. Prague courses generally cost noticeably more than equivalent courses in smaller towns.

Medical certificate

A medical certificate confirming fitness to drive, issued by your GP (praktický lékař), is required as part of your application, separate from your driving school fees.

Course duration

A standard A1 course typically takes one to two months from enrolment to test, though accelerated courses can be completed in two to three weeks with frequent lessons. Weather, exam-slot availability at the local authority, and how quickly you need additional practice hours can all extend that timeline.

Automatic transmission

Test on an automatic-transmission motorcycle, and your resulting license will be restricted to automatics only, marked with the standard EU code 78, though, as covered above, if all you want is automatic 125cc riding rights, your existing B license may already cover it without any further testing.

Upgrading from A1 to A2, and onward

Once you’ve held A1 for at least two years, moving to A2 requires only a supplementary practical exam (doplňovací zkouška), no fresh theory test. The same logic applies when moving from A2 to full Category A after two years on A2. Some driving schools quote this upgrade at around 8,000 Kč plus the municipal exam fee. However, this can run lower, particularly for straightforward A2-to-A upgrades where 4,000–10,000 Kč is a more typical total once experience requirements are met.

To extend from A1 to A2, you need to hold a genuine, full A1 license. The automatic-only riding rights that come bundled with a car license don’t count toward this staged-access route.

Validity

Czech driving licenses, including Category A1, are valid for 10 years before routine renewal is required.

Foreign residents and license exchange

EU and EEA motorcycle licenses remain valid in the Czech Republic without conversion. If you’re relocating from outside the EU/EEA, whether you can exchange your existing license depends on whether the Czech Republic has a reciprocal recognition agreement with your country of issue; without one, you’ll need to complete the Czech theory and practical process from scratch.

Tips that actually help

• If you already hold a Czech car license and only want to ride 125cc automatics, check whether you already have that right before paying for a full A1 course.
• Compare prices across cities before committing; the difference between Prague and smaller towns can be several thousand koruna for the same training.
• Budget for the possibility of a retest, given the roughly one-in-three first-attempt fail rate on the practical exam.
• Book your medical certificate early, since it’s a prerequisite for enrolling in most driving schools.

Where this fits going forward

A1 in the Czech Republic is genuinely accessible, especially given that the shared curriculum across categories means the training itself is consistent regardless of which tier you choose. If your plans extend toward professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see who’s hiring among employers on FastDriver.eu, alongside our broader job guides. Our driving license in the Czech Republic and license eligibility pages provide a broader picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary between driving schools and regions. Always confirm current requirements with the official Czech sources, such as the Ministry of Transport, before making decisions. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.