Motorcycle Categories FAQ
Driving School Baschi KlG

Category AM

• up to max. 4 kW (5.5 hp) power
• up to 50cm³ + from 15 years
• up to max. speed 45 km/h
• Practical basic course of 12 hours
• Practical test required, except for category B holders

Category A1

• up to max. 11 kW (15 hp) power
• up to 125cm³ + from 16 years
• up to 125cm³ + from 18 years (with or without Cat. B licence)
• Practical basic course of 12 hours
• Practical test required, except for holders of category B or category A1 who have already taken the test with the 50cm³

Category A2 (A limited)

• more than 11 kW but max. 35 kW (47.6 hp) power
• from the age of 18 (with or without Cat. A1 licence)
• Compulsory 12-hour basic practical course (4 hours for holders of cat. A1 before 01.01.2021, basic course part 3)
• Practical test required

Category A (A unlimited)

• more than 35 kW (47.6 hp) power
• 20 years and older
• Previously in possession of category A 35kW for at least 2 years without complaint
• No direct entry possible!
• Exception direct entry only possible for professions motorbike mechanics, police officers or traffic experts.
• Practical basic course is voluntary, as these have already been attended
• Practical test required

Owner of the Category	Category to be acquired	Training process
none	AM	from 15 years / up to max. 50cm³: First aid course Application for learner's licence Theory test Receipt of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours and Road safety lessons Practical test road traffic office issues licence
none	A1	from 16 years / up to max. 125cm³: Minimum age 16 years First aid course Application for learner's licence Theory test Receipt of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours and Road safety lessons Practical test road traffic office issues licence from 18 years / up to max. 125cm³: First aid course Application for learner's licence Theory test Receipt of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours and Road safety lessons Practical test road traffic office issues licence
none	A2	A limited (< 35 kW and < 0.20 kW/kg): Minimum age 18 years First aid course Application for learner's licence Theory test Receipt of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours and Road safety lessons Practical test road traffic office issues licence
none	A	A unlimited (> 35 kW and < 0.20 kW/kg): Minimum age 18 years direct access to category A is now only possible for persons who are professionally dependent on driving such motorbikes, such as motorbike mechanics, police officers or traffic experts. First aid course Application for learner's licence Theory test Receipt of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours and Road safety lessons Practical test road traffic office issues licence
B, C or D	A1	up to max. 125cm³: Applying for and receiving of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours No practical test road traffic office issues licence
B, C oder D	A2	A limited (< 35 kW and < 0.20 kW/kg): Applying for and receiving of the learner's licence Practical basic course 12 hours Practical test road traffic office issues licence
A1	A2	A limited (< 35 kW and < 0.20 kW/kg): Applying for and receiving of the learner's licence Practical basic course 4 hours (if A1 obtained before 2021) Practical test road traffic office issues licence
A2	A	A unlimited (> 35 kW and < 0.20 kW/kg): Applying for and receiving of the learner's licence Practical basic course 0 hours Practical test road traffic office issues licence

Category A, unlimited:
a safe motorbike without sidecar with an engine power of more than 35 kW (47.6 hp) or a ratio of engine power to unladen weight of more than 0.20 kW/kg and has two seats.

Category A2, limited to 35 kW:
A safe-to-operate motorbike without sidecar with an engine power of not more than 35 kW (47.6 hp) or has an engine power to unladen weight ratio of not more than 0.20 kW/kg and has two seats.
This means that the same motorbike can no longer be used for both tests.

The advanced training course for new drivers lasts 7 hours and is held in one day. This further training course must be attended within 12 months of the issue of the driving licence during the three-year probationary period. Anyone who does not attend this course will have their licence revoked.

We work with the organisers “DriveZ Canton of Zurich“ , “Verkehrssicherheitszentrum Thurgau AG“ and “Driving-Park AG Winterthur“ They organise the WAB course at the military airfield in Dübendorf, Weinfelden TG and Ohrbühl.

More about the probationary licence...

Persons who apply for a learner's licence for category A or A 35 kW and do not:

• are in possession of a permanent driving licence for category A, A 35 kW or B or
• ever held a category A, A 35 kW or B learner's licence before 1 December 2005

Persons born after 1 December 1987 will in any case receive their first driving licence for the above-mentioned categories on a probationary basis.

Anyone already in possession of a category B licence must attend a 12-hour basic motorbike course within the first four months of obtaining a category A1 licence. Confirmation of successful completion of the basic course is then issued, allowing the A1 category to be entered on the existing licence without an examination at the Road Traffic Licensing Office. This must be done within the validity period of the learner's licence for category A1.

The instructor must immediately notify the licensing authority that issued the learner's licence if the apprenticeship relationship with the motorbike mechanic apprentice is terminated during the period of validity of the category A learner's licence without restriction. This authority will ask the licence holder to present the learner's licence and issue a category A 35kW learner's licence for the remaining period of validity.

NewRide is the Swiss competence centre for electric two-wheelers. It provides neutral specialised information and has built up a network of municipalities, manufacturers, importers and dealers.

Here is the table from NewRide for the “Authorisation requirements for e-scooters and e-motos“

Here is the document from Astra “Regulations on motorised bicycles, low-speed e-bikes, e-scooters and e-rickshaws (as at 1 April 2022)“

With the learner's licence, you may only carry people who hold a category A or A1 driving licence. Once you have passed the practical test, you are authorised to carry all passengers.

The learner's licence expires and you must apply for a new learner's licence. However, a second learner's licence will only be issued once.

If this also expires, you will have to wait two years to obtain a third learner's licence.

The learner's licence expires and you must apply for a new learner's licence -
your completed basic course does not expire.

However, a second learner's licence is only issued once. If this also expires, you will have to wait two years to obtain a third learner's licence.