How to Get a Category A1 Driving Licence in Ukraine?

Ukraine has a Category A1 driving license, but it’s worth flagging upfront: it does not mean the same thing as the EU’s Category A1. This guide explains what A1 actually covers in Ukraine, how it differs from the EU’s 125cc definition, and what license you actually need if you want to ride a genuine 125cc motorcycle.

What Category A1 actually covers in Ukraine

Ukrainian A1 authorizes mopeds, scooters, and other two-wheeled vehicles with an engine displacement not exceeding 50 cc, or an electric motor not exceeding 4 kW. This is a genuinely different, much lower-powered category than the EU’s standard 125cc/11kW A1. If you’re expecting to ride anything close to a 125cc machine on the Ukrainian A1, you’ll need a different category entirely.

What you actually need for a 125cc motorcycle

For anything at or above 50 cc, or an electric motor at or above 4 kW, including a genuine 125 cc motorcycle, you need Ukraine’s Category A instead of A1. Category A covers motorcycles of any displacement or power above that threshold, with no separate mid-tier or power cap comparable to the EU’s A2. A1 and A are mutually exclusive on your license: A1 holders cannot legally ride Category A vehicles, and vice versa, since the two categories are defined by fixed technical thresholds rather than a staged, hierarchical system.

Minimum age

Both A1 and A require you to be 16 years old.

The application process

You’ll need to study Ukraine’s traffic rules (ПДР), complete training at an accredited driving school, and pass both a theory and practical exam at an MVS Service Center. Practical training requires a minimum of 43 combined hours for categories A and A1 under the Standard Training Program, with a minimum course duration of 3-4 weeks.

Choosing your exam vehicle

You can either use a vehicle provided by the MVS Service Center itself, included in the practical exam fee, or bring a moped or motorcycle from your driving school. The Head Service Center of the MVS publishes details of available vehicles for specific territorial subdivisions.

What it costs

The practical exam fee at an MVS Service Center is 420 UAH. Driving school course costs vary by city and school; in Kyiv, a full A1 (moped) course has run around 11,000 UAH, while a shorter “retraining” course for those who already hold Category B and want to add A1 has run around 8,000 UAH, reflecting the reduced hours needed when you already hold another category.

Documents you’ll need

• A copy of your passport (relevant pages), or both sides of your ID card plus proof of registration
• A medical certificate confirming fitness to drive, plus two copies
• Two copies of your tax identification code certificate

The practical exam scoring system

The practical exam uses a penalty-points system, with a maximum of five points allowed to pass. Five points are assessed for exiting the marked zone or knocking over a marker cone. Three points are deducted for a stalled engine, gear-shifting errors, or turning without signaling. One point covers braking errors, not using your headlights, or locking your wheels.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission vehicle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic machines only.

Recent changes to license validity

Under current arrangements, newly issued licenses following training and exams are initially issued as temporary, valid for two years, before being converted to a standard, longer-term license, a shift from the older system, where full-validity licenses were issued immediately after passing.

Why Ukraine’s system differs from the EU’s: Ukraine’s A1/A split was introduced in 2013, well before Ukraine’s EU accession process gained momentum, and was designed around Ukraine’s own domestic vehicle fleet and traffic patterns rather than the EU’s staged 125cc/35kW/unrestricted structure. As Ukraine continues to align its regulations with EU standards, this category definition could eventually shift, but as of now, the distinction described above applies.

The wider category system

Beyond A and A1, Ukraine’s age thresholds are: 18 for B1, B, C1, and C; 19 for BE, C1E, and CE; and 21 for D1, D, D1E, DE, and T (trolleybuses and trams).

Foreign residents and license exchange

Foreign license holders can generally have their license exchanged for a Ukrainian one, subject to standard identity and residency documentation. Confirm current requirements with your local Service Center.

Tips that actually help

• Don’t assume Ukrainian A1 gets you on a 125cc motorcycle; it doesn’t. You need Category A for that.
• If you already hold Category B and want A1 for a moped, ask about the reduced-hours retraining course rather than paying for the full program.
• Choose your exam vehicle carefully, either the Service Center’s own machine or one from your driving school, since this affects your total cost.
• Budget for the two-year temporary license period as the current standard outcome of a first-time pass.

Where this fits going forward

Ukrainian A1 is genuinely different from what riders elsewhere in Europe might expect, so understanding the real distinction between A1 and A upfront saves confusion and wasted training. 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 Ukraine and the 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 by driving school and region in Ukraine. Always confirm current requirements with the official Ukrainian sources before making decisions: the Head Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS). FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.