How to Get a Category A1 Driving Licence in Liechtenstein?

Liechtenstein’s motorcycle licensing runs on essentially the same framework as neighboring Switzerland, right down to the exam infrastructure, and it includes a genuine shortcut for existing car drivers that lets them add A1 riding rights without sitting an exam at all. This piece covers what Category A1 authorizes at 16, the exam-free route for car license holders, current lesson costs, and the winter test suspension, which is worth planning around.

What Category A1 covers

A1 authorizes motorcycles without a sidecar, with an engine displacement of at least 120 cc but not exceeding 125 cc, a maximum power of 11 kW, and a power-to-weight ratio no higher than 0.1 kW/kg.

Minimum age

You need to be 16 to be eligible for A1. A separate, lower tier covers small motorcycles and light motor vehicles up to 45 km/h, for ages 15 and above.

Where A1 sits in the motorcycle ladder

Liechtenstein’s A1 and A2 minimum ages follow the standard EU baseline, but the top of the ladder works differently since a 2021 reform:

• A1: motorcycles up to 125cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg, from age 16.
• A2: motorcycles up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, from age 18.
• A: unrestricted motorcycles, reached by staged access from age 20 after two years on A2, with no general direct-entry route for most riders.

Direct entry into unrestricted Class A is now limited to narrow professional exceptions: police officers in motorcycle training, motorcycle mechanic apprentices in the EFZ vocational program, and traffic experts undergoing their own professional training.

The exam-free route for car license holders

This is genuinely worth knowing before booking a full A1 course. If you already hold a Category B or B1 (car) license, you can have A1 added to your license without sitting any exam at all, theory or practical, once you’ve completed the required practical basic training (PGS, Praktische Grundschulung). The standard PGS is 12 hours, but it’s reduced to just 4 hours if you have already completed a 12-hour PGS for another category, or if you acquired your existing A1 rights before 31 December 2020 under older rules.

What can you actually ride with an A1 license?

With Class A1, you can ride any motorcycle within the 120–125cc, 11 kW, 0.1 kW/kg specification, on all roads in Liechtenstein.

Prerequisites: first-aid course and PGS for first-time applicants

If A1 would be your first motorcycle license and you don’t already hold a car license, you’ll need a first-aid course, unless you already hold another Swiss or Liechtenstein license category obtained within the last six years, plus the full 12-hour practical basic training, completed within four months of receiving your provisional (learner’s) license.

Foreign residents and license exchange

Your provisional learner’s permit (Lernfahrausweis) is valid only within Liechtenstein and Switzerland, not elsewhere. EU and EEA motorcycle licenses held by foreign residents generally remain valid, though converting to a Liechtenstein license may be advisable for long-term residents; check current requirements with the Amt für Strassenverkehr, as exchange rules depend on your country of issue.

How does this compare to Switzerland?

Because Liechtenstein’s licensing framework closely mirrors Switzerland’s, riders and driving schools frequently reference the same fuehrerausweise.ch resources used across the border. The exam-free car-license route, the suspension of the winter test, and the staged-access requirement to reach unrestricted Class A are all consistent with the Swiss approach, reflecting the close regulatory integration between the two countries.

Costs

Individual driving lessons, 45–60 minutes each, typically cost 80–100 CHF depending on the instructor, alongside a one-time practice insurance fee of around 80 CHF for the practical training period. Total costs vary considerably depending on whether you’re taking the exam-free car-license route (just the reduced PGS) or the full first-time process (theory course, full PGS, first-aid course, and exams). Riders on the exam-free route with just 4 hours of reduced PGS to complete will naturally spend far less than complete beginners working through the full 12-hour practical basic training plus theory and exam fees.

Medical requirements

Standard medical minimum requirements apply, including an eyesight check, set out in the Traffic Admission Ordinance (VZV).

Automatic transmission restriction

Worth knowing: if you take the practical exam on a motorcycle with an automatic transmission or without a clutch, your license will be restricted to such machines.

Protective equipment for the practical exam

Motorcycle-specific safety equipment should be worn for the driving test: a crash helmet, appropriate clothing, gloves, and boots. Turning up without this equipment can affect whether your exam proceeds.

The exam motorcycle’s specifications

For the A1 practical exam, the test motorcycle must have at least 120cc displacement, no more than 11 kW of power, no more than 0.1 kW/kg, and two seating positions. Exams are conducted with a passenger (Sozius) on board.

Winter test suspension

No motorcycle practical exams are conducted between 1 November and the end of February each year, so plan your timeline accordingly if you’re aiming to test within a specific window.

Validity of completed training and exams

Since a 2021 reform, once you’ve passed a required course or exam (such as the traffic-awareness theory course), that pass is valid indefinitely rather than expiring after a set period, a genuine improvement over the previous system.

No probationary license period

Unlike Switzerland, Liechtenstein does not apply a probationary license period with mandatory follow-up training days for new license holders.

Upgrading from A1 to A2 later

If you’ve held Class A1, you can extend to A2 by passing a practical test on an A2-spec motorcycle. Theory content already passed for A1 generally isn’t repeated.

How is your license actually issued?

The Amt für Strassenverkehr (ASV), the Road Traffic Office, issues your license once you have completed the required training and, where applicable, passed the practical test through your driving school.

Tips for getting your Class A1 license in Liechtenstein

• If you already hold a car license, ask your driving school about the exam-free A1 route before committing to a full first-time course.
• Complete your first-aid course and basic 12-hour training early if you’re a genuine first-time applicant, since both are prerequisites for your first motorcycle license.
• Take the test on a manual bike unless you only want to ride automatics.
• Plan around the 1 November–28 February winter test suspension when booking your practical exam.

Start at the bottom of the motorcycle ladder.

A Class A1 license is a genuinely capable first step into motorcycling in Liechtenstein, and the exam-free route for existing car drivers makes it especially accessible. 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 Liechtenstein. Always confirm the current rules with the official Liechtenstein government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s Amt für Strassenverkehr pages. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.