How to Get a Category A2 Driving Licence in France?

A Category A2 driving license (in French, permis moto catégorie A2) is France’s mid-power motorcycle license, the middle rung between the entry-level A1 and the fully unrestricted Class A. It lets you ride motorcycles up to 35 kW (48 PS) with a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2 kW/kg. This guide covers what Class A2 actually means in France, the two routes to get it, the training and exam process, and France’s distinctive 7-hour top-up route to full Class A afterward.

In France, training and testing are conducted through licensed driving schools (auto-écoles), and applications run through the ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titers Sécurisés) online platform. Our driving license in France and license eligibility pages are good starting points.

What is a Class A2 license in France?

Class A2 authorizes you to ride motorcycles with a motor output of up to 35 kW and a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW per kilogram of unladen weight, the harmonized EU definition, applied identically in France. There is no cc limit built into the definition; power output and power-to-weight ratio are what matter legally.

Where does A2 sit in the French motorcycle ladder?

France follows the standard EU baseline age structure across its three motorcycle categories:

• A1: motorcycles up to 125 cc, 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: motorcycles with no power restriction, from age 24 by direct entry, or 20 if you have held A2 for at least two years.

Class A automatically includes the entitlement to ride A1- and A2-category vehicles, so the latter is cumulative, but A2 is a genuine, standalone category for many French riders.

What can you actually ride with an A2 license?

With Class A2, you can ride any motorcycle, naked, sport, adventure, or cruiser, provided it meets the 35 kW / 0.2 kW/kg limits, on all French roads. If a motorcycle’s standard factory output exceeds 35 kW, it can be supplied power-restricted, but only if the machine’s original, unrestricted output does not exceed 70 kW.

Two routes to A2: direct entry and staged access

There are two ways to reach Class A2 in France:

• Direct entry: if you don’t already hold Class A1, you complete the full theory (the Code de la route, shared across all license categories) and practical training through a licensed auto-école and pass both exams from age 18.
• Staged access: if you have already held Class A1 for at least two years, you can extend to A2 by passing a practical test on an A2-spec motorcycle. The Code you already passed for A1 is not repeated.

Training and exams

Training combines classroom or online theory preparation for the Code with practical riding lessons, first on a closed platform and then on public roads, followed by a two-part practical test covering off-road maneuvers and on-road riding. Exact lesson counts vary between auto-écoles, so confirm current requirements with your chosen school.

Medical requirements

All applicants must complete a standard medical declaration, with additional medical checks required for certain health conditions. This applies to both the direct-entry and staged-access 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.

Does A2 include A1?

Yes. Because Class A2 covers a strictly wider power range than A1, holding A2 also entitles you to ride A1-category vehicles. You don’t need to hold A1 separately once you have A2.

Upgrading from A2 to full Class A: France’s distinctive 7-hour top-up

This is where France stands out from most of its EU neighbors. If you’ve held Class A2 for at least two years, you can upgrade to Class A from age 20 through a 7-hour practical top-up training course at an approved auto-école with no exam of any kind required, theory or practical. This is a meaningfully lighter process than the staged-access upgrade used in most other EU countries, which typically still require a full practical test even when the theory is waived.

Validity

French driving licenses, including Class A2, follow the standard EU photocard administrative validity period before renewal.

How is your license actually issued?

Your auto-école handles exam registration. Once you pass the required tests or complete the 7-hour top-up when moving to Class A later, your license is processed and issued through the ANTS platform.

Tips for getting your Class A2 license in France

• If you already hold A1, use staged access for the practical test only; no Code retest.
• For direct entry, prepare for the Code theory exam; it is shared across all categories.
• Take the test on a manual bike unless you only want to ride automatics.
• Remember: after two years on A2, the move to full Class A is just 7 hours of training with no exam at all, genuinely the lightest upgrade path in the EU.

Reach the middle of the motorcycle ladder.

A Class A2 license opens up a genuinely capable range of mid-size motorcycles in France. 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 France. Always confirm the current rules with the official French government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s ANTS 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.