How to Get a Category A2 Driving Licence in Liechtenstein?

A Category A2 driving license (in German, Führerausweis Kategorie A2) is Liechtenstein’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 Liechtenstein, the two routes to obtain it, the training and exam process, and the important 2021 reform that changed how you progress to full Class A afterward.

In Liechtenstein, training and testing are conducted through licensed driving schools, and the license is issued by the Amt für Strassenverkehr (ASV), the Road Traffic Office. Our driving license in Liechtenstein and license eligibility pages are good starting points.

What is a Class A2 license in Liechtenstein?

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/EEA definition, applied in Liechtenstein as part of its EEA-aligned licensing framework. There is no cc limit built into the definition; power output and power-to-weight ratio are what matter legally.

Where does the A2 sit in the Liechtenstein motorcycle ladder

Liechtenstein follows the standard EU baseline age structure for A1 and A2, since these ages were harmonized to EU levels from a 2021 reform:

• 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, reached by staged access from age 20 after two years on A2, with no general direct-entry route.

This is the crucial point where Liechtenstein diverges sharply from most other EU/EEA countries: at the A1 and A2 levels, everything is standard, but the step up to unrestricted Class A works differently.

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 roads in Liechtenstein. 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 Liechtenstein itself:

• Direct entry: if you don’t already hold Class A1, you complete the full theory and practical training through a licensed driving school and pass both the theory and practical exams from age 18.
• Staged access: if you have already held Class A1, you can extend to A2 by passing a practical test on an A2-spec motorcycle through an approved driving school. The theory pass you already have for A1 is not repeated.

Basic training and first-aid course

Before your first motorcycle license in Liechtenstein, typically A1 or A2, you must complete a 12-hour basic practical training course within four months of receiving your provisional license and a first-aid course before you can even register for the theory test.

Medical requirements

All applicants must meet Liechtenstein’s medical minimum standards, including an eyesight check, set out in the Traffic Admission Ordinance (VZV). This applies at every stage of the motorcycle ladder.

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. 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.

Important: What happens when you want to move up to full Class A

This is the section that matters most if you’re planning in Liechtenstein. Since a 2021 reform (aligned with the equivalent Swiss OPERA-3 change), Liechtenstein has largely abolished direct entry into the unrestricted Class A category for the general public. Unlike in most other EU/EEA countries, where you can eventually access full Class A directly at a higher minimum age (typically 24) even without ever holding A2, Liechtenstein only allows this route in narrow professional exceptions, for example, trainee motorcycle mechanics as part of their vocational qualification, police officers or traffic examiners in training. For everyone else, holding Class A2 for at least two years and passing a further practical test is the only path to unrestricted Class A, which can be reached as early as age 20.

In practical terms, this means A2 isn’t just a stepping stone in Liechtenstein for most riders; it’s a mandatory staging post on the only route to the top of the ladder.

Validity and probation

Unlike neighboring Switzerland, Liechtenstein does not have a probationary license period with mandatory follow-up training days. Licenses have an expiry date and require periodic renewal, while courses and exams completed since the 2021 reform remain valid indefinitely.

How is your license actually issued?

The Amt für Strassenverkehr issues your license once you have completed the required training and passed the practical test through your driving school.

Tips for getting your Class A2 license in Liechtenstein

• If you already hold A1, use staged access: just the practical test, no theory retest.
• Complete your first-aid course and basic 12-hour training early, since both are prerequisites for your first motorcycle license.
• Take the test on a manual bike unless you only want to ride automatics.
• If you’re planning to eventually reach full Class A, know that A2 for two years is the standard route; direct entry to A is not available to the general public.
• Practical tests run only between 1 March and 31 October, weather permitting, so plan your timeline around this window.

Reach the middle of the motorcycle ladder.

A Class A2 license opens up a genuinely capable range of mid-size motorcycles in Liechtenstein, and for most riders it’s the required stepping stone to the top of the ladder. 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. As an EEA country, Liechtenstein’s framework mirrors the EUR-Lex text of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.